Use of flaxseed and flaxseed derivatives for treatment of neurological disorders and viral diseases

Abstract

The invention provides compositions and methods for treating neurological disorders and viral infection using whole-grain flaxseed, flaxseed lignans such as Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), human lignans metabolized from flaxseed such as Enterodiol (ED) or Enterolactone (EL), and synthetic flaxseed lignan analogs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating neuronal damage in a subject comprising the step of administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of flaxseed, a bioactive component or a metabolite thereof, or an analog of said bioactive component or metabolite. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said flaxseed is administered as whole grain flaxseed or in the form of a flaxseed lignan complex (FLC). 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said bioactive component or a metabolite thereof is a flaxseed lignan and said flaxseed lignan is secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG). 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said bioactive component or a metabolite thereof is a mammalian lignin and said mammalian lignan is enterodiol, enterolactone, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said subject is a human infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said subject is receiving antiretroviral therapy. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said subject is diagnosed with HIV-associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND). 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of administering comprises oral administration. 
     
     
         9 . A method for treating a viral infection of attenuating viral replication in a subject comprising the step of administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of flaxseed, a bioactive component or a metabolite thereof, or an analog of said bioactive component or metabolite. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said flaxseed is administered as whole grain flaxseed or in the form of a flaxseed lignan complex (FLC). 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said bioactive component or a metabolite thereof is a flaxseed lignan and said flaxseed lignan is secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG). 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said bioactive component or a metabolite thereof is a mammalian lignan and said mammalian lignan is enterodiol, enterolactone, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said viral infection is a human infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said subject is receiving antiretroviral therapy. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said subject is diagnosed with HIV-associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND). 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said step of administering comprises oral administration. 
     
     
         17 . A method for mitigating the neurotoxic effects of an anti-retroviral therapy in a subject comprising the step of administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of flaxseed, a bioactive component or a metabolite thereof, or an analog of said bioactive component or metabolite. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said flaxseed is administered as whole grain flaxseed or in the form of a flaxseed lignan complex (FLC). 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said bioactive component or a metabolite thereof is a flaxseed lignan and said flaxseed lignan is secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG). 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said bioactive component or a metabolite thereof is a mammalian lignan and said mammalian lignan is enterodiol, enterolactone, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said subject is a human infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said subject is diagnosed with HIV-associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND). 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said step of administering comprises oral administration. 
     
     
         24 . A composition for treating neuronal damage in a subject comprising a therapeutically effective amount of flaxseed, a bioactive component or a metabolite thereof, or an analog of said bioactive component or metabolite. 
     
     
         25 . A composition for treating a viral infection in a subject comprising a therapeutically effective amount of flaxseed, a bioactive component or a metabolite thereof, or an analog of said bioactive component or metabolite. 
     
     
         26 . A composition for mitigating the neurotoxic effects of an anti-retroviral therapy in a subject comprising a therapeutically effective amount of flaxseed, a bioactive component or a metabolite thereof, or an analog of said bioactive component or metabolite.