Pharmaceutical composition comprising curcumin and the preparation thereof

Abstract

The object of the present invention is a pharmaceutical composition, comprising a combination preparation comprising a first active ingredient derived from a plant oleoresin from plants of genus curcuma and at least one second active ingredient, double micro-encapsulated by a layer of carbohydrate polymers and lipids, wherein the lipids are derived from a plant oleoresin. A further object of the present invention is a method for the production of a double micro-encapsulated pharmaceutical composition according to the invention and a pharmaceutical drug comprising said pharmaceutical composition according to the invention.

Description

[0001] Pharmaceutical composition comprising curcumin and the preparation thereof

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a novel pharmaceutical composition contain- ing at least curcumin, wherein the bioavailability of curcumin is very high and wherein the composition comprises further different curcuminoids. The pre- sent invention relates also to a novel method for the preparation of the in- ventive pharmaceutical composition as described above.

[0004] Background Art

[0005] For thousands of years, natural products have been used in traditional medi- cines, and they have shown promise as a source of components for the de- velopment of new drugs. Curcumin (1 ,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1 ,6- heptadiene-3, 5-dione), also known as diferuloylmethane, is a crystalline com- pound that has a bright orange-yellow color and the primary natural polyphe- nol found in Curcuma longa rhizome (turmeric). The aroma of this spice is principally derived from a- and β -turmerone and aromatic turmerone.

[0006] Curcuminoids have attracted potential therapeutic interest for the treatment of immune-related, metabolic, and cancer-related diseases due to their wide range of biological targets and lack of side effects. Curcumin has recently gained recognition as an important natural intervention due to its wide range of biological activities, including antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antioxidant, radioprotective, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective properties, despite its very low solubility, poor absorption, bioavailability, rapid elimination, and metabolic changes.

[0007] Curcumin works via different physiological mechanisms, for instance curcu- min acts as an anti-inflammatory by reducing ROS (reactive oxygen species) production due to its effect on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase and increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Also curcumin has been shown in animal studies to increase the survival of tumor- bearing rodents by inhibiting tumor growth and preventing metastasis.

[0008] There is a growing interest in using phytochemicals to prevent prostate can- cer, as well as to treat oxidative and inflammatory conditions, metabolic syn- drome, arthritis, anxiety, and hyperlipidemia. Management of exercise-in- duced inflammation and muscle soreness, thereby improving recovery and subsequent performance in active people, etc. led us to investigate potential preventive agents such as curcumin.

[0009] However, concerns have been raised about its low bioavailability and poor absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, limiting its clinical use. Curcuminoids are naturally amphiphilic and they are more soluble in organic solvents than in water, and curcumin's solubility in aqueous solution is less than 0.03 M in buffer at pH 7. As a result, curcumin has poor gastrointestinal absorption and low aqueous solubility. Several animal studies have shown that the majority of oral curcumin (90%) is excreted in the feces. To address this issue, nu- merous methods for increasing bioavailability have been developed. Accord- ing to recent research, it has been found that curcumin encapsulation may improve systemic bioavailability.

[0010] These include the use of adjuvants like piperine, the formulation of liposomal curcumin, curcumin nanoparticles, curcumin phospholipid complexes, and the use of curcumin structural analogues like turmeric oil.

[0011] In the state of the art WO 2015 / 025236 A1 discloses a curcumin composition for increasing the bioavailability of curcumin, which consists of curcumin mix- ture and water extract in a ratio of 70:30. The curcumin mixture comprises curcumin dry crystals, volatile oil, fixed oil whereas water extract comprises soluble proteins, dietary fibers and carbohydrates extracted from turmeric. The composition also consists of a natural emulsifier isolated from Quillaja Saponaria and lecithin. The composition increases the rate of availability of curcumin as the dietary fibers holds the curcumin for long time. The soluble proteins increase the solubility of curcumin in water thus increasing absorp- tion of curcumin in blood and the essential oil increases dispensability. The curcumin composition showed bioequivalence with 250 mg curcumin cap- sules, exhibited anti-aging, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activities and is also effective in boosting the phagocyte mediated immunity suggesting as natural therapy for treatment of various diseases.

[0012] Further, WO 2022 / 219166 A1 discloses a combination preparation compris- ing resveratrol and at least one gingerol, or resveratrol and a combination of gingerols, in addition to pharmaceutical or nutraceutical acceptable adjuvants and additives.

[0013] Summary of the Invention

[0014] Therefore, it is the problem of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of the state of the art.

[0015] The problem of the invention is solved by providing a pharmaceutical compo- sition, comprising a combination preparation comprising a first active ingredi- ent derived from a plant oleoresin from plants of genus curcuma and at least one second active ingredient, double micro-encapsulated by a layer of carbo- hydrate polymers and lipids, wherein the lipids are derived from a plant oleo- resin. Different experimental set-ups as detailed in the following description have shown that the bioavailability of curcumin is enhanced when using a pharmaceutical composition according to the present invention. The synergic effect of curcumin covered by a turmeric lipid encapsulated in a wall material such as modified food starch can significantly enhance the bioavailability even further. When using turmeric oleoresin as the base of lipid layer, no other extra materials are required. Furthermore turmeric oleoresin contain turmeric essential oil and curcuminoid and both have a hypoglycemic effect. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a pharmaceutical compo- sition is provided, wherein at least the second active ingredient is resveratrol, gingerol or is derived from oleoresin from plants of genus Boswellia.

[0016] Furthermore preferred is a pharmaceutical composition according to the pre- sent invention, wherein the combination preparation comprises a third active ingredient, which is selected from resveratrol, gingerol or is derived from a plant oleoresin from plants of genus Boswellia.

[0017] Adding a second or even third active ingredient leads to a synergistic effect. For example, there are functional overlaps between curcumin, resveratrol and gingerol. In addition to its own highly interesting effects, gingerol espe- cially 6-gingerol is an "amplifier" of curcumin and resveratrol. Furthermore curcumin and resveratrol also have the modulation of signaling of the cell in common, which they can both activate or inhibit simultaneously in the same direction.

[0018] Further preferred is a pharmaceutical composition, according to the present invention, wherein the lipids comprise a selection and / or a combination of fatty acids, glycerolipids, glycerophospholipids, sterols, prenols, saccharo- lipids and polyketides.

[0019] Additionally preferred is a pharmaceutical composition, according to the pre- sent invention, wherein the carbohydrate polymers are selected from one or more of the group comprising starch, modified starch, poly anhydrides, poly (ortho esters), poly (ethylene carbonates), poly (lactic acids), poly (glycol ac- ids), poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) and co-poly (L-lactic acid-oxyethylene-[3- L-lactic acid).

[0020] Furthermore preferred is a pharmaceutical composition, according the pre- sent invention, wherein the first active ingredient is derived from plant oleo- resin of genus curcuma comprises curcuminoids, especially curcumin, de- m ethoxycu rcu m i n , b is-dem ethoxycu rcum i n . Further preferred is a pharmaceutical composition, according to the present invention, wherein the at least one second or third active ingredient is derived from plant oleoresin of genus Boswellia comprises a-boswellic acid, acetyl-a- boswellic acid, acetyl-11-keto-a-boswellic acid, [3-boswellic acid, acetyl-[3- boswellic acid, 11 -keto-[3-boswellic acid (KBA), and / or acetyl-11 -keto-[3-bos- wellic acid (AKBA).

[0021] Additionally preferred is the pharmaceutical composition, according to pre- sent invention, wherein the at least one second or third active ingredient of gingerol further comprises shogaols, which are selected from 4-shogaol, 6- shogaol, 8-shogaol, 10-shogaol and 12-shogaol.

[0022] Preferred is a pharmaceutical composition, according to the present inven- tion, wherein the double micro-encapsulated layer consists of an inner and an outer layer.

[0023] Especially preferred is a pharmaceutical composition, according to the pre- sent invention, wherein the inner layer comprises a homogenized and / or complex mixture of a combination of the first active compound, namely a de- rivative from a plant oleoresin from plants of genus curcuma and a second active compound, namely resveratrol, gingerol or a derivative from plant oleo- resin from plants of genus Boswellia.

[0024] Also preferred is a pharmaceutical composition, according to the present in- vention, wherein the outer layer comprises a homogenized and / or complex mixture of a combination of the first active compound, namely a derivative from a plant oleoresin from plants of genus curcuma and a second active compound, namely resveratrol, gingerol or a derivative from plant oleoresin from plants of genus Boswellia. To improve bioavailability even further a double shielding of curcumin is used within a lipid layer of turmeric oil and a suitable wall material as the outer cov- ering.

[0025] Furthermore, the problem of the present invention is solved by providing a method for the production of a double micro-encapsulated pharmaceutical composition according to the present invention, successively comprising the steps of a. providing a plant oleoresin; b. separating active ingredients in form of crystals from the plant oleoresin and separating lipids in form of liq- uids from the plant oleoresin; c. mixing of the separated crystals and the sep- arated lipids as obtained in step b. with carbohydrate polymers and forming an aqueous solution; d. homogenization of the aqueous solution produced in step c.; e. spray drying of in step d. produced homogenized aqueous solution and producing a double micro-encapsulated pharmaceutical composition. Due to the method according to the invention, the preparation is improved and thus the bioavailability of curcumin is increased. The micro-encapsula- tion process protects the pharmaceutical composition from harmful environ- mental conditions. It utilizes wall materials such as starch for protecting the nucleus-core material.

[0026] An embodiment of the method according to the present invention is pre- ferred, wherein the providing of plant oleoresin according to step a. is per- formed in that a rhizome of the utilized plant of interest is dried and crushed and in that the oleoresin is extracted from the crushed rhizome material.

[0027] Furthermore preferred is a method according to the present invention, wherein the extraction is performed using organic solvents comprising alco- hols, like ethanol, methanol, and the like and / or acetone and / or hydrocar- bons, like n-hexane, iso-hexane, n-pentane, iso-pentane, and the like and / or steam of water and / or supercritical fluid extraction using supercritical carbon dioxide. Additionally preferred is a method according to the present invention, wherein the providing of plant oleoresin according to step a. is performed in that the oleoresin is extracted from excretion cells of the bark, especially from the plants of genus Boswellia.

[0028] Further preferred is a method according to the present invention, wherein in an additional step f. after step e. the product retrieved in step e., namely the double micro-encapsulated pharmaceutical composition is mixed with phar- maceutical additives or adjuvants and formed into a tablet or a capsule, wherein preferably the tablet or the capsule is an enteric coated tablet or an enteric coated capsule.

[0029] Further, the problem of the present invention is solved by a pharmaceutical drug in form of an tablet or capsule, comprising a pharmaceutical composi- tion according to the present invention.

[0030] "Comprising" means in that context that further pharmaceutical drug compo- nents or other components can be present in the pharmaceutical drug. How- ever, it does not exclude that no further components beside the pharmaceuti- cal composition according to the invention are present in the pharmaceutical drug.

[0031] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0032] Fig. 1 shows a double micro-encapsulated product according to the inven- tion;

[0033] Fig. 2 shows a flow chart of the method for the production of a pharmaceuti- cal product according to the invention;

[0034] Fig. 3 shows a graphical representation of the comparison of serum concen- trations of total curcuminoids in rats after administration of CUREmin- ACITF® I CUREIT® or a pharmaceutical composition according to the inven- tion;

[0035] Fig. 4 shows a graphical representation of the comparison of serum concen- trations of desmethoxycurcumin in rats after administration of CUREmin- ACITF® I CUREIT® or a pharmaceutical composition according to the inven- tion;

[0036] Fig. 5 shows a graphical representation of the serum concentration of bisdesmethoxycurcumin in rats after administration of CUREmin-ACITF® / CUREIT® or a pharmaceutical composition according to the invention;

[0037] Fig. 6a and Fig. 6b shows graphical representations of comparing pharmaco- kinetic of CUREmin-ACTIF® / CUREIT® and a pharmaceutical composition according to the invention;

[0038] Fig. 7 shows a graph of mean AUC's of Curcuminoid, CUREmin-ACTIF® / CUREIT® and a pharmaceutical composition according to the invention; Fig. 8 shows a graph depicting the inhibitory effect of conventional chemo- therapeutics;

[0039] Fig. 9 shows a graph depicting the inhibitory effect of Resveratrol-ACTIF® and a pharmaceutical composition according to the invention;

[0040] Fig. 10 shows a graph depicting the results for chemotherapeutics and Resveratrol-ACTIF® and a pharmaceutical composition according to the in- vention;

[0041] Fig. 11 shows a graph depicting the comparison of the mean plasma concen- tration of curcumin after the administration of CUREmin-ACITF® I CUREIT® or a pharmaceutical composition according to the invention;

[0042] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0043] The matter of the present invention shall be made clear and concise with the following definitions for specific terms used in the present description.

[0044] The term “crystallized curcuma extract” means that further pharmaceutically active substances like curcuminoids, especially curcumin, demethoxycurcu- min and bis-demethoxycurcumin, as well as to their isomeric forms, espe- cially as keto-enol tautomeric forms, and gingerols, selected from shogaols, especially 4-shogaol, 6-shogaol, 8-shogaol, 10-shogaol, and 12-shogaol as well as gingerols, especially 6-gingerol, 8-gingerol, and 10-gingerol which are compromised after the extraction and crystallization. The term “turmeric lipid’ means that lipids which are insoluble in water have been extracted from the turmeric rhizome. It is known in the state of the art that lipids are fatty acids, glycerolipids, glycerophospholipids, sterols, prenols, saccharolipids, polyketides and the like. The turmeric lipids can be used for micro-encapsulation of pharmaceutical compounds.

[0045] The term “carbohydrate polymer substance" means natural or synthetic car- bohydrates like starch, modified starch, poly anhydrides, poly (ortho esters), poly (ethylene carbonates), poly (lactic acids), poly (glycol acids), poly (D,L- lactide-co-glycolide), co-poly (L-lactic acid-oxyethylene-!3>-L-lactic acid) and the like. Modified starch is the main product used for micro-encapsulation as known in the state of the art. The person skilled in the art knows all suitable substances for the preparation of micro-encapsulation.

[0046] The term “oleoresin” describes semi-solid extracts composed of resin and es- sential or fatty oil.

[0047] The term “Boswellia” describes specially AKBA (3-O-acetyl-11 -keto-p-bos- wellic acid) the most active molecule of boswellia resins, which can be ex- tracted from resins of Boswellia serrata and Bossewellia carteri.

[0048] The term “resveratrol” describes 3, 4', 5 trihydroxystilbene, which is a natu- rally occurring phytoalexin produced by some spermatophytes, such as grapevines, in response to injury .It is produced by plant sources such as grapes, apples, blueberries, plums, and peanut. Further resveratrol can be encapsulated within an oil part of other plants of ginger kind of species and can be microencapsulated by using a starch solution.

[0049] The term “gingerol” describes components of ginger plants, that are mem- bers of the ginger family, which are broadly used as dietary supplements or bioactive compound for different disease. The term “pharmaceutical product” or “pharmaceutical drug” describes any known forms such as tablets, sucking tablets, film tablet, dragees, capsules or pills, which is made of the pharmaceutical composition according to the in- vention.

[0050] The term “Test Sample” describes a pharmaceutical composition according to the invention, which has been produced by using the method according to the invention.

[0051] Pharmaceutical Composition

[0052] In general, usual pharmaceutical preparations can be produced according to the state of the art.

[0053] A preferred subject of the present invention is a pharmaceutical composition for oral, buccal, sublingual, nasal, rectal, subcutaneous, intravenous or intra- muscular application as well as for inhalation, which, in addition to the usual vehicle and dilution agents, also contains the active ingredients according to the present invention. The pharmaceutical composition according to the pre- sent invention is produced in the known way and in suitable dosage, with the usual solid or liquid vehicle substances or dilution agents and the usually used pharmaceutical-technical adjuvants corresponding to the desired type of application. The inventive compositions are present in a form of admin- istration which is suitable for oral application.

[0054] Such forms of administration include, for example, tablets, sucking tablets, film tablets, dragees, capsules, pills, powders, solutions, aerosols or suspen- sions or slow-release forms.

[0055] Corresponding tablets can be obtained, for example, by mixing the active substance with known adjuvants, for example, inert dilution agents such as dextrose, sugar, sorbitol, mannitol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, bursting agents such as com starch or alginic acid, binders such as starches or gelatins, lubricants such as magnesium stearate or tale and / or agents for achieving a slow re- lease effect such as carboxypolymethylene, carboxymethylcellulose, cellu- lose acetate phthalate or polyvinyl acetate. The tablets may consist of sev- eral layers.

[0056] Dragees can also be produced correspondingly, for controlled or delayed re- lease forms of preparation, by coating the cores produced analogously to the tablets with agents commonly used in dragee coatings, for example, polyvi- nylpyrrolidone or shellac, gum arabic, talc, titanium dioxide or sugar. The dra- gee envelope may also consist of several layers, wherein the adjuvants men- tioned above in the case of tablets can be used.

[0057] Solutions or suspensions containing the active ingredients used according to the invention may additionally contain agents that improve taste, such as saccharin, cyclamate or sugar, as well as, e.g., taste enhancers such as va- nilla or orange extract. They may also contain suspension adjuvants such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose or preservatives such as p-hydroxybenzoate.

[0058] Capsules containing active substances can be produced, for example, by mixing the active ingredients with an inert vehicle such as lactose or sorbitol and encapsulating this mixture in gelatin capsules. Suitable suppositories can be produced, for example, by mixing with vehicle agents provided therefore, such as neutral fats or polyethylene glycol or derivatives thereof.

[0059] The production of the pharmaceutical preparations or compositions according to the invention is known in and of itself, and is described in handbooks known to the person skilled in the art, for example, Hager's Handbuch [Hand- book] (5th ed.) 2, 622-1045; List et al., Arzneiformenlehre [Instructions for Drug Forms], Stuttgart: Wiss. Verlagsges. 1985; Sucker et al., Phar- mazeutische Technologie [Pharmaceutical Technology], Stuttgart: Thieme 25 1991 ; Ullmann's Enzyklopadie [Encyclopedia] (5th ed.)A 19, 241 -271 ; Voigt, Pharmazeutische Technologie [Pharmaceutical Technology], Berlin: Ulistein Mosby 1995. Description of Embodiments

[0060] Curcumin, the active ingredient is wrapped inside a turmeric lipid layer. By using the turmeric oleoresin as the base of lipid layer, no other extra materi- als are required and can enhance the bioavailability notably. Also turmeric oleoresin contain turmeric essential oil and curcuminoid and both having hy- poglycemic effect. Hence makes the best choice for making the lipid layer around. That has a multipurpose in action. Due to the lipophilic nature, it can cross the lipid bilayer and can noticeably be used for a variety of applications. The essential oils are composed mainly of sesquiterpenes, many of which are specific for the Curcuma genus. The lipid wrapped curcumin is then loaded into a matrix such as starch. The effective matrix system could load and protect curcuminoids, then deliver them at the target. Starch is a wall material that is commonly used in micro-encapsulation. Modified starch are increasingly being considered for micro-encapsulation of vitamins, essential oils, flavors and phytochemicals. Micro-encapsulation is a process that pro- tects compounds from harmful environmental conditions. It utilizes wall mate- rials such as starch for protecting the nucleus-core material. This wall mate- rial act as a protecting cover from external stimuli such as pH, light, humidity etc. Starch can be modified chemically, physically, or enzymatically to im- prove or change its functionality in order to produce higher yielding micro-en- capsulation of compounds while retaining the functionality and physicochemi- cal properties of the nucleus, which should still be easily released. Changes in pH, temperature, diffusion by external fluid action, chemical reactions, en- zymatic hydrolysis, or mechanical rupture cause the core material to be re- leased from the encapsulating material. Thus in total, the double micro-en- capsulation technique successfully enhance the effect of the product.

[0061] It is known in the state of the art that curcumin, based on Curcuma longa, usually consists of about 77 % curcumin I (curcumin), about 17 % curcumin II (demethoxycurcumin) and about 3 % curcumin III (bis-demethoxycurcumin). Furthermore, Curcuma longa, usually comprises shogaols, like 4-shogaol, 6- shogaol, 8-shogaol, 10-shogaol, and 12-shogaol, gingerols, like 6-gingerol, 8- gingerol, and 10-gingerol as well as turmeric lipids. All these compounds can be extracted from a turmeric rhizome or respective plant materials from dried rhizomes of ginger and are also used according to the present invention.

[0062] It has to be pointed out that according to the invention other rhizomes from the family of Zingiberaceae and / or with the genus Curcuma can be used for the pharmaceutical composition according to the present invention. It is also clear that these different rhizomes can be used to produce the pharmaceuti- cal composition according to the invention as described herein.

[0063] Example 1

[0064] Characteristic details of double micro-encapsulated inventive pharmaceutical product comprising curcuma extract

[0065] Figure 1 illustrates in a cross-sectional view the arrangement of the active in- gredient curcuma extract C and the encapsulants turmeric lipid L and starch S for the double micro-encapsulation. Curcuma extract C is completely en- closed with the turmeric lipid L. The turmeric lipid L is in form of a great amount of single spheres which encapsulate curcumin C. The second or dou- ble encapsulation is performed with starch S, wherein the starch molecules partially penetrate the turmeric lipid spheres. This means that the starch mol- ecules S contact the inner curcuma extract C and the outer surface created with the turmeric lipid L of the final product. This explanation discloses the double micro-encapsulation.

[0066] Example 2

[0067] Details about production of double micro-encapsulation of curcuma extract

[0068] Figure 2 illustrates the inventive method of production of a double micro-en- capsulated pharmaceutical product. As illustrated in Figure 2 the method of the production is performed as described in seven steps. The starting material is turmeric T, a rhizome of curcuma longa, which is a part of the family of Zingiberaceae. It is also possible to use other rhizomes of the family of Zingiberaceae or the genus of curcuma. In Step 1 , the tur- meric is dried and dried turmeric D is used in following Step 2. Step 2 ex- tracts active ingredients from turmeric T in form of oleoresin 0. The extrac- tion is performed in a usual manner as known in the state of the art. The ex- traction is performed via organic solvents comprising alcohols, like ethanol, methanol, and the like and / or acetone and / or hydrocarbons, like n-hexane, iso-hexane, n-pentane, iso-pentane, and the like and / or steam of water and / or supercritical fluid extraction using supercritical carbon dioxide and the like as known in the state of the art. The final product of the extraction pro- cess is oleoresin 0. The extracted oleoresin from turmeric T or dried turmeric D comprises etheric oils and resins as well as organic compounds. All these extracted substances are useful as pharmaceutical ingredients. These sub- stances may comprise curcuminoids, turmeric lipids, shogaols, like 4- shogaol, 6-shogaol, 8-shogaol, 10-shogaol, and 12-shogaol, gingerols, like 6- gingerol, 8-gingerol, and 10-gingerol as well as turmeric lipids. Turmeric lipids are not water soluble and have therefore been extracted as described above. In Step 3 the extracted oleoresin 0 is prepared in order to crystalize curcu- min C out of the oleoresin 0. After the extraction of curcuma extract C from oleoresin 0, turmeric lipids L remain and are also separated. This means that Step 3 separates crystallized curcumin C and turmeric lipids L from oleoresin 0. The products obtained from Step 3, namely crystallized curcuma extract C and turmeric lipids L are in Step 4 now added into a starch solution S and the solution mixture of starch S, crystallized curcuma extract C and turmeric li- pids L are then in Step 5 homogenized in order to obtain a homogenized in- termediate product H. In next Step 6, a spray drying of the homogenized in- termediate product H is performed to obtain a double microencapsulated in- termediate product M as described in Figure 1 . In final Step 7 the double mi- cro-encapsulated intermediate product M is prepared as a pharmaceutical product P. Example 3

[0069] Details about production of double micro-encapsulation of oleoresin extracted from plants of genus Boswellia

[0070] The inventive production of a pharmaceutical composition according to the present invention comprising active ingredients from plants of genus Boswellia can be performed in using the oleoresin extracted from the bark of Boswellia plants, especially from Boswellia serrata or Boswellia carteri. .

[0071] The starting material is Boswellia serrata, which is a part of the family of Bur- seraceae. The Boswellia serrata oleoresin occurs in transparent, yellow brown fragrant tears, which are about 5 cm long and 2 cm thick, containing 20-36% gum (galacturonic acid, digitoxose, arabinose, galactose and xy- lose), 56-65% acid resin (up to 43% triterpene acids) and 4-8% essential oil. In a first step Boswellia serrata oleo-gum resin is air-dried and grounded. In the next step the air-dried oleo-gum resin is used to isolate essential oil. The isolation is performed in a usual manner as known in the state of the art. The isolation is performed by either hydro- and steam distillation or supercritical fluid extraction using supercritical carbon dioxide. The final product of the ex- traction process is the essential oil, which is collected. In a parallel step the air dried and grounded oleo-gum resin is used to isolate 3-O-acetyl-11-keto- [3-boswellic Acid (AKBA). The isolation is performed by hydroalcoholic extrac- tion followed by alkali treatment and further treatment with acid to precipitate the bioactive compound AKBA as known in the state of the art. The extracted products, namely the oil part and acid resin part (AKBA) are added into a starch solution and the solution mixture of starch, oil and AKBA are then ho- mogenized in order to obtain homogenized intermediate product. In the next step, a spray drying of the homogenized intermediate is performed to obtain double microencapsulated product as described in Figure 1. Further the dou- ble micro-encapsulated intermediate product is prepared as a pharmaceutical product. Example 4

[0072] Comparative study to assess single dose oral bioavailability of CUREmin ACTIF® I CUREIT® 2 capsule and Test sample 3 which is a pharmaceutical composition according to the invention, in rats.

[0073] In total three experimental set-ups were designed, whereas in each experi- mental set-up three treatment groups were determined; each treatment group consisting of 10 rats. In case of all experimental set-ups one group obtained a Control 1 , one group obtained CUREmin-ACTIF® / CUREIT® 2, and one group obtained the Test sample 3. Each compound was given in a doses of 250 mg compound-preparation per kg body weight by oral gavage. Com- pounds have been applicated in fasting state.

[0074] In all experimental set-ups the Control 1 is pure curcumin (conventional cur- cumin) or curcumin 95%; CUREmin-ACTIF® / CUREIT® 2 is a capsule of 400 mg / dose containing 250 mg curcuminoids, 50 mg turmeric extract and 100 mg sodium starch octenyl succinate. The Test Sample 3 was in all ex- perimental set-ups a pharmaceutical composition according to the invention. Test Sample 3 used in this embodiment is a capsule containing 250 mg cur- cuminoids, 50 mg turmeric extract and 100 mg sodium starch octenyl succin- ate, which was produced by using the method according to the present in- vention.

[0075] The serum concentration of curcumin was determined in all three experi- mental set-ups to different time-points within a time span of 24 hours after oral uptake.

[0076] The first experimental set-up was designed to determine serum concentra- tions of total curcuminoids. The results are summarized in Table 1 and the graphic representation is shown in Figure 3. Test Sample 3, which is a phar- maceutical composition according to the invention showed a higher serum concentration of curcumin I compared to CUREmin-ACTIF® / CUREIT® 2 as well as to the control 1 . A peak of curcumin serum concentration was shown to be two to four hours after oral uptake. Those results demonstrate a higher bioavailability of curcumin when provided by using a pharmaceutical compo- sition according to the invention.

[0077] Table I

[0078] In the second experimental set-up serum concentrations of curcumin II (desmethoxycurcumin) was determined. The results are summarized in Table II and graphically represented in Figure 4. Again the results show that the curcurmin II serum concentrations of the Test Sample 3 are higher compared to CUREmin-ACTIF® / CUREIT® 2 and Control 1 . Those results lead to the assumption that the pharmaceutical composition according to the invention increases the bioavailability of curcumin.

[0079] Table II

[0080] In the last experimental set-up the serum concentrations of curcumin III (bis- desmethoxycurcumin) in rats were determined in order to evaluate the bioa- vailability of the Test Sample 3 compared to CUREmin-ACTIF® / CUREIT® 2. The results are summarized in Table III and graphically represented in Figure 5. Again the results show that the curcurmin III serum concentration is higher after oral uptake of the Test Sample 3 than after oral uptake either of CURE- min-ACTIF® / CUREIT® 2 or Control 1 . Furthermore, the results even show that curcurmin III serum concentration could still be detected 24 hours after oral uptake of the Test Sample 3, whereas in case of CUREmin-ACTIF® / CUREIT® 2 or Control 1 the detection of curcumin III plasma concentration was not possible 12 hours after oral uptake. Thus the bioavailability of curcu- min is increased due to the pharmaceutical composition according to the in- vention.

[0081] Table III

[0082] Furthermore, the pharmacokinetics of CUREmin-ACTIF® / CUREIT® 2 and the Test Sample 3were compared. The results are represented in Figures 6A and 6B. The solid lines represent the calculated means of the concentrations in 10 rats, the dotted lines represent the standard deviation. The difference in achieved concentrations in serum between the two preparations are for the whole time-course of the experiment significantly different. Figure 6A shows the measured concentrations over the full time course of 0 - 24 hours, Figure 6B shows the concentrations for the time segment 1 to 8 hours. The concen- trations of the Test Sample 3, which is a pharmaceutical composition accord- ing to the invention, reached in serum exceed the TCD concentrations used here and depicted in Figure 8 - 10, for a time window of up to 8 hours by 3 to 10 fold. This shows, that even if human and rat pharmacokinetics cannot be compared directly, that the inventive pharmaceutical composition can reach therapeutic concentrations in vivo. Further, in Figure 6B it is shown, that the Tmax of Test Sample 3 compared with CUREmin-ACTIF® / CUREIT® 2 is sig- nificantly shifted to the right from 2 to 4 hours, indicating a longer half-life of the inventive pharmaceutical composition. Further, the Test Sample 3 shows at all times a higher bioavailability compared to CUREmin-ACTIF® / CUREIT® 2 (p<0.00001 ).

[0083] In Figure 7, the mean AUC’s (Area under the curve) of the Control, unformu- lated curcuminoid, CUREmin-ACTIF® I CUREIT® 2 and the Test Sample 3 are depicted. The Test Sample 3 achieves a significant higher serum concen- tration and availability as compared to CUREmin-ACTIF® / CUREIT® 2, which has so far been reported to be the most active oral curcuminoid prepa- ration; Ldffler, B.-M. et al in Food Chemistry and Analysis No. 25, Chapter 5, pages 104-135; 2021 ,.

[0084] Example 5

[0085] Determination of the effect of a pharmaceutical composition according to the present invention, on human circulating tumor cells in blood of nine patients suffering from different types of carcinoma as given in the following Table IV. The Test sample used is the same pharmaceutical composition according to the present invention as used in Example 4. Table IV

[0086] The cells from the collected blood were cultivated in a usual manner with an agent. The agent was either the Test Sample or Resveratrol-ACTIF®, which is a combination preparation comprising resveratrol and at least one gingerol, that were added to the cell culture in a concentration of either 50% 100% and 200% tissue culture dose.

[0087] After a short incubation time (24 hours) the cell death was determined in per- centage, which is shown in Table V. The results show that the pharmaceuti- cal composition according to the present invention (Test Sample) showed in comparable concentrations a similar or higher efficacy as Resveratrol- ACTIF®. Furthermore, those results show that the positive effects are de- pendent on the type of carcinoma.

[0088] Table V

[0089] Using a modified test system for the detection of tumor specific gene expres- sion by qPCR as a measure of the presence of CTC (circulating tumor cells) the blood sample of patients was analysed. Circulating epithelial cells were enriched by immunomagnetic separation and selected tumor specific genes and separate housekeeping genes were quantified by qRT-PCR. Based on four positively detected epithelial CTC markers the CTC status was defined as positive. In Table VI three repetitive analysis of patient 7 are given to show the CTC inhibitory effect. The results given in Table VI correlate with the results given in Figure 8 and 9, which are explained in detail further below. Table VI

[0090] The same EDTA blood sample used for the verification of the CTC burden was used for drug sensitivity testing.

[0091] After enrichment of mononuclear cells by density gradient centrifugation, CD45 depletion and erythrolysis, the remaining cells were suspended in cell culture medium and incubated for 4 days with and without the tested com- pounds. Compounds were tested at three tissue culture doses (TCD), namely 50%, 100% and 200%. The doses for compounds of complementary oncol- ogy were adapted from normalized cell culture in-vitro concentrations. The results are presented in Figure 8, showing the inhibitory effect of the following classical chemotherapeutic compounds: A, Irinotecan; B, Epirubicin + Taxo- there; C, Epirubicin + Taxol; D, Epirubicin; E, Taxotere; F, Carboplatin; G, Taxol, H, Methadon. The 3 columns per compound / compound-group show three different concentrations applied in the experiment: Black, 200% TCD, Grey, 100% TCD, White, 50% TCD. TCD is the peak-plasma-dose which is achieved in human patients during a chemotherapy after single application of the drug. The respective doses are given in Table VII. It can be seen that the response of tumor cell-inhibition is concentration dependent, indicative for a specific response except for Carboplatin, for which as it seems already with the 50% TCD the maximal response has been reached. From theses chemo- therapeutics Methadon, which is still not generally accepted as a valid drug in oncological therapy showed the highest antitumoral capacity. Table VII

[0092] The same experiment was performed with human circulating tumor cells, prepared from a tumor patient by using Resveratrol-ACTIF® and a pharma- ceutical composition according to the present invention. The results are given in Figure 9 in respect of patient 7. Already in the 50% TCD both compounds reached nearly maximal efficacy of nearly 80% inhibition, by that exceeding all in parallel tested conventional chemotherapeutics. It should be stated here, that it is rather difficult, to always determine in the forefront the right concentration ranges to be tested. Tumor patients are individuals, so are their respective tumor cells. The results vary from patient to patient and therefore have to be determined individually. The course of the so called school medicine is - as can be shown - not goal leading.

[0093] Concentrations of chemotherapeutics used in the CTC-Assay are summa- rized in Table VIII. 100% reflects the maximal plasma peak concentration in human plasma after a maximal chemotherapeutic single dose. 200% and 50% respectively the double- / half-maximal therapeutic dose used in human. Table VIII

[0094] Example 8

[0095] Superior anti-inflammatory potential of the pharmaceutical composition ac- cording to the invention.

[0096] 17 patients with different chronic inflammation indications received oral ther- apy with the pharmaceutical composition according to the invention. The used pharmaceutical composition according to the invention is the same as used in Example 4, namely a capsule of 250 mg curcuminoids, 50 mg tur- meric extract and 100 mg sodium starch octenyl succinate, which was pro- duced by using the method according to the present invention. The results of the individual measurements of immunological indicator parameter are sum- marized in Table IX. The individual results are given both for transparency and to illustrate the large differences in the possible elevations of cytokines, such as in TNF-a, IL-6, IL-8, or IL-1 b. The measurement of the different pa- rameters was performed in the usual manner by using methods like latex im- munoassay, sequential enzyme-linked solid-phase chemiluminescence as- say, MRP8 / 14 or Elisa. The first measurement (1 st) was performed before, the second (2nd) 3 months after the start of the treatment intervention with a pharmaceutical composition according to the invention. The abbreviation nd means not measured. In case the value at the second measurement was be- low the respective detection limit (<5), this value was set to 4.9 for statistical analysis. Patient No. 6 had nonclassical lung carcinoma histologically classi- fied as canceroid, and patient 14 had NSCLC. RA, rheumatoid arthritis. Pa- tient 7 was on continuous treatment with Embrel® (maximum dose), T2D, type 2 diabetes, HVS, herpes simplex virus.

[0097] Synergistic effects

[0098] The potential synergistic effects of resveratrol and curcumin can be explained by signal transduction pathway. Resveratrol inhibits AKT, mTOR, NFKB, MEK, ERK, [3-Catenin, MITF, STAT3, c-kit, c-Jun, a-MSH; and curcumin in- hibits PI3K, AKT, NFKB, ERK, STAT3, whereas p53 is upregulated by resveratrol and curcumin. Additionally gingerol can have synergistic effects with resveratrol and curcumin as well. 6-gingerol has the following target structures in common with resveratrol: TNF-a, MMP 9 / 2, Akt, Cyclin D1 , c- jun, JNK, AP-1 , IL-1 , NFkB, COX-2. Furthermore 6-gingerol regulates those in the same direction as resveratrol. 6-gingerol has the following target struc- tures in common with curcumin: IL-1 , TNF-a, JNK, MAPK, p53, COX-2, Cy- clin D1 , VEGF, EGF.

[0099] The synergistic potential of curcumin and resveratrol (in addition in compari- son to standard chemotherapy) is shown in Fig. 10 in a case of a patient with a metastasized NET-lung-cancer: A, Everolimus; B, Taxol; C, Carboplatin; D, Resveratrol-ACTIF®, E, pharmaceutical composition of the present invention; F, pharmaceutical composition of the present invention + Taxol; G, pharma- ceutical composition of the present invention + Resveratrol-ACTIF®.

[0100] The experimental set-up was similar to Example 5. Cells from a blood sample were cultivated with different agents. The agents were either chosen from classical chemotherapeutic compounds or alternative compounds such as resveratrol or curcumin as well as from pharmaceutical compositions accord- ing to the present invention. Examples for compositions according to the pre- sent invention are curcumin and resveratrol or curcumin, resveratrol and ar- tesunat. As shown in the graph, with 50 % TCDs a combination of drugs im- proves the inhibitory effect to near maximum. Again, compositions according to the present invention have a higher effect than classical chemotherapeutic compounds. Furthermore, the metabolic fate of resveratrol as well as curcumin at the gut wall is determined by enzymatic degradation. The involved enzymes (en- zyme systems) SULT1A1 , UGT1A1 und UGTA9 are not just active at the gut wall but also intrahepatically, which can be inhibited by gingerol.

[0101] The following table X shows the synergistic effects between curcumin (cur.), resveratrol (res.), 6-gingerol (6-ging.) and Boswellia (Bosw.).

[0102] Table X Example 9

[0103] Bioavailability study of a pharmaceutical composition according to the inven- tion

[0104] This study evaluated the relative bioavailability of a Test Sample 3, which is a pharmaceutical composition according to the present invention CUREmin - ACTIF® / Cureit® 2. Test sample 3 was produced by using the method ac- cording to the invention. In respect of both composition two capsules were used in total of 500 mg. Test Sample 3 comprises 250 mg of curcuminoids per capsule and CUREmin -ACTIF® / Cureit® 2 (500 mg capsules which con- tains 250 mg of curcuminoids. The study was performed in an open-label, balanced, randomized, single dose, two-treatment, two-period, two se- quence, two-way crossover study in healthy, adult, human male subjects un- der fed conditions.

[0105] The sample size of the study was 20 subjects in 1 :1 ratio randomized applied in each arm and received dosing as per randomization. During the second period of study, the participants were interchanged for the crossover study af- ter the washout period of 14 days. The subjects were fed a standard break- fast 30 minutes before dosing. In morning, a single oral dose, two capsules of 250 mg of curcumin containing capsule of either the Test Sample 3 or CURE- min -ACTIF® / Cureit® 2 were administered orally, as per randomization schedule, along with 240 mL water, to the subjects in sitting posture, under the supervision of investigator and trained study personnel including Quality Assurance auditor(s).

[0106] In this study period, 13 blood samples were collected including the pre-dose sampling in each period. For the pre-dose blood sample (00.00 hours) 0.4 mL were collected within 60 minutes prior to dosing. Post dose blood sam- ples of 0.4 mL were collected at the following time points at 00.166, 00.33, 00.50, 01.00, 02.00, 04.00, 06.00, 08.00, 12.00, 24.00, 48.00 and 72.00 hours. After collection of blood samples, the samples were placed in a thermo-insulated box containing ice and transferred to the sample processing room where the blood samples were centrifuged within 30 minutes at 4000 ± 50 rpm for 10 minutes at 02 °C to 08 °C to separate the plasma. The sepa- rated plasma was transferred into suitably labelled polypropylene tubes.

[0107] Each sample of separated plasma was extracted with ethyl acetate (3.0 mL) at room temperature. The organic layer was filtered, and 1.0 mL aliquots were pipetted into evaporation tubes. The solvent was evaporated using a ni- trogen stream, 2.0 mL of methanol was used to dissolve each sample, and the samples were analysed by using a validated ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) method.

[0108] Curcumin content in the plasma was measured by an UPLC device (Shi- madzu P-Series HPLC system) consisting of quaternary gradient solvent de- livery unit equipped with auto sampler and photodiode array detector with LabSolutions chromatographic software and using a Thermo C18 column, 5 pm, with a volume of 4.6 x 250 mm. The mobile phase was composed of 2% acetic acid and acetonitrile (45:55) with a flow rate of 0.8 mL / min at 32 °C. Curcumin was detected at a wavelength of 425 nm.

[0109] The effects of Test Sample 3, which is a novel pharmaceutical composition according to the invention were compared with CUREmin-ACTIF® / Cureit® 2. The total average pharmacokinetic variables for Test Sample 3 and CURE- min-ACTIF® / Cureit® 2 were calculated from plasma total curcumin and are given in Table XI.

[0110] Table XI

[0111] Furthermore in Figure 11 the mean plasma concentration (ng / mL) of curcu- min from Test Sample 3 compared with CUREmin-ACTIF® / Cureit® 2 is de- picted. All the values stated are mean ± SD. The Test Sample 3 is shown as a solid line with squares and CUREmin-ACTIF® / Cureit® 2 is shown as a dot- ted line with circles.

[0112] The maximum plasma curcumin (Cmax) and the AUC for Test Sample 3 were 267.12±65.47 ng / mL and 4072.65 ± 885.51 ng.h / mL, respectively. In compar- ison, these values for the CUREmin-ACTIF® / Cureit® 2 were 173.19 ± 27.34 ng / mL and 2662.43 ± 699.59 ng.h / mL, respectively (see Table XI and Fig. 11 ). The time to reach the maximum plasma concentration (Tmax) is 3.60±1 .63 and 3.90±1 .48 h for Test Sample 3 and CUREmin- ACTIF® / Cureit® 2 respectively. The absorption of the Test Sample 3 was 1 .53-fold greater than for CUREmin-ACTIF® / Cureit® 2 in terms of absorption (AUCo-t) and 1 .54-fold greater in terms of the rate of absorption (Cmax) with statistically significance at P<0.001 (see Table XI).

[0113] AUCo-~ is defined as the area under the plasma concentration versus time curve from time zero to infinity. Where AUCo-~ = AUCo-t + Ct / Kei, Ct is the last measurable concentration and Kei is the terminal elimination rate constant (see Table XI). AUCo-~ was 4192.69 ± 931 .81 ng.h / mL and 2720.98 ± 720.76 ng.h / mL for Test Sample 3 and CUREmin-ACTIF® / Cureit® 2, respectively. t% is defined as the elimination or terminal half-life will be calculated as 0.693 / Kei. t>2 was 9.39 ± 2.34 hours and 9.63 ± 2.54 hours for Test Sample 3 and CUREmin-ACTIF® / Cureit® 2, respectively.

[0114] Elimination rate constant (Kei) is calculated using the following formula by two different time points after elimination of the drug

[0115] Elimination rate constant

[0116] Kei was 0.08 ± 0.02 for both Test Sample 3 and CUREmin-ACTIF® / Cureit® 2.

[0117] The data indicate that Test Sample 3, which is a pharmaceutical composition according to the invention exhibits higher absorption as compared with CUREmin-ACTIF® / Cureit® 2.

[0118] Example 10

[0119] Inhibitory potential of a composition according to the present invention com- pared to other curcumin preparations

[0120] Patient Data about the inhibitory potential of the Test Sample, whereas the composition is the same as used in Example 9, compared to other curcumin preparations (CUREmin ACTIF® / Cureit®, CurA; Curemin Burg-Apotheke, CurBA; curcumin Fernando, CurF) and chemotherapeutica as far has they have been used in the treatment of these patients are summarized in Table XIII. The data summarized in Table XIII is gathered together from 34 individ- ual patients suffering from different tumor entities. As tumors are individual in all their aspects, it makes no sense to present here “average” inhibitory ef- fects. Each individual tumor is different even if they are classified the same, e.g. “Glioblastom” or “Breast Cancer” as they have individual genetic back- grounds, which in addition change over time and / or with treatment. However it is possible to compare the inhibitory potentials of different substances (or substance preparations) within a patient measured at the same time from the same CTC (circulating tumor cells) preparation. The determination of inhibitor effects of antitumoral substances in CTCs is meanwhile an international well accepted technology. The CTC preparations have been first characterized by PCR measurements of oncogene amplification. CTCs have been thereafter incubated with 3 different concentrations of curcumin preparations or chemo- therapeutics, to show a concentration dependent response.

[0121] In Table XIII the maximal effect of different curcumin preparations in percent of CTCs are shown, which have been metabolically inhibited after short term exposure (24 hours). Thereby, here the observed maximal response of the curcumin preparations and the maximal peak plasma concentration of chemotherapeutics as they can be achieved in humans are given in percent in Table XIII. The here presented data focus the Test Sample, which is a pharmaceutical preparation according to the present invention, and where available other curcumin preparations and chemotherapeutics. As these measurements have been aimed to produce data supposedly helpful for the treatment of patients, they have not been conducted in the context of a clini- cal study. Other substances, which have been tested in parallel, e.g. metha- done, vitamin C, vitamin D, Helixor A,B,P, Shogaol, are not shown.

[0122] The Test Sample has been measured in 32 of 34 patients, CUREmin- ACTIF® / Cureit® in 7 patients, curcumin Burgapotheke in 14 Patients and curcumin Fernando in one patient. The Test Sample and CUREmin ACTIF are the only oral applicable preparations, whereas the other two preparations are for intravenous preparations. Under therapeutic conditions the Test Sam- ple and CUREmin-ACTIF / Cureit® are given 3 times a day single doses of 3 capsules each with a meal. Intravenous preparations can be given maximal 2 times per week as infusions.

[0123] Where the different curcumin preparations have been tested in parallel, paired t-test analysis have been performed where applicable. The results are summarized in Table XII.

[0124] Table XII

[0125] The following abbreviations have been used in the Table XIII: CurBA, intrave- nous curcumin of Burg Apotheke; CurF, intravenous curcumin Fernando;

[0126] Doxo, Doxorubicin; Eto, etoposid; Iso, ifosfamid; Tram, trametinib; Bini, binimetinib; Cobi, cobimetinib; Olap, olaparib; Carbo, carboplatin; Cisp, cis- platin; Ribo, ribociclip; Folf, FOLFIRINOX; Dacarb, dacabacin; Imip, imipridon 201 ; Tax, taxol; Pacli, paclitaxel; Gliobl., glioblastoma; Mamma Ca, breast cancer; Melanom, melanoma; Ovarial Ca, ovarial carcinoma; Hepatoc. CA, hepatocellular carcinoma; Clear Cell K Ca, clear cell kidney carcinoma; Pan- creas Ca, pancreas carcinoma; Prostata Ca, prostatic carcinoma; Adeno-Ca App, adenocarcinoma of the appendix; SiCR, siegelcell ring carcinoma; Co- lon CA, colon carcinoma; Lungen Ca, lung carcinoma; Mamma CA HS, breast cancer hormone sensitive.

[0127] These gathered data shown in Table XII and Table XIII show, that the phar- maceutical composition of the Test Sample is in its unique formulation at pre- sent the most active, highly oral available curcumin preparation. It achieves a 54 percent higher Cmax as CUREmin-ACTIF® / Cureit® and a 52 percent higher AUC (area under the curve) at a half-live time of 9.4 hours. Addition- ally the data show a sustained high anti-cancerous activity across different cancers, of which some, e.g. glioblastoma or osteosarcoma have a very bad prognosis. Further the data presented in Table XIII show, that the Test Sam- pie has many times a higher anti-cancer efficacy as chemotherapeutics.

[0128] Thus, with 3 times a daily dose the steady state plasma concentration of cur- cumin in humans reaches continuous plasma concentrations sufficient for cancer therapy. The at present used therapeutic treatment algorithm is three times three capsules of the Test Sample per day is equivalent to three times 750 mg curcuminoids. This is generally well accepted by the patients with no notable side effects. This is not achievable with intravenous preparations or other oral preparations.

[0129] C

[0130] Reference Signs List

[0131] 1 Control 2 CUREmin-ACTIF® / Cureit®

[0132] 3 Test Sample

[0133] T turmeric

[0134] D dried turmeric 0 oleoresin

[0135] C curcuma extract or crystallized curcuma extract

[0136] L turmeric lipids

[0137] S starch or starch solution

[0138] H homogenised intermediate product M double micro-encapsulated intermediate product

[0139] P pharmaceutical product

Claims

Claims1. A pharmaceutical composition, comprising a combination preparation comprising a first active ingredient derived from a plant oleoresin from plants of genus curcuma, and at least one second active ingredient, double micro-encapsulated by a layer of carbohydrate polymers and li- pids, wherein the lipids are derived from a plant oleoresin.

2. The pharmaceutical composition, according to claim 1 , wherein at least the second active ingredient is resveratrol, gingerol or is derived from oleoresin from plants of genus Boswellia .

3. The pharmaceutical composition, according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the combination preparation comprises a third active ingredient, which is selected from resveratrol, gingerol or is derived from a plant oleoresin from plants of genus Boswellia.

4. The pharmaceutical composition, according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lipids comprise a selection and / or a combination of fatty acids, glycero- lipids, glycerophospholipids, sterols, prenols, saccharolipids and polyke- tides.

5. The pharmaceutical composition, according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the carbohydrate polymers are selected from one or more of the group comprising starch, modified starch, poly anhydrides, poly (ortho esters), poly (ethylene carbonates), poly (lactic acids), poly (glycol acids), poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) and co-poly (L-lactic acid- oxyethylene-[3-L-lactic acid).

6. The pharmaceutical composition, according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first active ingredient derived from plant oleoresin ofgenus curcuma comprises curcuminoids, especially curcumin, demeth- oxycurcumin, bis-demethoxycurcumin.

7. The pharmaceutical composition, according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one second or third active ingredient de- rived from plant oleoresin of genus Boswellia comprises a-boswellic acid, acetyl-a-boswellic acid, acetyl-11 -keto-a-boswellic acid, [3-boswel- lic acid, acetyl-[3-boswellic acid, 11 -keto-[3-boswellic acid (KBA), and / or acetyl-11-keto-[3-boswellic acid (AKBA).

8. The pharmaceutical composition, according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one second or third active ingredient of gin- gerol further comprises shogaols, which are selected from 4-shogaol, 6- shogaol, 8-shogaol, 10-shogaol and 12-shogaol.

9. The pharmaceutical composition, according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the double micro-encapsulated layer consists of an in- ner and an outer layer.

10. The pharmaceutical composition, according to claim 9, wherein the in- ner layer comprises a homogenized and / or complex mixture of a combi- nation of the first active compound, namely a derivative from a plant oleoresin from plants of genus curcuma, and a second active com- pound, namely resveratrol, gingerol or a derivative from plant oleoresin from plants of genus Boswellia.11 . The pharmaceutical composition, according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the outer layer comprises a homogenized and / or complex mixture of a combination of the first active compound, namely a derivative from a plant oleoresin from plants of genus curcuma, and a second activecompound, namely resveratrol, gingerol or a derivative from plant oleo- resin from plants of genus Boswellia.

12. A method for the production of a double micro-encapsulated pharma- ceutical composition, according to the claims 1 to 11 , wherein the fol- lowing steps are performed successively: a. providing a plant oleoresin; b. separating active ingredients in form of crystals from the plant ole- oresin and separating lipids in form of liquids from the plant oleo- resin; c. adding and mixing the separated crystals and the separated lipids as obtained in step b. to an aqueous solution comprising carbohy- drate polymers; d. homogenization of the aqueous solution of step c.; e. spray drying of in step d. produced homogenized aqueous solution and producing a double micro-encapsulated pharmaceutical com- position.

13. The method, according to claim 12, wherein the providing of plant oleo- resin according to step a. is performed in that a rhizome of the utilized plant of interest is dried and crushed and in that the oleoresin is ex- tracted from the crushed rhizome material.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the extraction is performed using organic solvents comprising alcohols, like ethanol, methanol, and the like and / or acetone and / or hydrocarbons, like n-hexane, iso-hexane, n-pentane, iso-pentane, and the like and / or steam of water and / or su- percritical fluid extraction using supercritical carbon dioxide.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the providing of plant oleo- resin according to step a. is performed in that the oleoresin is extractedfrom excretion cells of the bark, especially from the plants of genus Boswellia.

16. The method according to claim 12 to 15, wherein in an additional step f. after step e. the product retrieved in step e., namely the double micro- encapsulated pharmaceutical composition, is mixed with pharmaceuti- cal additives or adjuvants and formed into a tablet or a capsule, wherein preferably the tablet or the capsule is an enteric coated tablet or an en- teric coated capsule.

17. A pharmaceutical drug in form of an tablet or capsule, comprising a pharmaceutical composition according to any of claims 1 to 11 .

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