Treatment of periodontal disease

Abstract

This invention relates to a method of therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of periodontal disease comprising administering to a subject in need thereof epicatechin and/or catechin and/or a polymeric compound of formula A n . Also disclosed and claimed is an article of manufacture comprising the above compounds packaged within a container with instructions for use thereof.

1 - 208 . (canceled) 
   
   
       209 . A method of therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of periodontal disease comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a polymeric compound of the formula A n  or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or oxidation product thereof: 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     wherein
 n is an integer from 2 to 18, such that there is at least one terminal monomeric unit A, and one or a plurality of additional monomeric units; 
 R is 3-(α)-OH, 3-(β)-OH, 3-(α)-O-sugar, or 3-(β)-O-sugar; 
 bonding between adjacent monomers takes place at positions selected from the group consisting of 4, 6 and 8; 
 a bond of an additional monomeric unit in position 4 has alpha or beta stereochemistry; 
 X, Y and Z are selected from the group consisting of monomeric unit A, hydrogen, and a sugar, with the proviso that as to the at least one terminal monomeric unit, bonding of the additional monomeric unit thereto is at position 4 and optionally Y=Z=hydrogen; 
 wherein the subject is a human or a veterinary animal, and the polymeric compound is administered in the amount effective to reduce inflammation. 
 
   
   
       210 . The method of  claim 209 , wherein R is 3-(α)-OH or 3-(β)-OH, and X, Y and Z are selected from the group consisting of monomeric unit A or hydrogen. 
   
   
       211 . The method of  claim 210 , wherein n is 2 to 12. 
   
   
       212 . The method of  claim 211 , wherein the subject is a human. 
   
   
       213 . The method of  claim 210 , wherein n is 3 to 12. 
   
   
       214 . The method of  claim 213 , wherein the subject is a human. 
   
   
       215 . The method of  claim 210 , wherein the adjacent monomers bind at positions 4→6 or 4→8. 
   
   
       216 . The method of  claim 211 , wherein the adjacent monomers bind at positions (4β→6) or (4β→8). 
   
   
       217 . The method of  claim 213 , wherein the adjacent monomers bind at positions (4β→6) or (4β→8). 
   
   
       218 . The method of  claim 210 , wherein the polymeric compound is selected from the group consisting of: dimer EC-(4β→8)-EC, dimer EC-(4β→6)-EC, trimer [EC-(4β→8)] 2 -EC, trimer [EC-(4β→6)] 2 -EC, tetramer [EC-(4β→8)] 3 -EC, pentamer [EC-(4β→8)] 4 -EC, and pentamer [EC-(4β→8)] 3 -EC-(4β→6)-EC, wherein EC is a monomeric unit epicatechin. 
   
   
       219 . The method of  claim 218 , wherein the subject is a human. 
   
   
       220 . The method of  claim 218 , wherein the subject is a veterinary animal. 
   
   
       221 . The method of  claim 219 , wherein the human suffers from gingivitis. 
   
   
       222 . The method of  claim 210 , wherein the polymeric compound is provided as a cocoa extract. 
   
   
       223 . The method of  claim 210 , wherein the polymeric compound is provided as a cocoa extract fraction. 
   
   
       224 . The method of  claim 210 , wherein the polymeric compound is administered as a liquid preparation. 
   
   
       225 . The method of  claim 210 , wherein the polymeric compound is administered as a chewable composition. 
   
   
       226 . The method of  claim 210 , wherein the polymeric compound is administered in a form of non-alkalized cocoa solids. 
   
   
       227 . The method of  claim 210 , wherein the polymeric compound is administered in a form of CP-cocoa solids in powder or liquid form. 
   
   
       228 . The method of  claim 210 , wherein the polymeric compound is administered as a pharmaceutical dosage form. 
   
   
       229 . The method of  claim 210 , wherein the polymeric compound is administered as an injectable composition. 
   
   
       230 . An article of manufacture comprising
 (i) a container;   (ii) a composition within the container, the composition comprising epicatechin or a polymeric compound of the formula A n  or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:   
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     wherein
 n is an integer from 2 to 18, such that there is at least one terminal monomeric unit A, and one or a plurality of additional monomeric units; 
 R is 3-(α)-OH, 3-(β)-OH; 
 bonding between adjacent monomers takes place at positions selected from the group consisting of 4, 6 and 8; 
 a bond of an additional monomeric unit in position 4 has alpha or beta stereochemistry; 
 X, Y and Z are selected from the group consisting of monomeric unit A or hydrogen, with the proviso that as to the at least one terminal monomeric unit, bonding of the additional monomeric unit thereto is at position 4 and Y=Z=hydrogen;
 in the amount effective to reduce inflammation in a subject suffering from periodontal disease; and 
 (iii) instructions directing use of the composition for therapy or prophylaxis of periodontal disease. 
 
 
   
   
       231 . A method of therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of periodontal disease comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an epicatechin and/or catechin in the amount effective to reduce inflammation, wherein the subject is a human or a veterinary animal.