Fertilized egg isolate and uses thereof

Abstract

Fertilized egg isolate, methods for preparing the fertilized egg isolate and uses thereof for treating mental health disorders and disease or conditions mediated by or associated with one or more glutamate receptors or by the neurokinin 2 (NK2) receptor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating or preventing a disorder using fertilized egg isolate, said disorder being selected from the group consisting of major depressive mood disorders and anxiety disorders, and said method comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of the fertilized egg isolate to a patient in need thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the fertilized egg isolate comprises freeze-dried embryo, ovalbumin, and clear sac from the fertilized egg. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the disorder is major depressive disorder. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the disorder is anxiety. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the fertilized egg isolate is an aqueous isolate produced by the process comprising the steps of (i) substantially separating the contents of at least one fertilized egg from the shell; (ii) optionally filtering the contents to produce a retentate; (iii) combining the contents or retentate in a container; (iv) blending, optionally with solvent added, the contents or retentate to produce a slurry; (v) mixing the slurry with an aqueous solution for a period of time; (vi) clarifying the mixture to produce an aqueous solution substantially free of solid material; (vii) separating the aqueous solution from the solid material, (viii) freezing the aqueous solution; and (ix) freeze-drying the aqueous solution to produce the fertilized egg isolate. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the disorder is major depressive disorder. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the disorder is anxiety. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the fertilized egg isolate is a solvent isolate produced by the process comprising the steps of (i) substantially separating the contents of at least one fertilized egg from the shell; (ii) optionally filtering the contents to produce a retentate; (iii) combining the contents or retentate in a container; (iv) blending, optionally with solvent added, the contents or retentate to produce a slurry; (v) mixing the slurry with a hydrophobic solvent for a period of time; (vi) clarifying the mixture to produce a solution substantially free of solid material; (vii) separating the solution from the solid material; (viii) separating the hydrophobic solvent portion from any aqueous solvent portion; and (ix) concentrating the hydrophobic solvent portion to produce fertilized egg solvent isolate. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the disorder is major depressive disorder. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the disorder is anxiety. 
     
     
         11 . A method for treating or preventing a disease or condition associated with a glutamate receptor using fertilized egg isolate, said method comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of the fertilized egg isolate to a patient in need thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said glutamate receptor is an AMPA receptor, a kainate receptor or an NMDA receptor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said disease or condition associated with said glutamate receptor is depression, major depressive disorder, anxiety, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, schizophrenia, impairment of brain cell function after stroke/ischemia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease), lathyrism, autism, mental retardation, dementia, disturbances of cognition, bipolar depression or mania. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said disease or condition is major depressive disorder. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the fertilized egg isolate comprises freeze-dried embryo, ovalbumin, and clear sac from the fertilized egg. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said disease or condition is major depressive disorder. 
     
     
         17 . A method for treating or preventing a disease or condition associated with a neurokinin 2 (NK2) receptor using fertilized egg isolate, said method comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of the fertilized egg isolate to a patient in need thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said disease or condition associated with said NK2 receptor is depression, anxiety, irritable or inflammatory bowel syndrome, inflammatory airway diseases or urinary incontinence. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said disease or condition is major depressive disorder. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the fertilized egg isolate comprises freeze-dried embryo, ovalbumin, and clear sac from the fertilized egg. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the fertilized egg isolate does not comprise a substantial amount of the yolk from the fertilized egg. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the patient is not treated by psychotherapy concurrently with the treatment. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the patient is treated by psychotherapy concurrently with the treatment.