Pumpkin Seed Oil Sterol Composition for BPH Treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are either slow-acting, have significant side effects, or require invasive procedures, and botanical drugs often have complex compositions and unclear mechanisms, failing to effectively and rapidly address the condition.

Innovation Solution

A method to obtain a sterol composition from pumpkin seed oil, comprising specific weight percentages of cholesterol, campesterol, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, ergosta-7,22-dien-3β-ol, lanosterol, and cholest-7-en-3β,5α-diol, achieved through saponification and organic solvent extraction, which inhibits 5α-reductase and regulates genetic expressions related to BPH without hormonal side effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If western drug therapy is used to treat BPH, then therapeutic effects are achieved, but the treatment duration is long and side effects are significant

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetherapeutic effectVSAvoidtreatment duration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and concentrates the active sterol components from pumpkin seed oil to create a purified sterol composition. This extraction process isolates the therapeutic agents (sterols like beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, and campesterol) from the raw oil, creating a more potent and concentrated treatment that achieves therapeutic effects faster while reducing the need for long-term administration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If western drug therapy is used to treat BPH, then therapeutic effects are achieved, but harmful side effects occur

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

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using saponification to convert triglycerides into sterols and fatty acids, then selectively extracting the sterol fraction. This parameter change transforms the raw pumpkin seed oil into a purified sterol composition with enhanced therapeutic properties and reduced side effects, as the sterol components act through different mechanisms than conventional western drugs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If operative therapy is used to relieve obstruction in severe BPH, then obstruction is relieved, but body damage and complications occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveobstruction reliefVSAvoidbody damage and complications
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a natural, biodegradable sterol composition derived from pumpkin seed oil as a non-invasive treatment alternative. This organic therapy acts as a temporary but effective solution that reduces prostate enlargement and improves urinary flow without causing permanent body damage or surgical complications, allowing patients to avoid invasive operative procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Adaptability or versatility

If botanical drugs are used to treat BPH, then treatment is provided, but composition is complex and mechanism is unclear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment coverageVSAvoidcomposition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the complex botanical mixture into distinct sterol components through saponification and selective extraction. By separating the therapeutic sterols (beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol, etc.) from other oil components, the invention creates a simplified, well-defined composition with clear active ingredients and understood mechanisms of action, while maintaining the versatility of botanical treatment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The sterol composition effectively alleviates and treats BPH by inhibiting testosterone conversion to dihydrotestosterone, reducing prostate weight and index, and regulating androgen receptor and growth factor expressions, offering a rapid and safe treatment option.

Implementation Method 1

processing the pumpkin seed oil successively with saponification and organic solvent extraction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSaponification: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 2

processing the pumpkin seed oil successively with saponification and organic solvent extraction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOrganic solvent extraction: Liquid-Liquid Extraction

Implementation Method 3

washing the extraction liquid, drying and crystallizing; and obtaining the sterol composition in the pumpkin seed oil

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCrystallization: Crystallisation

Data Source

PatentEP3669877B1Method for preparing a sterol composition from pumpkin seed oil
Publication Date: 2024.02.21 HUNAN ZHONGKEWENTAI BIO TECH CO LTD
  • EP3669877B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3669877B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3669877B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A sterol composition in pumpkin seed oil and an application thereof, and a drug for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia are provided, which relate to a technical field of medicine. The sterol composition in the pumpkin seed oil includes components by weight percentage of: 0.2-2wt% cholesterol, 0.5-5wt% campesterol, 1.5-5wt% β-sitosterol, 15-40wt% stigmasterol, 20-40wt% ergosta-7,22-dien-3β-ol, 5-10wt% lanosterol, and 15-30wt% cholest-7-en-3β,5α-diol. The sterol composition in the pumpkin seed oil is a pumpkin phytosterol composition extracted from the pumpkin seed oil. Through combining the phytosterol components and controlling a proportion among the components, effects of alleviating and treating prostate diseases are achieved, especially for the benign prostatic hyperplasia.