Composition comprising vicenin-2 having a beneficial effect on neurological and/or cognitive function

Abstract

The invention relates to an active ingredient and / or to a composition having beneficial effect on neurological and cognitive functions.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a U.S. National Stage application of PCT / EP2012 / 074010 filed 29 Nov. 2012, which claims priority to European Patent Application 11009430.7 filed 29 Nov. 2011, European Patent Application 12163578.3 filed 10 Apr. 2012, U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61 / 564,374 filed 29 Nov. 2011, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61 / 622,260 filed 10 Apr. 2012, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The invention relates to a food, a dietary supplement and a drug composition comprising as an active ingredient vicenin 2 or a biologically active analogue thereof, and especially its beneficial effects to maintain and / or improve neurological and brain function and to prevent, delay onset, control and / or treat a cognitive dysfunction, condition, disorder or disease, e.g. dementia such as Alzheimer disease.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Maintenance or improvement of neurological a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]In accordance with the present invention it has been surprisingly found that the active ingredient vicenin 2 or biologically active analogues thereof and compositions comprising the same have beneficial effects on cognitive functions including memory, attention, concentration, alertness, mental flexibility and / or speed, learning, intelligence, language, problem solving capacity, consciousness, coping with psychological stress or tension, motivation, mobility, decision making capacity and reaction time as well as emotions like anxiety and mood swings.

[0013]In a further embodiment, the invention relates to a use of vicenin 2 or a biologically active analogue thereof as an active ingredient for maintaining and / or improving neurological and / or brain function. This embodiment relates to a use of vicenin 2 or a biologically active analogue thereof for healthy individuals, who wish to e.g. enhance cognitive performance and / or improve well-being at stress situations.

[0041]In the process, the raw plant material is preferably Perilla species, more preferably Perilla frutescens Britton var. crispa or var. acuta Kudo. The raw plant material is preferably prepared by drying, cutting and / or milling. Extraction can be preferably done with a raw material which particle size is reduced to lower than 2 mm2. The solvent may be, preferably, water, methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, ethyl acetate, hexane, chloroform or dichloromethane. Most preferably an aqueous solvent, preferably water, is used since glycosides, like vicenin 2, which have hygroscopic properties, are extracted by hot water more efficiently than alcohol. Moreover, some volatile, allergenic compounds like Perillaldehyde, Methyleugenol and Myristicin, which may occur in targeted species containing vicenin 2, can be eliminated by hot water.

[0046]The process of the invention provides an extract with a higher concentration of the active ingredient as the prior art processes due to concentration of the active ingredient. The higher concentration is achieved using state of the art extraction equipment, which allows an optimal interaction between the raw material and the extraction solvents. All critical process steps, for example temperature, are controlled in process at any times and adaptations are continuously possible to ensure highest yield for the active ingredient. Due to the selection of the extraction solvents combined with optimized physical conditions it is possible to diminish unwanted substances which may occur naturally in the different raw materials.

Problems solved by technology

There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death.

The economic burden of Alzheimer's disease is massive and currently approved drugs do not prevent or reverse the disease and provide only modest symptomatic benefits.

A combination of several causes may lead to the development of plaques in the brain, which decrease the efficiency of neuronal communication leading to death of neurons.

Not many drugs are approved for the treatment of dementia such as Alzheimer.

[1,1] Despite considerable efforts by academic researchers and pharmaceutical and food industry, the development of novel ingredients for the maintenance and improvement of neurological and brain function and to prevent the development and to slow down the progression of dementia and Alzheimer disease has been dragging and did not lead to many innovations.

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