Luteolin and diosmin/diosmetin as novel stat3 inhibitors for treating autism

Abstract

The present invention includes methods for the treatment of autoimmune disorders such as autism, schizophrenia, and type 1 diabetes. Flavonoids, luteolin, diosmin, and diosmin's aglycone form, diosmetin, were found to inhibit activation/phosphorylation of STAT3 induced by IL-6 in cultured neuronal cells. Furthermore, mice treated with diosmin showed a significant reduction of autistic phenotype induced by IL-6 through inhibition of STAT3 activation.

1 . A method of treating an autoimmune disorder selected from the group comprising autism, schizophrenia, and diabetes comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a flavonoid selected from the group comprising luteolin, diosmin, and diosmetin, their analogues, derivatives, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the flavonoid is administered orally. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the flavonoid is administered at a dosage of between about 0.81 mg/kg/day and about 2.5 mg/kg/day. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the flavonoid is administered at a maximum dosage of about 2000 mg. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the flavonoid is administered at a dose of at least 0.81 mg/kg/day. 
     
     
         6 . A method of treating autism comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a flavonoid selected from the group comprising luteolin, diosmin, and diosmetin, their analogues, derivatives, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the flavonoid is administered orally. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the flavonoid is administered at a dosage of between about 0.81 mg/kg/day and about 2.5 mg/kg/day 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the flavonoid is administered at a maximum dosage of about 2000 mg. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the flavonoid is administered at a dose of at least 0.81 mg/kg/day. 
     
     
         11 . A method of treating inflammation due to an autoimmune disorder selected from the group comprising autism, schizophrenia, and diabetes comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a flavonoid selected from the group comprising luteolin, diosmin, and diosmetin, their analogues, derivatives, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the flavonoid is administered orally. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the flavonoid is administered at a dosage of between about 0.81 mg/kg/day and about 2.5 mg/kg/day 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the flavonoid is administered at a maximum dosage of about 2000 mg. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the flavonoid is administered at a dose of at least 0.81 mg/kg/day.