Combretum laurifolium mart. extract and methods of extracting and using such extract

Abstract

A method of inhibiting COX-2, inhibiting NF-Kappa B activation, treating inflammation, or treating cancer may comprise administering a therapeutically effective amount of an extract of Combretum laurifolium Mart. to a patient. A medicament as described herein may comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle and a therapeutically effective amount of an extract of Combretum laurifolium Mart. suspended in the vehicle. A method of making an extract of Combretum laurifolium Mart. may comprise creating a component solution by treating Combretum laurifolium Mart. material with an extractor and a solvent and producing an extract by at least partially removing liquid from the component solution. An extract of Combretum laurifolium Mart. may comprise components extracted using various solvents.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
   
   
       10 . A medicament comprising:
 a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle; and   a therapeutically effective amount of an extract of  Combretum laurifolium  Mart. suspended in said vehicle.   
   
   
       11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . A method of making an extract of  Combretum laurifolium  Mart. comprising:
 creating a component solution by processing  Combretum laurifolium  Mart. material with an extractor and a solvent; and   producing an extract by at least partially removing liquid from said component solution.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said solvent is selected from the group consisting of:
 a polar solvent;   a non-polar solvent;   a moderately polar solvent; and   an aqueous solvent.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said solvent is selected from the group consisting of:
 methanol;   ethyl-acetate;   hexane; and   water.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 obtaining at least one fraction of said extract by fractionating said extract.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising.
 obtaining at least one fraction of said extract by fractionating said extract on a semi-preparative column.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said solvent comprises methanol and wherein said at least one fraction has an elution time in minutes selected from the group consisting of  1 ,  2 ,  4 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  13  and  14 . 
   
   
       18 . A method of making an extract of  Combretum laurifolium  Mart. comprising:
 drying  Combretum laurifolium  Mart. material;   grinding said material;   creating a component solution by processing said material with an extractor and a solvent; and   producing an extract by at least partially removing liquid from said component solution.   
   
   
       19 - 23 . (canceled) 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising heating said solvent to cause said solvent to evaporate. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said grinding produces particles of said material having particle sizes less than or equal to about 50 microns. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said particles have particle sizes in a range from about 20 microns to about 50 microns. 
   
   
       27 . An extract of  Combretum laurifolium  Mart. comprising at least one component extracted using a non-polar solvent. 
   
   
       28 . An extract derived from  Combretum laurifolium  Mart. material comprising at least one component extracted from said material using a heated solvent selected from the group of:
 methanol;   ethyl-acetate;   hexane; and   water.   
   
   
       29 . The extract of  claim 28  wherein said at least one component is extracted by heating said solvent to cause said solvent to evaporate. 
   
   
       30 . The extract of  claim 28  wherein said material comprises particles having particle sizes of approximately 20-50 microns. 
   
   
       31 . A method of making an extract of  Combretum laurifolium  Mart. comprising:
 heating a solvent to produce a solvent vapor;   allowing said solvent vapor to condense and drip onto  Combretum laurifolium  Mart. material to form a component solution; and   extracting at least one component from said component solution to produce an extract.   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising at least partially removing liquid from said component solution. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31  wherein said solvent is selected from the group of:
 methanol;   ethyl-acetate;   hexane; and   water.   
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising grinding said material into particles. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein said particles have particle sizes in a range of approximately 20-50 microns. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising placing said extract in a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.