Histaminase of vegetable origin for use in the treatment of allergic and septic shock and of allergic asthma

Abstract

The present invention relates to a histaminase of vegetable origin to be used in the treatment of allergic and septic shock and inallergic asthma. The invention also regards the preparation of the histaminase for pharmaceutical use and the corresponding pharmaceutical compositions.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a histaminase of vegetable origin to be used in the treatment of allergic and septic shock and of allergic asthma. The invention also regards the preparation of the histaminase for pharmaceutical use and the corresponding pharmaceutical compositions.PRIOR ART[0002] Histaminase is an enzyme of the family of the amine oxidases. A method for its preparation is described in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,540, where histaminase is produced by micro-organisms and used for removing or degrading the histamine present in animal feed and in those foods that may be responsible for allergies, such as milk and its derivatives, so as to stem allergic phenomena affecting humans. Afterwards, histaminase is removed or in some way deactivated by the above-mentioned types of food.[0003] Allergy is a complex phenomenon that may even affect internal organs, such as the heart and the lungs, causing bronchospasm, dyspnoea, asthma and shock. In particular, asthma is a chron...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

0015] A further object of the invention is the use of a particular histaminase (Enzyme Commission EC 1.4.3.6) of vegetable origin t

Problems solved by technology

Allergy is a complex phenomenon that may even affect internal organs, such as the heart and the lungs, causing bronchospasm, dyspnoea, asthma and shock.

However, the above drugs present negative side effects.

However, these drugs must be considered only symptomatic, in so far as they induce relaxation of smooth bronchial muscle without affecting at all the pathogenic mechanism of the allergic reaction.

In addition, the effect of inhibition of the release of mediators of mast cells, which has been demonstrated for salbutamol in vitro and in vivo, is not, however, detectable in clinical use, given the acute conditions under which the drug is administered, as well as the brief duration of its action.

Another drug indicated both in attacks of asthma and in anaphylactic shock on account of its marked .beta..sub.2-agonist action is adrenaline, a drug which is certainly effective and frequently a life-saver in emergency situations, but which also presents dangerous side effects (hyperglycaemia, dyspnoea, tachycardia, arrhythmias, cephalea, vomiting, and dizziness, up to the point of triggering attacks of angina in cardiac patients), which relegate its use only to life-threatening situations (Hoffman B. B., Lefkowitz R. J., Catecholamines, sympathomimetic drugs and adrenergic receptor antagonists.

The use of methyl xanthines via parenteral route, which are useful above all in the state of asthmatic illness, is extremely dangerous owing to the considerable systemic effects (risk of arrhythmias, panic attacks, convulsions), which limit their use to the more serious situations and involve the need for careful monitoring of the patient (Nasser S. S., Rees P. J., Theophylline.

Their efficacy is beyond doubt both in attenuating the phenomenon in the acute phase and in the prevention of long-term relapse; however, in this case, the numerous