Drugs, foods or drinks with the use of algae-derived physiologically active substances

Abstract

Medicinal compositions for treating, ameliorating or preventing diseases with sensitivity to 3,6-anhydrogalactopyranose represented by formula (1): foods, drinks, cosmetics, etc. containing as the active ingredient at least one member selected from the group consisting of the above-mentioned compound, its aldehyde, its hydrate and 2-O-methylated derivatives thereof and soluble sugar compounds containing the above compound. This compound also shows, for example, an apoptosis-inducing activity, a carcinostatic activity and inhibitory activities on the production of active oxygen, lipid peroxide radicals and NO, which makes it useful also as the active ingredient of antioxidants and preservatives.

1 . A method for treating a disease that requires induction of apoptosis for its treatment, a carcinomatous disease, a disease that requires protection against oxidation for its treatment, a disease that requires inhibition of active oxygen production for its treatment, a disease that requires inhibition of nitric monoxide production for its treatment, a disease that requires inhibition of lipid peroxide radical production for its treatment or a disease that requires immunoregulation for its treatment, the method comprising 
 administering a pharmaceutical composition which comprises as an active ingredient at least one member selected from the group consisting of:    (1) a compound selected from the group consisting of 3,6-anhydrogalactopyranose represented by the formula (I):                          an aldehyde thereof, a hydrate thereof, and a 2-O-methylated derivative of said 3,6-anhydrogalactopyranose, said aldehyde or said hydrate; and    (2) a soluble saccharide containing the compound at its reducing end.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the saccharide is a product produced by acid decomposition under acidic conditions below pH 7 and/or enzymatic digestion of a substance containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of 3,6-anhydrogalactopyranose represented by said formula I, an aldehyde or a hydrate thereof, and a 2-O-methylated derivative of the 3,6-anhydrogalactopyranose, said aldehyde or said hydrate.  
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the substance containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of 3,6-anhydrogalactopyranose represented by formula I, an aldehyde and a hydrate thereof, and 2-0-methylated derivatives of the 3,6-anhydrogalactopyranose, the aldehyde and the hydrate is at least one substance selected from the group consisting of agar, agarose and carrageenan.  
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the saccharide is at least one saccharide selected from the group consisting of agarobiose, agarotetraose, agarohexaose, agarooctaose, κ-carabiose, and β-D-galactopyranosyl-3,6-anhydro-2-O-methyl-L-galactose.