Mixture of fatty acids for use in the treatment of inflammatory pathologies

Abstract

This invention relates to a mixture of at least three fatty acids selected from palmitic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, gamma-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), azelaic acid and myristic acid. This invention also relates to the use of the aforesaid mixture in the treatment of inflammatory pathologies.

1 . A pharmaceutical, cosmetic and/or dietary composition comprising a mixture of at least five fatty acids selected from palmitic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, alpha linolenic acid, gamma linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), azelaic acid and myristic acid, wherein the palmitic acid, if present, is contained in said mixture in a quantity by weight comprised between 0.2% and 48%; the oleic acid acid, if present, is contained in said mixture in a quantity by weight comprised between 0.2% and 38%; the stearic acid, if present, is contained in said mixture in a quantity by weight comprised between 0.2% and 42%; the linoleic acid, if present, is contained in said mixture in a quantity by weight comprised between 0.2% and 40%; the alpha linolenic acid, if present, is contained in said mixture in a quantity by weight comprised between 0.2% and 38%; the gamma linolenic acid, if present, is contained in said mixture in a quantity by weight comprised between 0.2% and 30%; the eicosapentaenoic acid, if present, is contained in said mixture in a quantity by weight comprised between 0.2% and 25%; the docosahexaenoic acid, if present, is contained in said mixture in a quantity by weight comprised between 0.2% and 25%; the azelaic acid, if present, is contained in said mixture in a quantity by weight comprised between 0.2% and 40%, and the myristic acid, if present, is contained in said mixture in a quantity by weight comprised between 0.005% and 0.01%, with respect to the total weight of the mixture, and N-2 hydroxyethyl palmitamide. 
     
     
         2 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the mixture of at least five fatty acids comprises between five and ten fatty acids. 
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the mixture of at least five fatty acids comprises five fatty acids selected from palmitic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid and alpha linolenic acid. 
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the mixture of at least five fatty acids comprises eight fatty acids selected from palmitic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, alpha linolenic acid, gamma linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. 
     
     
         5 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the mixture of at least five fatty acids comprises nine fatty acids selected from palmitic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, alpha linolenic acid, gamma linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid and azelaic acid. 
     
     
         6 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the palmitic acid, if present, is contained in said composition in a quantity by weight comprised between 5% and 45%; the oleic acid, if present, is contained in said composition in a quantity by weight comprised between 2% and 35%; the stearic acid, if present, is contained in said composition in a quantity by weight comprised between 2% and 35%; the linoleic acid, if present, is contained in said composition in a quantity by weight comprised between 1% and 40%; the alpha linolenic acid, if present, is contained in said composition in a quantity by weight comprised between 1% and 25%; the gamma linolenic acid, if present, is contained in said composition in a quantity by weight comprised between 0.5% and 10%; the eicosapentaenoic acid, if present, is contained in said composition in a quantity by weight comprised between 1% and 20%; the docosahexaenoic acid, if present, is contained in said composition in a quantity by weight comprised between 1% and 25%, the azelaic acid, if present, is contained in said composition in a quantity by weight comprised between 0.5% and 10%, and the myristic acid, if present, is contained in said composition in a quantity by weight comprised between 0.05% and 1%, with respect to the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         7 . The composition according to  claim 1 , formulated in oral, topical, rectal, vaginal, ophthalmic or parenteral form. 
     
     
         8 . The composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the oral form is selected from a tablet, a capsule, a granule, an oil bead, a solution, a suspension, a carrier and an aerosol. 
     
     
         9 . The composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the topical form is selected from a cream, an ointment, a gel, a solution, a suspension, a spray, a patch and a granular lyophilized powder. 
     
     
         10 . The composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the parenteral form is selected from an aqueous buffer solution and an oily suspension. 
     
     
         11 . The composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the rectal form is a suppository, an enema or a solution for endocavitary use. 
     
     
         12 . The composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the vaginal form is an ovule, a cannula, a get or a solution for endocavitary use. 
     
     
         13 . The composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the ophthalmic form is an eye drop, an eye wash, a cream or an ointment. 
     
     
         14 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the mixture of at least 5 fatty acids is present in said composition in a quantity by weight comprised between 10% and 60%, preferably between 15% and 45% with respect to the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         15 . A method of treating inflammatory pathologies, including inflammatory pathologies which are in acute or chronic phase, in a subject in need thereof, comprising administration of an effective amount of the composition according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the inflammatory pathologies are dermatological pathologies selected from atopic dermatitis, dermatomyositis, scleroderma, psoriasis, polimiosisti, pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid epidermiolisi; ophthalmic pathologies selected from Sjogren's syndrome, sympathetic ophthalmia, uveitis and uveo-retinitis; mucosal diseases selected from inflammation of the gastrointestinal mucous membranes (Crohn's disease) and inflammation of the oral and genital mucosa; joint and connective pathologies selected from rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus erythematosus and discoid and systemic lupus erythematosus; chronic pathological inflammation selected from solar chronic dermatitis, asthma and intestinal and pulmonary fibrosis and chronic arthritis; degenerative diseases of the peripheral nervous system and central nervous system selected from multiple sclerosis, autoimmune neurodegenerative disorders, non autoimmune neurodegenerative disorders, inflammatory processes associated with central nervous system as Parkinson's disease, senile dementia, bacterial meningitis, HIV infection and traumatic injury, and diseases of the peripheral nervous system as radiculopathies of inflammatory origin; diseases of the peripheral and central nervous system where inflammatory processes follow the first insult of ischemic origin, including neuropathy due to compression and traumatic neuropathy, cerebral stroke and traumatic brain injury; or cardiological diseases arising from phenomena of perfusion as a result of ischemic damage. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the composition is administered daily, from one to four doses per day. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the composition is administered for at least 4 weeks. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein each dose contains from 0.1 to 50 mg of composition/kg of body weight of the subject. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein each dose contains from 0.5 to 20 mg of composition/kg of body weight of the subject. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the subject is an animal, and the inflammatory pathology is selected from neurogenic inflammation; joint and connective diseases, including laminitis in horses; arthritis, respiratory pathologies, ophthalmic inflammation, dry keratoconjunctivitis, and inflammatory allergic events.