Extract of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. ex Murray var. hypoleucum and compositions for improving metabolic syndrome

Abstract

An extract of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. ex Murray var. hypoleucum (Ohwi) or of Polygonum hypoleucum (Ohwi) for improving metabolic syndrome is prepared by the following method: (a) providing fresh or dry Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. ex Murray var. hypoleucum (Ohwi) or Polygonum hypoleucum (Ohwi) in partial or whole plant ; (b) extracting the partial or whole plant by a solvent to obtain a crude extract; (c) condensing and drying the crude extract to obtain an extract product; and (d) collecting the extract product. The present invention also relates to a pharmaceutical and a food composition having the above extract for improving the metabolic syndromes. The extract of the present invention can be easily prepared and is demonstrated to modulate the levels of both blood glucose and blood lipid, to inhibit the activities of glycolytic enzymes and acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and to stimulate acyl-CoA oxidase. The extract of the present invention is capable of improving metabolic syndromes.

1 . An extract of  Polygonum multiflorum  Thunb. ex Murray var.  hypoleucum  (Ohwi) or of  Polygonum hypoleucum  (Ohwi) for improving metabolic syndrome being prepared by the following method, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing fresh or dry  Polygonum multiflorum  Thunb. ex Murray var.  hypoleucum  (Ohwi) or  Polygonum hypoleucum  (Ohwi) in partial or whole plant;   (b) extracting  Polygonum multiflorum  Thunb. ex Murray var.  hypoleucum  (Ohwi) or  Polygonum hypoleucum  (Ohwi) by a solvent to obtain a crude extract;   (c) condensing and drying the crude extract to obtain a  Polygonum multiflorum  Thunb. ex Murray var.  hypoleucum  (Ohwi) or  Polygonum hypoleucum  (Ohwi) extract product; and   (d) collecting the extracts product of  Polygonum multiflorum  Thunb. ex Murray var.  hypoleucum  (Ohwi) or of  Polygonum hypoleucum  (Ohwi).   
   
   
       2 . The extract of  Polygonum multiflorum  Thunb. ex Murray var.  hypoleucum  (Ohwi) or of  Polygonum hypoleucum  (Ohwi) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fresh or dry  Polygonum multiflorum  Thunb. ex Murray var.  hypoleucum  (Ohwi) or  Polygonum hypoleucum  (Ohwi) in partial is stem or root of  Polygonum multiflorum  Thunb. ex Murray var.  hypoleucum  (Ohwi) or of  Polygonum hypoleucum  (Ohwi). 
   
   
       3 . The extract of  Polygonum multiflorum  Thunb. ex Murray var.  hypoleucum  (Ohwi) or of  Polygonum hypoleucum  (Ohwi) as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the solvent is water, alcohol, aqueous alcohol solution or ethyl acetate. 
   
   
       4 . The extract of  Polygonum multiflorum  Thunb. ex Murray var.  hypoleucum  (Ohwi) or of  Polygonum hypoleucum  (Ohwi) as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the solvent comprises 25-100 wt % of ethanol and 75-0 wt % of water. 
   
   
       5 . The extract of  Polygonum multiflorum  Thunb. ex Murray var.  hypoleucum  (Ohwi) or of  Polygonum hypoleucum  (Ohwi) as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the solvent comprises 70-100 wt % ethanol and 30-0 wt % of water. 
   
   
       6 . The extract of  Polygonum multiflorum  Thunb. ex Murray var.  hypoleucum  (Ohwi) or of  Polygonum hypoleucum  (Ohwi) as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the solvent is an acidic alcohol. 
   
   
       7 . The extract of  Polygonum multiflorum  Thunb. ex Murray var.  hypoleucum  (Ohwi) or of  Polygonum hypoleucum  (Ohwi) as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the acidic alcohol comprises 0.1% of hydrochloric acid. 
   
   
       8 . The extract of  Polygonum multiflorum  Thunb. ex Murray var.  hypoleucum  (Ohwi) or of  Polygonum hypoleucum  (Ohwi) as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein  Polygonum multiflorum  Thunb. ex Murray var.  hypoleucum  (Ohwi) or  Polygonum hypoleucum  (Ohwi) and the solvent have a weight to volume ratio between 1:5 to 1:20. 
   
   
       9 . The extract of  Polygonum multiflorum  Thunb. ex Murray var.  hypoleucum  (Ohwi) or of  Polygonum hypoleucum  (Ohwi) as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the step (b) extracting  Polygonum multiflorum  Thunb. ex Murray var.  hypoleucum  (Ohwi) or  Polygonum hypoleucum  (Ohwi) by a solvent to obtain a crude extract is proceeded at room temperature. 
   
   
       10 . A method for improving metabolic syndrome by administering a therapeutically effective amount of extract of  Polygonum multiflorum  Thunb. ex Murray var.  hypoleucum  (Ohwi) or of  Polygonum hypoleucum  (Ohwi) to a subject in needed. 
   
   
       11 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the extract of  Polygonum multiflorum  Thunb. ex Murray var.  hypoleucum  (Ohwi) or of  Polygonum hypoleucum  (Ohwi) for improving metabolic syndrome is by inhibiting glycolytic enzymes or acetyl-CoA carboxylase, stimulating acyl-CoA oxidase, and modulating the levels of blood glucose and blood lipid. 
   
   
       12 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the metabolic syndrome is insulin resistance syndrome. 
   
   
       13 . A pharmaceutical composition, comprising the extract of  Polygonum multiflorum  Thunb. ex Murray var.  hypoleucum  (Ohwi) or of  Polygonum hypoleucum  (Ohwi) as claimed in  claim 1  and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient. 
   
   
       14 . The pharmaceutical composition as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the pharmaceutically composition is formed as tablet, powder, suspension, chyle fluid, capsule, particle, pill, fluid, alcohol solution or medical syrup. 
   
   
       15 . A food composition comprising the extract of  Polygonum multiflorum  Thunb. ex Murray var.  hypoleucum  (Ohwi) or of  Polygonum hypoleucum  (Ohwi) as claimed in  claim 1 .