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, or the soluble fibre is derived from boiling the fruit, or the soluble fibre is derivable from the precipitate of an aqueous solution treated with ethanol. 
   
   
       3 . (canceled) 
   
   
       4 . The composition according to  claim 1 , 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 . (canceled) 
   
   
       7 . The composition according to  claim 2 , wherein the aqueous solution treated with ethanol is subjected to a precipitation step with 80% ethanol. 
   
   
       8 . The composition according to  claim 1  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 from (2) and hydrolysing with starch digesting enzymes to ensure all/most starch is removed; and,   optionally the solution (3) is 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 1  wherein the soluble fibre is obtained by:
 (a) freeze-drying and milling skinned whole fruit;   (h) boiling, the milled material to gelatinise any starch and disperse 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  claim 1  in powder form. 
   
   
       11 . The composition according to  claim 9  wherein the composition is in powder form, and 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  claim 1  further comprising at least one of flavouring, sugars, sweetener, anti-oxidants, minerals or vitamins. 
   
   
       13 . The composition according to  claim 1  for prevention r treatment of Crohn's Disease. 
   
   
       14 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein the soluble fibre is from fruit of the  Musa  spp. 
   
   
       15 - 18 . (canceled) 
   
   
       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 drink, powder, powder mix, food bar or other solid food stuff. 
   
   
       21 . The nutritional product according to  claim 20  comprising between 1 g/100 ml and 30 g/100 ml of soluble fibre. 
   
   
       22 - 23 . (canceled) 
   
   
       24 . A method for treating Inflammatory Bowel Disease in a subject, comprising:
 providing a composition comprising a soluble fibre derivable from fruit of  Musa  spp.; and   administering a therapeutically effective amount of the composition to the subject.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the soluble fibre is derivable from an aqueous solution decantable from homogenised fruit, or the soluble fibre is derived from boding the fruit, or the soluble fibre is derivable from the precipitate of an aqueous solution treated with ethanol. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the aqueous solution treated with ethanol is subjected to a precipitation step with 80% ethanol. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the Inflammatory Bowel Disease is Crohn's Disease. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the soluble fibre is from fruit of the  Musa  spp.