Fullerene and its use to maintain good health and to prolong the expected lifespan of mammals

Abstract

A water-insoluble fullerene is at least partially dissolved in a biocompatible lipid carrier, especially a fat or an oil such as butter, olive oil, and liquid paraffin. When administered to mammals, the fullerene, most preferably [60]fullerene dissolved in olive oil, scavenges free radicals and prolongs life span in rats.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A therapeutic composition, comprising: a biocompatible carrier and a water-insoluble C 60  fullerene suspended in the carrier in an amount ranging from 0.001 to 0.08% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of: corn oil, wheat germ oil, soybean oil, rice bran oil, rapeseed oil, canola oil, sesame oil, palm (kernel) oil, canola oil,  camellia  oil, peanut oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, peanut oil, orange oil, evening primrose oil, borage oil, blackcurrant seed oil, cottonseed oil, beaver oil, pineapple oil, safflower oil, copra oil, oils found in coffee, turtle oil, fish oil, cod-liver oil, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is avocado oil. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is sesame oil. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is soybean oil. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of: petrolatum, paraffin, butter, cocoa butter,  theobroma , peanut butter, lard, beef fat, chicken fat, horse fat, lanolin and lanolin derivatives, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of: C 4 -C 40  fatty acids, glycerides, polyglycolysed glycerides, fatty acid esters, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is a steroid. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of: linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, linolenic acid, gamma-linolenic acid, caprylic acid, stearic acid, myristic acid, a palmitic acid, behenic acid, undecylenic acid, oleic acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), isostearic acid, 12-hydroxy-stearic acid, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of: octyldodecyl behenate, isocetyl behenate, isocetyl lactate, isostearyl lactate, linoleyl lactate, oleyl lactate, isostearyl octanoate, isocetyl octanoate, decyl oleate, isocetyl isotearate, isocetyl laurate, isocetyl stearate, isodecyl octanoate, isodecyl oleate, isononyl isononanoate, isostearyl palmitate, myristyl isostearate, octyl isononanoate, 2-ethylhexyl isononanoate, octyl isostearate, octyldodecyl erucate, isopropyl palmitates, 2-ethylhexyl palmitate, 2-octyldecyl palmitate, isopropyl myristate, t-butyl myristate, 2-octyldodecyl myristate, hexyl isostearate, butyl isostearate, isobutyl stearate, hexyl laurate, 2-hexyldecyl laurate, propylene glycol monostearate, propylene glycol distearate, triolein, trilinolein, tripalmitin, tristearin, trimyristin, triarachidonin, cholesteryl oleate, cholesteryl linoleate, cholesteryl myristate, cholesteryl palmitate, cholesteryl arachidate, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of: cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, palmityl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, hexadecyl alcohol, oleic alcohol, isostearyl alcohol, cetostearyl alcohol, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of: diisopropyl sebacate, diisopropyl adipate, diisostearyl adipate, octyldodecyl stearoyl stearate, pentaerythrityl tetra-isononanoate, pentaerythrityl tetraisostearate, triisopropyl citrate, triisostearyl citrate, trioctyldodecyl citrate, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is selected combinations from the group consisting of: corn oil, wheat germ oil, soybean oil, rice bran oil, rapeseed oil, canola oil, sesame oil, palm (kernel) oil, canola oil,  camellia  oil, peanut oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, peanut oil, orange oil, evening primrose oil, borage oil, blackcurrant seed oil, cottonseed oil, beaver oil, pineapple oil, safflower oil, copra oil, oils found in coffee, turtle oil, fish oil, cod-liver oil, petrolatum, paraffin, butter, cocoa butter,  theobroma , peanut butter, lard, beef fat, chicken fat, horse fat, lanolin and lanolin derivatives, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is selected combinations from the group consisting of: linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, linolenic acid, gamma-linolenic acid, caprylic acid, stearic acid, myristic acid, a palmitic acid, behenic acid, undecylenic acid, oleic acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), isostearic acid, 12-hydroxy-stearic acid, octyldodecyl behenate, isocetyl behenate, isocetyl lactate, isostearyl lactate, linoleyl lactate, oleyl lactate, isostearyl octanoate, isocetyl octanoate, decyl oleate, isocetyl isotearate, isocetyl laurate, isocetyl stearate, isodecyl octanoate, isodecyl oleate, isononyl isononanoate, isostearyl palmitate, myristyl isostearate, octyl isononanoate, 2-ethylhexyl isononanoate, octyl isostearate, octyldodecyl erucate, isopropyl palmitates, 2-ethylhexyl palmitate, 2-octyldecyl palmitate, isopropyl myristate, t-butyl myristate, 2-octyldodecyl myristate, hexyl isostearate, butyl isostearate, isobutyl stearate, hexyl laurate, 2-hexyldecyl laurate, propylene glycol monostearate, propylene glycol distearate, triolein, trilinolein, tripalmitin, tristearin, trimyristin, triarachidonin, cholesteryl oleate, cholesteryl linoleate, cholesteryl myristate, cholesteryl palmitate, cholesteryl arachidate, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, palmityl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, hexadecyl alcohol, oleic alcohol, isostearyl alcohol, cetostearyl alcohol, diisopropyl sebacate, diisopropyl adipate, diisostearyl adipate, octyldodecyl stearoyl stearate, pentaerythrityl tetra-isononanoate, pentaerythrityl tetraisostearate, triisopropyl citrate, triisostearyl citrate, trioctyldodecyl citrate, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said water-insoluble C 60  fullerene is present in an amount 0.08% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         16 . A method of producing a therapeutic composition, comprising:
 (a) adding C 60  fullerene and a biocompatible carrier to a vessel;   (b) agitating the mixture resulting from step (a) until a homogeneous dissolution is obtained;   (c) sterilizing the composition resulting from step (b) by filtration;   (d) suspending the filtered composition from step (c) in a biocompatible carrier in an amount ranging from 0.001 to 0.08% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.   
     
     
         17 . A method prolonging the expected lifespan of a mammal, comprising:
 administering a therapeutic composition to a mammal, the therapeutic composition comprising a biocompatible carrier and a water-insoluble C 60  fullerene suspended in the carrier in an amount ranging from 0.001 to 0.08% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition;   wherein the therapeutic composition is administered such that the mammal receives a dosage of at least 0.1 mg/kg of body weight per day.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the therapeutic composition is administered orally, subcutaneously, intramuscularly, intradermally, intrathecally, intraperitoneally, rectally by suppositories, sublingually, orally, or by inhalation 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the composition is administered neat or in the form of an emulsion in water. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the mammal is a human.