Medicinal compositions

A food or a drink which contains, which is produced by adding thereto, or which is produced by diluting at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

• a compound selected from the group consisting of 3,6-anhydrogalactopyranose of formula I
• an aldehyde and a hydrate thereof, and 2-O-methylated derivatives and 2-O-sulfated derivatives of the 3,6-anhydrogalactopyranose, the aldehyde and the hydrate;
• and
• a soluble saccharide that contains said compound at its reducing end,
• said food or drink being adapted for ameliorating the disease states of diabetes, rheumatism, a disease that requires inhibition of α-glycosidase for its treatment, a disease that requires inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis for its treatment, a disease that requires inhibition of endotoxin shock for its treatment, a disease that requires inhibition of interleukin production for its treatment, a disease that requires induction of heme oxygenase production for its treatment, a disease that requires inhibition of tumor necrosis factor production for its treatment , or a disease that requires inhibition of carcinogenesis for its treatment.

In a method of formulating a pharmaceutical composition comprising mixing together at least two compounds, the improvement wherein said two compounds are

• (1) a compound selected from the group consisting of 3,6-anhydrogalactopyranose of formula I,
• an aldehyde and a hydrate thereof, and 2-O-methylated derivatives and 2-O-sulfated derivatives of the 3,6-anhydrogalactopyranose, the aldehyde and the hydrate;
• and
• (2) a soluble saccharide that contains said compound (1), and
• wherein said compounds are mixed in proportions suitable to provide an antidiabetic composition, an antirheumatic composition, an anti-inflammatory composition, a composition for inhibiting α-glycosidase, a composition for inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis, a composition for inhibiting endotoxin shock, a composition for inhibiting interleukin production, a composition for inducing heme oxygenase production, a composition for inhibiting tumor necrosis factor production or a composition for inhibiting carcinogenesis.

In a method for providing in a patient in need thereof at least one of an antidiabetic effect, an anti-rheumatic effect, an anti-inflammatory effect, an anti-α-glycosidase effect, an anti-prostaglandin synthesis effect, an anti-endotoxin shock effect, an anti-interleukin production effect, an anti-tumor necrosis factor production effect or an anti-carcinogenesis effect, or for inducing heme oxygenase production, comprising

• administering to said patient an amount effective for such an effect of a pharmaceutical composition,
• the improvement wherein said pharmaceutical composition comprises
• a compound selected from the group consisting of 3,6-anhydrogalactopyranose of formula I,
• an aldehyde and a hydrate thereof, and 2-O-methylated derivatives and 2-O-sulfated derivatives of the 3,6-anhydrogalactopyranose, the aldehyde and the hydrate;
• and
• a soluble saccharide that contains said compound.