Smilagenin and its use
OwnerZongqin Xia, Ian Rubin +5inventors
InventorsZongqin Xia, Ian Rubin, Brian Whittle, Philip Gunning, Yaer Hu, Jonathan Brostoff, Weijun Wang
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Abstract
The invention discloses the use of a smilagenin in the treatment of cognitive dysfunction and similar conditions. Methods of treatment, and pharmaceutical compositions are also disclosed.
Claims40
A use of smilagenin in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a condition characterized by a deficiency in receptor number, function or turnover.
A method of treating a condition characterized by a deficiency in receptor number, function or turnover, which comprises administering an effective dose of smilagenin.
A use of smilagenin in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a condition characterized by the presence of neurofibrillary tangles and/or β-amyloid plaques.
A method of treating a condition characterized by the presence of neurofibrillary tangles and/or β-amyloid plaques, which comprises administering an effective dose of smilagenin.
A pharmaceutical composition having cognitive function enhancing properties, said composition comprising a pharmacologically effective amount of smilagenin.
A foodstuff or beverage comprising an effective dosage of smilagenin.
A method of testing a compound for efficacy in improving the function and/or increasing and/or stabilizing a population of a specific receptor or type of receptor, the method comprising:
- preparing or retrieving suitable cells transfected with DNA for a specific receptor or type of interest;
- dividing the transfected cells into separate portions, a first portion of said separate portions to serve as a control sample, and a second portion of said separate portions to serve as a test sample;
- allowing said control sample and test sample to grow in the presence of a nutrient medium;
- removing the nutrient medium from said control sample and test sample and then (a) adding the compound dissolved in a cytologically acceptable carrier to the test sample and (b) adding an equivalent amount of said carrier to the control samples;
- and
- performing an assay or assays to determine the function, number or turnover of said specific receptor or type of receptor present in the control sample and test sample.
A method of testing a compound for efficacy in reducing a decline in number, over time, of specific receptor or type of receptor in a cultured cell line, the method comprising:
- culturing, in a culture medium, a population of cells expressing a specific receptor or type of receptor;
- dividing said population of cells into a control portion and a test portion;
- culturing said control portion and test portions under approximately similar conditions, wherein said test portion of cells is exposed to a compound;
- performing assays to determine the decline of the specific receptor or type of receptor of interest in said control portion of cells and in said test portion of cells exposed to said compound over a time period;
- and
- comparing, at a predetermined time, the amounts of said specific receptor or type of receptor of interest in said control portion and test portions of cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.