US 6,149,912 A · Method to enhance innate immunity defense mechanisms by treatment with plant-derived alkaloids

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for enhancing innate immunity defense mechanisms of vertebrate animals including humans. In accordance with the present invention, innate immunity defenses are enhanced by the administration of plant-derived immunomodulators. These plant-derived immunomodulators may be plant tissues, plant extracts containing steroid-like glycoalkaloids, or plant-derived glycoalkaloids. The administration of these immunomodulators significant augments the antimicrobial activities of the innate immune system. The glycoalkaloids useful for the present invention have the formula R--R.sup.1, wherein R is a mono-, di-, tri- or oligo-saccharide which may optionally be modified with pharmacologically acceptable esters or ethers and R.sup.1 is an aglycon or derivative as defined herein. Preferred plant-derived glycoalkaloids include solanine and chaconine.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for enhancing an innate immune response in an individual which comprises administering to the individual an amount of a plant-derived immunomodulator effective to increase the activity of an innate immune defense mechanism in the individual upon infection by an infectious agent,

wherein the plant-derived immunomodulator has the formula
R--R.sup.1,
wherein R is a mono- or oligo-saccharide which may optionally be modified with pharmacologically acceptable esters or pharmacologically acceptable ethers,
R.sup.1 is an aglycon or derivative having the general formulae:
##STR2## wherein R.sup.2 is H when neither of the dashed lines is a double bond or is nothing when one of the dashed lines is a double bond;
R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are independently H, OH, .dbd.O, pharmacologically acceptable esters or pharmacologically acceptable ethers;
X and X2 are independently N or O;
and
m is 1 or 2.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method to enhance innate immunity defense mechanisms by treatment with plant-derived alkaloids

Life of this patent

Method to enhance innate immunity defense mechanisms by treatment with plant-derived alkaloids

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18