Plant extracts with anti-diabetic and other useful activities

Abstract

This invention relates to plant extracts containing nutritionally beneficial or medicinally active compounds. Some of these extracts, or the purified compounds contained therein, may be used for the nutritional support, prevention, treatment, or possible cure of various metabolic and other diseases and disorders in human beings and animals, including type 1 and type 2 diabetes, by regulating insulin signaling. This regulatory effect may include modulations of the levels and/or activity of the Insulin Receptor (IR), the Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF) Receptor, and/or the Insulin Receptor Substrate (IRS) proteins in cells and tissues in the body.

1 . A botanical extract that provides at least 1 × 10 4  Insulin Equivalent units in 1 milliliter comprising extracts from  Artemisia dracunculus ,  Cichoria endivia , and  Lactuca sativa . 
     
     
         2 . The botanical extract of  claim 1  comprising a metal. 
     
     
         3 . The botanical extract of  claim 2  wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of chromium, iron, manganese, zinc, and copper. 
     
     
         4 . The botanical extract of  claim 2  wherein the metal is chromium. 
     
     
         5 . The botanical extract of  claim 1  in which the extracts from  Artemisia dracunculus ,  Cichoria endivia , and  Lactuca sativa  are dried aqueous extracts. 
     
     
         6 . A pharmaceutical composition or nutritional supplement in tablet, capsule, or powder form comprising:
 a dried herbal extract of  Artemisia dracunculus ;   a dried herbal extract of  Cichoria endivia ; and   a dried herbal extract of  Lactuca sativa .   
     
     
         7 . The pharmaceutical composition or nutritional supplement of  claim 6  in tablet form comprising:
 962.7 mg of a dried herbal extract of  Cichoria endivia ; 
 16.7 mg of a dried herbal extract of  Lactuca saliva : and 
 1.2 mcg chromium. 
 
     
     
         8 . The pharmaceutical composition or nutritional supplement of  claim 6  comprising a total of 50 mg to 1,500 mg of:
 a dried herbal extract of  Artemisia dracunculus ; 
 a dried herbal extract of  Cichoria endivia ; and 
 a dried herbal extract of  Lactuca sativa . 
 
     
     
         9 . The pharmaceutical composition or nutritional supplement in tablet, capsule, or powder form of  claim 6  further comprising at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient selected from the group consisting of: dicalcium phosphate, microcrystalline cellulose, silicon dioxide, hydroxypropyl cellulose, stearic acid, croscarmellose sodium, and magnesium stearate; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The pharmaceutical composition or nutritional supplement in tablet, capsule, or powder form of  claim 9  wherein the at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient is present in an amount of 15-25% of the total weight. 
     
     
         11 . The pharmaceutical composition or nutritional supplement in tablet form of  claim 6  wherein the extracts of  Artemisia dracunculus ,  Cichoria endivia , and  Lactuca sativa  are present in a ratio of about 1: 1,375:24 (w/w/w). 
     
     
         12 . A method of treating an IRS mediated disease or condition comprising administering an effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition or nutritional supplement of  claim 6  to a subject in need thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the IRS mediated disease or condition is diabetes, pre-diabetes, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, or dementia. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  which further comprises administering an antidiabetic agent, insulin, metformin, exenatide, a sulfonylurea, vildagliptin, sitagliptin, a DPP4 inhibitor, meglitinide, exendin-4, liraglutide, a thiazolidinedione, empagliflozin, canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, or a GLP1 agonist. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the pharmaceutical composition or nutritional supplement is administered orally twice per day, 30-60 minutes before meals. 
     
     
         16 . A method of stimulating IRS2-dependent signal transduction in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition or nutritional supplement of  claim 6 . 
     
     
         17 . A method of stimulating IRS2-dependent signal transduction comprising contacting a cell with the botanical extract of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . The pharmaceutical composition or nutritional supplement of  claim 6  which further comprises chromium. 
     
     
         19 . The pharmaceutical composition or nutritional supplement of  claim 8  which further comprises chromium. 
     
     
         20 . A method of stimulating IRS2-dependent signal transduction comprising contacting a cell with the pharmaceutical composition or nutritional supplement of  claim 6 .