Treatment Of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions (including medicaments and nutritional products) for use in the prevention or treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Such compositions comprise a therapeutically effective amount of a soluble fibre derivable from fruit of the Musa spp. The soluble fibre may in particular be derived from plantains or bananas.

1 . A composition for use in the prevention or treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a soluble fibre derivable from fruit of the  Musa  spp.  
   
   
       2 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein the soluble fibre is derivable from an aqueous solution decantable from homogenised fruit.  
   
   
       3 . The composition according to  claim 1  or  2  wherein the soluble fibre is derived from boiling the fruit.  
   
   
       4 . The composition according to  claim 1 ,  2  or  3  wherein the soluble fibre is treated to remove starch.  
   
   
       5 . The composition according to  claim 4  wherein the starch is removed by enzyme digestion of the starch.  
   
   
       6 . The composition according to any preceeding claim wherein the soluble fibre is derivable from the preciptate of an aqueous solution treated with ethanol.  
   
   
       7 . The composition according to  claim 6  wherein the aqueous solution is subjected to a precipitation step with 80% ethanol.  
   
   
       8 . The composition according to any preceeding claim wherein the soluble fibre is obtained by: 
 (1) chopping fresh fruit and removing any skins and placing in an aqueous solution; or freeze-drying whole fruit (excluding skins), milling it and placing in an aqueous solution; or milling desicated fruit and placing it in an aqueous solution; or taking flour prepared from fruit and placing in an aqueous solution;    (2) taking the solution from (1) and heating to gelatinise starch and disperse any starch granules;    (3) cooling the heated solution (2) and hydrolysing with starch digesting enzymes to ensure all/most starch is removed;    optionally the solution (3) may then be precipitated and washed with 80% ethanol and centrifuged; the alcoholic supernatant is then discarded and the residue freeze-dried or spray-dried.    
   
   
       9 . The composition according to  claim 9  wherein the soluble fibre is obtained by: 
 (a) freeze-drying and milling skinned whole fruit;    (b) boiling the milled material to gelatinise any starch and dispere any starch granules;    (c) hydrolysing starch in the material with amylase;    (d) precipitating and washing the material with ethanol and freeze drying or spray drying to produce a residue; and    (e) reconstituting the freeze-dried or spray-dried residue, boiling and centrifuging;    wherein the supernatant from the centrifugation (e) comprises the soluble fibre.    
   
   
       10 . The composition according to any preceeding claim in powder form.  
   
   
       11 . The composition according to  claim 10  wherein the powder comprises the dried residue of claim  9 (d) or the supernatant of claim  9 (e) which is spray-dried or freeze-dried.  
   
   
       12 . The composition according to any preceding claim further comprising at least one of flavouring, sugars, sweetener, anti-oxidants, minerals or vitamins.  
   
   
       13 . The composition according to any preceding claim for the prevention or treatment of Crohn's Disease.  
   
   
       14 . The composition according to any preceding claim wherein the soluble fibre is from fruit of the  Musa  spp.  
   
   
       15 . A use of soluble fibre derivable from fruit of the  Musa  spp. for the manufacture of a medicament for the prevention or treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.  
   
   
       16 . The use according to  claim 10  wherein the medicament is a composition according to any one of claims  1 - 14  in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
   
   
       17 . The use according to  claim 15  or  16  wherein the medicament is a liquid, capsule or tablet for oral consumption  
   
   
       18 . A method for the treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease comprising administering to a subject in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a soluble fibre derivable from fruit of the  Musa  spp.  
   
   
       19 . A nutritional product for use in the prevention or treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a soluble fibre derivable from fruit of the  Musa  spp.  
   
   
       20 . A nutritional product according to  claim 19  in the form of a beverage or drink.  
   
   
       21 . The nutritional product according to  claim 20  comprising between 1 g/100 ml and 30 g/100 ml of soluble fibre.  
   
   
       22 . A nutritional product according to  claim 19  in the form of a powder or powder mix.  
   
   
       23 . A nutritional product according to  claim 19  in the form of a food bar or other solid food stuff.