Medicinal ambrosia plant extracts

Abstract

Phytoceutical compositions from organic extracts of the Ambrosia maritima or Ambrosia hispida plants and uses thereof for treatment of cancers is described.

1 . A method of preparing a sesquiterpene lactone-containing extract for pharmaceutical use, wherein the method comprises:
 a) treating a plant of  Ambrosia maritima  with an organic solvent in which one or more sesquiterpene lactones is soluble;   b) evaporating the organic solvent to produce a crude extract;   c) subjecting the crude extract to chromatography using a second organic solvent to obtain a clean extract of said one or more sesquiterpene lactones; and;   d) collecting fractions of the individual one or more sesquiterpene lactones.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said organic solvent is polar. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said organic solvent is the same as said second organic solvent. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of mixing the fractions of the individual one or more sesquiterpene lactones with pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, a diluent and/or an excipient. 
     
     
         5 . A method of preparing a sesquiterpene lactone-containing extract for pharmaceutical use, wherein the method comprises:
 a) treating a plant of  Ambrosia hispida  with an organic solvent in which one or more sesquiterpene lactones is soluble;   b) evaporating the organic solvent to produce a crude extract;   c) subjecting the crude extract to chromatography using a second organic solvent to obtain a clean extract of said one or more sesquiterpene lactones; and;   d) collecting fractions of the individual said one or more sesquiterpene lactones.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said organic solvent is polar. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said organic solvent is the same as said second organic solvent. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising the step of mixing the fractions of the individual one or more sesquiterpene lactones with pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, a diluent and/or an excipient. 
     
     
         9 . A composition, comprising an organic extract of  Ambrosia maritima  or  Ambrosia hispida  together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein said organic extract is at least 100 fold more stable as compared against a raw cellular extract of  Ambrosia maritima  and said organic extract is at least 1000 fold more concentrated than in said raw cellular extract. 
     
     
         10 . A composition, comprising an organic extract of  Ambrosia maritima  or  Ambrosia hispida  together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein said organic extract is at least 1000 fold more stable as compared against a raw cellular extract of  Ambrosia maritima  and said organic extract is at least 10000 fold more concentrated than in said raw cellular extract.