Cimicifuga-Petasites Extract Combination for Synergistic Anticancer Therapy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current medical treatments for cancer lack effective and safe alternatives that can provide both therapeutic and prophylactic benefits.

Innovation Solution

A combination of extracts from Cimicifuga species and Petasites species, specifically Cimicifuga racemosa and Petasites hybridus, is used to create a medicament for the therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of cancer, leveraging synergistic effects demonstrated in a human erythroleukemia cell line with the JAK2V617F mutation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional cancer treatments are used, then therapeutic effect is achieved, but safety and side effects worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetherapeutic effectVSAvoidside effects
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines extracts from two different plant species (Cimicifuga and Petasites) to create a composite herbal medication. This composite approach leverages synergistic effects between the plant compounds to enhance anti-cancer activity while maintaining a favorable safety profile, as evidenced by the combination index analysis showing synergistic rather than additive effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the dosage parameters of the extract combination, specifically establishing a dosage range of 0.5-5 mg per kg body weight per day. By carefully controlling the concentration and dosage parameters, the treatment achieves effective cancer cell inhibition while minimizing toxic side effects, as demonstrated by the therapeutic window identified in clinical studies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If single plant extracts are used, then treatment simplicity is maintained, but therapeutic efficacy is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment simplicityVSAvoidtherapeutic efficacy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges extracts from two distinct plant species (Cimicifuga racemosa and Petasites hybridus) into a single combined medication formulation. This merging strategy creates synergistic interactions between the plant compounds, producing enhanced anti-cancer effects that exceed the sum of individual extract activities, as demonstrated by combination index values less than 1.0 indicating synergism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The combined extract formulation serves multiple therapeutic functions simultaneously: it exhibits anti-proliferative effects against cancer cells, induces apoptosis in malignant cells, and modulates signaling pathways involved in cancer progression. This multi-functionality is achieved through the diverse phytochemical constituents of the plant combination acting on multiple molecular targets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3906040B1Combination of cimicifuga and petasites extracts for anticancer therapy and prophylaxis
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 MAX ZELLER & SOEHNE AG
  • EP3906040B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3906040B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3906040B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present invention is directed to the novel use of an extract combination comprising extracts from a Cimicifuga species, e.g. Cimicifuga racemosa (also termed Actaea racemosa L; black cohosh) and a Petasites species, e.g. Petasites hybridus, for the therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of cancer. Also, the invention pertains to the use of such extract combinations for preparing a medicament, corresponding pharmaceutical compositions, comprising a combination of an extract from Cimicifuga sp. and an extract from Petasites sp., as well as a method for the therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of cancer, preferably by oral administration of the extract combination or pharmaceutical composition.