Compositions comprising siraitia grosvenori extracts and methods for the treatment of infection

Abstract

A method for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of a viral infection in a subject is provided wherein the method comprises the steps of providing a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising an extract of the fruit of Siraitia grosvenori Swingle and administering the composition to the subject. The fruit from which the extract is derived is Luo Han Guo. The extract comprises at least one thterpene glycoside, which may be in the form of a mogroside compound. The extract has been shown to be effective in the treatment of viral infections such as hepatitis C and HIV. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising at least one triterpene glycoside, or an analogue, metabolite, precursor, derivative, pharmaceutically active salt or pro-drug thereof.

1 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . An extract of the fruit of  Siraitia grosvenori  Swingle for use in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of a viral infection. 
     
     
         41 . The extract of  claim 40 , wherein the fruit is Luo Han Guo. 
     
     
         42 . The extract of  claim 40 , wherein the extract comprises at least one triterpene glycoside or an analogue, metabolite, precursor, derivative, pharmaceutically active salt or pro-drug thereof 
     
     
         43 . The extract of  claim 42 , wherein the at least one triterpene glycoside or analogue thereof is a mogroside. 
     
     
         44 . The extract of  claim 40 , wherein the viral infection is caused by a virus selected from the group consisting of flavivirus, retrovirus, influenza virus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis D, hepatitis E, hepatitis F, hepatitis G, hepatitis H, autoimmune hepatitis, BVDV and Respiratory Syncytical Virus (RSV). 
     
     
         45 . The extract of  claim 44 , wherein the flavivirus is hepatitis C virus. 
     
     
         46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . The extract of  claim 44 , wherein the retrovirus is HIV. 
     
     
         48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . The extract of  claim 42 , wherein the at least one triterpene glycoside is selected from the group consisting of neogroside, 20-hydroxy-11-oxomogroside IA 1 , 11-oxomogroside IIE, 11-oxomogroside IA 1 , mogroside IIE, mogroside III, mogroside IV, mogroside V, siamenoside I, triterpenoid glycoside V, neogroside, Kaempferol 7-α-ι-rhamnopyranoside, Kaempferol 3,7-α-ι-dirhamnopyranoside, 11-oxomogroside III, 11-Dehydroxymogroside III, 11-oxomogroside IV, mogroside II, mogroside VI, 11-oxo-mogroside and siamcroside-I. 
     
     
         50 - 68 . (canceled) 
     
     
         69 . The extract of  claim 42 , wherein the at least one triterpene glycoside is halogenated. 
     
     
         70 . The extract of  claim 40 , wherein the extract comprises a halogen salt. 
     
     
         71 . The extract of  claim 40 , wherein the extract includes a secondary antiviral compound. 
     
     
         72 . The extract of  claim 40 , wherein the extract includes a statin or an analogue, metabolite, derivative, pharmaceutically active salt, precursor or pro-drug thereof. 
     
     
         73 . The extract as claimed in of  claim 72 , wherein the statin is selected from the group consisting of mevastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin, cehvastatin, fluindostatin, velbstatin, fluvastatin, dalvastatin, dihydrocompactin, compactin, atorvastatin, bervastatin and NK-104, ZD-4522. 
     
     
         74 . The extract as claimed in  claim 73 , wherein the statin is fluvastatin. 
     
     
         75 . The extract as claimed in  claim 74 , wherein the fluvastatin comprises a sodium salt. 
     
     
         76 - 144 . (canceled) 
     
     
         145 . An extract of the fruit of  Siraitia grosvenori  Swingle for use in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of hepatitis C. 
     
     
         146 . (canceled)