Pharmaceutical composition of complex carbohydrates and essential oils and methods of using the same

Abstract

A method for producing a therapeutic treatment effect by a biologically active macromolecule through topical application to the skin of a human or other mammal is provided. One step of the method is providing a composition which includes the biologically active macromolecule and at least one essential oil. The biologically active macromolecule is present in an amount to produce the therapeutic treatment effect, and the essential oil is present in an amount to effect transdermal delivery of the biologically active macromolecule. The following step is applying the composition onto the skin of a human or other mammal to effectuate the transdermal delivery of the biologically active macromolecule evidenced by a resulting therapeutic treatment effect.

Description

BACKGROUND AND FIELD OF THE INVENTION Complex carbohydrates, for purposes of this invention are defined as any polymer comprising more than two sugar moieties and would thus include such classes of compounds as polysaccharides and oligosaccharides. Polysaccharides include glycosaminoglycans and mannans whereas oligosaccharides are comprised of branched polysaccharides such as sialylated sugars including milk sugars. Glycosaminoglycans are mucopolysaccharides which can be obtained from numerous sources {e.g. rooster combs, trachea, umbilical cords, skin, articular fluids and certain bacteria such as Streptococci spp). Most glycosaminoglycans (hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfates A, B, and C, heparin sulfate, heparin, keratan sulfate, dermatan sulfate, etc.) are composed of repeating sugars such as non-sulfated n-acetylglucosamine, glucuronic acid and n-acetyl galactosamine (these are known as non-sulfated glycosaminoglycans) or polysulfated sugars (sulfated glycosaminoglycans). M...