Herbal compositions for the prevention or treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and related disorders

Abstract

Provided in one embodiment is an herbal composition for the prevention or treatment of disorders of the prostate, for example, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis, and prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, and for overactive bladder (OAB), urinary incontinence (UI), nocturia, poor urinary stream, and straining to urinate associated with these prostate disorders. Specifically one embodiment provides compositions that contain Crateva nurvala, Equisetum arvense, Lindera aggregata , and Serenoa repens , and methods of use thereof.

1 . An herbal composition, comprising:
 a  Crateva nurvala  extract;   an  Equisetum arvense  extract;   a  Lindera aggregata  extract; and   a  Serenoa repens  extract,   wherein the composition is formulated as an oral dosage comprising one of a capsule, tablet, and caplet.   
     
     
         2 . The herbal composition of  claim 1 , wherein the  Crateva nurvala  extract is present in a relative ratio of about 1 g to about 18 g dry weight equivalents, the  Equisetum arvense  extract is present in a relative ratio of about 750 mg to about 12 g dry weight equivalents, the  Lindera aggregata  extract is present in a relative ratio of about 750 mg to about 12 g dry weight equivalents, and the  Serenoa repens  extract is present in a relative ratio of about 1 g to about 18 g dry weight equivalents. 
     
     
         3 . The herbal composition of  claim 1 , wherein the  Crateva nurvala  extract is present in a relative ratio of about 3 g to about 12 g dry weight equivalents, the  Equisetum arvense  extract is present in a relative ratio of about 1.5 g to about 6 g dry weight equivalents, the  Lindera aggregata  extract is present in a relative ratio of about 1.5 g to about 6 g dry weight equivalents, and the  Serenoa repens  extract is present in a relative ratio of about 1.5 g to about 12 g dry weight equivalents. 
     
     
         4 . The herbal composition of  claim 1 , wherein the  Crateva nurvala  extract is present in a relative ratio of about 4 g to about 8 g dry weight equivalents, the  Equisetum arvense  extract is present in a relative ratio of about 2 g to about 4 g dry weight equivalents, the  Lindera aggregata  extract is present in a relative ratio of about 2 g to about 4 g dry weight equivalents, and the  Serenoa repens  extract is present in a relative ratio of about 3 g to about 8 g dry weight equivalents. 
     
     
         5 . The herbal composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition has at least one of the following:
 the  Crateva nurvala  extract;   the  Equisetum arvense  extract;   the  Lindera aggregata  extract; and   the  Serenoa repens  extract.   
     
     
         6 . The herbal composition of  claim 1 , wherein the herbal composition is formulated in one of a dry delivery system and a liquid delivery system. 
     
     
         7 . The herbal composition of  claim 1 , wherein the  Crateva nurvala  is a stem/bark extract preparation, the  Equisetum arvense  is a stem extract preparation, the  Lindera aggregata  is a root extract preparation, and the  Serenoa repens  is a leaf/berry extract preparation. 
     
     
         8 . The herbal composition of  claim 1 , wherein the herbal composition is formulated in a controlled-release vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the herbal composition of  claim 1  and a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         10 . An herbal composition comprising:
 a  Crateva nurvala  stem/bark extract preparation of about 4 g to about 8 g dry weight equivalents;   the  Equisetum arvense  stem extract preparation of about 2 g to about 4 g dry weight equivalents;   the  Lindera aggregata  root extract preparation of about 2 g to about 4 g dry weight equivalents; and   the  Serenoa repens  leaf/berry extract preparation of about 3 g to about 8 g dry weight equivalents,   wherein the herbal composition is formulated as an oral dosage unit.   
     
     
         11 . The herbal composition of  claim 10 , wherein the composition contains at least 1,500 mg dry weight equivalents of  Crateva nurvala  stem/bark. 
     
     
         12 . The herbal composition of  claim 10 , wherein the composition contains at least 1,000 mg dry weight equivalents of  Equisetum arvense  stem extract and  Lindera aggregata  root extract. 
     
     
         13 . The herbal composition of  claim 10 , wherein the composition contains at least 3,200 mg dry weight equivalents of  Serenoa repens  leaf/berry extract. 
     
     
         14 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the herbal composition of  claim 10  and a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         15 . The herbal composition of  claim 10 , wherein the oral dosage unit comprise one of a tablet, dry powder, capsule and caplet. 
     
     
         16 . A method for the prevention or treatment of the symptoms of Benign Prostate Hypertrophy (BPH), comprising:
 administering an herbal composition to a subject in need thereof, wherein the herbal composition comprises:
 a  Crateva nurvala  extract preparation; 
 an  Equisetum arvense  extract preparation; 
 a  Lindera aggregata  extract preparation; and 
 a  Serenoa repens  extract preparation, wherein the herbal composition is formulated as an oral dosage unit. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the treatment results in a reduction in a frequency of urination after about two weeks. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the treatment results in a reduction in a frequency of urination after about one month. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein compared to a subject not administered the herbal composition, the treatment results in an improvement of at least one of:
 an average daily frequency of urination;   an average nightly frequency of urination; and   an urinary urgency episodes.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising at least one of the following:
 extracting the  Crateva nurvala  preparation from  Crateva nurvala  stems and/or bark at an extract ratio of 25 to about 35; 
 extracting the  Equisetum arvense  extract preparation from  Equisetum arvense  stem at an extract ratio of about 10; 
 extracting the  Lindera aggregata  preparation from  Lindera aggregata  root at an extract ratio of about 10; and 
 extracting the  Serenoa repens  preparation from  Serenoa repens  leaves and/or berries at an extract ratio of about 10.