Dioscorea Extract Alleviates Chemotherapy Side Effects

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for osteoporosis and chemotherapy side effects are inadequate in promoting bone repair and cell regeneration, and existing anti-cancer drugs often lead to bone marrow suppression and adverse side effects.

Innovation Solution

An oral composition containing an extract of Dioscorea alata L. cv. Phyto, which stimulates the proliferation and differentiation of osteoprogenitor cells and hematopoietic stem cells, enhancing bone repair and alleviating chemotherapy-induced deficiencies without the need for bone cell modulating agents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If chemotherapy drugs are used to treat cancer, then cancer cells are destroyed, but bone marrow suppression and adverse side effects occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecancer cellsVSAvoidbone marrow suppression and adverse side effects

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The Dioscorea extract acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between chemotherapy drugs and bone marrow cells. It protects hematopoietic stem cells from chemotherapy-induced damage while allowing the chemotherapy to continue destroying cancer cells, thus resolving the contradiction between cancer cell destruction and bone marrow protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the harmful effect of chemotherapy on bone marrow into a beneficial outcome by using Dioscorea extract to stimulate bone marrow recovery. The extract transforms chemotherapy-induced bone marrow suppression into an opportunity for enhanced bone marrow regeneration and cell proliferation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Stability of the object's composition

If existing treatments are used for osteoporosis, then bone density is maintained, but bone repair and cell regeneration are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebone densityVSAvoidbone repair and cell regeneration

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The Dioscorea extract changes the biological parameters of bone cells by stimulating proliferation and differentiation of osteoprogenitor cells. This shifts the bone metabolism from mere maintenance to active regeneration, increasing bone repair capacity while maintaining bone density stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The extract performs preliminary action by stimulating osteoprogenitor cells before actual bone repair is needed. This pre-activation of bone-forming cells ensures that when bone repair is required, the cells are already primed and ready to rapidly regenerate bone tissue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8668908B2Method for alleviating chemotherapy side effects using extract of <i>Dioscorea </i>sp

Publication Date: 2014.03.11 NATIONAL YANG MING UNIVERSITY

AI summary

Extract fractions of Dioscorea sp. and methods of preparing the extract fractions are disclosed. The extract fractions enhance the proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow cells. Also described are a method for treatment of osteoporosis and a method for alleviation of side effects caused by chemotherapy by using the extract fractions of Dioscorea sp.