Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K36/00—Medicinal preparations of undetermined constitution containing material from algae, lichens, fungi or plants, or derivatives thereof, e.g. traditional herbal medicines
  • A61K36/18—Magnoliophyta (angiosperms)
  • A61K36/185—Magnoliopsida (dicotyledons)
  • A61K36/48—Fabaceae or Leguminosae (Pea or Legume family); Caesalpiniaceae; Mimosaceae; Papilionaceae
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P27/00—Drugs for disorders of the senses
  • A61P27/02—Ophthalmic agents

Definitions

• Black soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr), a type of soybean with a black seed coat, has long been used as a health food and herb in Chinese traditional medicine, and the medicinal effects therefore have been studied for years. Some Chinese medical codices have disclosed that the black bean could be provided as detoxifier, anti-inflammatory drug and blood nutrient.
• black soybean phytochemicals inhibited the growth of transplantable human bladder carcinoma and tumor angiogenesis in mice (Zhou JR et al, Cancer Res.
• Retinal pigment epithelium is a monolayer cell at the surface layer of the retina, which are located between the Bruch's membrane and the photoreceptors.
• the villous processes at the top of RPE are connected to the outer segments of the photoreceptors, and the basal infoldings at the bottom of RPE are connected to the choroids via the Bruch' membrane. Since the RPE can effectively remove or transmit the toxic materials and the metabolite of the choroid coat and the retina, the RPE form a blood-retinal barrier.
• the RPE has many functions, such as receiving light, phagocytizing the outer segments separated from the rod cell and the cone cell because of light stimulation, catabolizing the phagosome, synthesizing the extracellular matrix and the melanin, detoxifying the medicine, providing the essential material for reproducing the outer segments of the photoreceptor, storing and transmitting the Vitamin A, synthesizing the rhodospin, and forming the adherent force of the retina (Wenzel et al., Progress in Retinal and Eye Research 24: 275-306, 2005).
• a RPE of rat could remove 25000 outer segments separated from the rod cells and the cone cells because of light stimulation in one day, which obviously showed the importance of the frequent phagocytic metabolism (Mayerson and Hall, The Journal of Cell Biology, 103:299-308, 1986).
• the normal phagocytosis of the RPE plays a critical role in maintaining the health of the photoreceptors in the retina. Once the phagocytic ability of RPE is decreased, it will result in the degeneration of the photoreceptors
• the present invention is based on a discovery that a black soybean ⁇ Glycine max (L.) Merr) product has an unexpected efficacy in increasing RPE function, such as the phagocytic ability.
• one aspect of the invention relates to a method for treating a disease or disorder associated with retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) disturbance, comprising administering to a human in need thereof an effective amount of a black soybean product.
• the black soybean product is the seed coats of black soybean or an alcoholic extract of black soybean or seed coats thereof.
• the other aspect of the invention relates to a method for increasing phagocytosis of RPE by treating the cells with an effective amount of the black soybean product as aforementioned.
• Fig. IA and Fig. IB are diagrams showing the effects of a black soybean extract on phagocytosis of RPE.
• the extract (BG35E) is prepared by extracting whole black soybean with 35% (v/v) ethanol. * indicates P ⁇ 0.05; ** indicates P ⁇ 0.01; and *** indicates P ⁇ 0.001.
• Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B are diagrams showing the effects of a black soybean extract on phagocytosis of RPE .
• the extract (BGSC35E) is prepared by extracting seed coats of black soybean with 35% (v/v) ethanol. * indicates P ⁇
• FIG. 3A and Fig. 3B are diagrams showing a-wave and b-wave, respectively, of ophthalmic defect mice treated with a black soybean extract
• BGSC35E Electroretinogram
• FIG 4A and Fig. 4B are diagrams showing b-wave, respectively, of ophthalmic defect mice treated with a black soybean product made from the seed coats of black soybean (BGSC).
• the b-wave is measured by ERG. * indicates P
• an alcoholic extract of black soybean refers to an extract prepared by extracting black soybean or seed coats thereof with an alcohol-containing solvent, e.g., a solvent containing ethanol or methanol at a concentration of 10-100% (v/v).
• an alcohol-containing solvent e.g., a solvent containing ethanol or methanol at a concentration of 10-100% (v/v).
• RPE retina pigment epithelium
• the RPE is composed of a single layer of hexagonal cells that are densely packed with pigment granules and are responsible for the phagocytosis and digestion of the discard discs at turn over rate of approximately 30-100 discs each day.
• a disease or disorder associated with retinal pigment epithelium disturbance refers to the disease or disorder related to RPE dysfunctions, such as decreasing the phagocytic ability of RPE or isomierizing trans retinal.
• RPE function is decreased or lost, retinal cells may apoptosis and detach from its underlying layer of support tissue, so as to lead to vision loss, blindness, retinal detachment or leakage of blood-retinal barrier (Martin L. Katz, Arch Gerontol Ge ⁇ atr., 34(3):359-70, 2002).
• retinal detachments such as retinal pigment epithelium detachment (Tabandeh et al, Retina., 26(9): 1063-9, 2006; Zayit-Soudry et al, Survey of Ophthalmology,
• treating a disease/disorder associated with RPE disturbance or “treatment of a disease/disorder associated with RPE disturbance” refers to the application or administration of the black soybean product described herein to a subject, who has a disease/disorder associated with RPE disturbance, a symptom of the disease/disorder, or a predisposition toward the disease/disorder, with the purpose to cure, heal, alleviate, relieve, alter, remedy, ameliorate, improve, or affect the disease/disorder, the symptoms of the disease/disorder, or the predisposition toward the disease/disorder.
• an effective amount refers to the amount of each active agent which, upon administration with one or more other active agents to a subject in need thereof, is required to confer therapeutic effect on the subject.
• the effective amounts vary, as recognized by those skilled in the art, depending on route of administration, excipient usage, and the co-usage with other active agents. According to the invention, the effective amount refers to the amount effective in increasing the function of retinal pigment epithelium.
• the present invention provides a method for treating a disease or disorder associated with retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) disturbance, comprising administering to a human in need thereof an effective amount of a black soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr) product.
• the black soybean product is the seed coats of black soybean, or an alcoholic extract of black soybeans or seed coats thereof.
• the black soybean product may be prepared by any method well known or commonly used in the art.
• the black soybean product may be the seed coats of black soybean, for instance, the seed coats may be directly shelled from black soybean with a husker, and fragmented into small pieces.
• the black soybean product may be an alcoholic extract of black soybean or seed coats thereof.
• the alcoholic extract may be obtained with any standard or commonly used by those skilled in the art.
• the extract may be prepared by extracting black soybean or seed coats thereof with an alcohol-containing solvent, e.g., a solvent containing ethanol or methanol at a concentration of 10-100% (v/v).
• a black soybean extract is obtained by soaking black soybeans in an alcohol- containing solvent for a sufficient period of time under a suitable temperature, and then removing insoluble bean substances by, e.g., filtration, to produce a black soybean extract in liquid form.
• the product may be further dried by, e.g., evaporation, to obtain a product in a dry form.
• the alcohol-containing solvent may be a solvent containing 10-100% (v/v) alcohol, and one or more other suitable solvents, e.g., water, ethanol or methanol.
• the alcohol-containing solvent is a solvent containing ethanol in water.
• the solvent is at least 10% (v/v) ethanol in water, and most preferably 35% (v/v) ethanol in water.
• the extract was prepared by the process comprising the steps of (1) providing whole black soybeans or seed coats thereof, (2) extracting the whole beans or seed coats thereof with a solvent containing 35% (v/v) ethanol in water, (3) collecting the soluble fraction thus formed, and optionally (4) drying the collected soluble fraction.
• the black soybean product is effective in increasing the function of retinal pigment epithelium, which was confirmed by the methods or models commonly used or well known in the art, such as in terms of an increase of the phagocytic ability of RPE as shown in Example 2 (Mayerson and Hall, The Journal of Cell Biology, 103:299-308, 1986), and the ability of restoring b-wave in a mouse model with ophthalmic defect as shown in Examples 3 and 4 of the specification (Thorn W.
• the black soybean product according to the invention may be in a form of a food, a dietary composition or pharmaceutical composition.
• the black soybean product may be mixed with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient, and optionally with another therapeutically active agent, to form a pharmaceutical composition.
• the carrier or excipient suitable for the pharmaceutical composition must be "acceptable” in the sense that it is compatible with the active ingredient of the composition (and preferably, capable of stabilizing the active ingredient) and not deleterious to the subject to be treated.
• the carriers include colloidal silicon oxide, magnesium stearate, cellulose, sodium lauryl sulfate, D&C Yellow # 10, microcrystalline cellulose, mannitol, glucose, defatted milk powder, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and starch, or a combination thereof.
• the pharmaceutical composition may be in a variety of forms, such as tablet, capsule, powder, or liquid. [0027] According to the invention, the above-mentioned composition may be administered via suitable routes, e.g., oral administration.
• a solid formulation for oral administration may contain suitable carriers or excipients, such as corn starch, gelatin, lactose, acacia, sucrose, microcrystalline cellulose, kaolin, mannitol, dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, sodium chloride, or alginic acid.
• This solid formulation may be designed to be released in the intestine.
• the composition is confined in a solid sub-unit or a capsule compartment that have respectively a matrix or a wall or a closure comprising an enteric polymer which dissolves or disperses at the pH of the small or large intestine to release the drug substance in the intestine.
• the black soybean product described herein is a component of a food product or a food supplement (e.g., a nutrient supply or an herbal product).
• a food product e.g., a nutrient supply or an herbal product.
• Such food products may be prepared by any standard or commonly used methods in the food industry.
• Example 1 Preparation of Black Soybean Products
• the first black soybean product was prepared by shelling the whole black soybean by a husker, and fragmented into small pieces to obtain the seed coats of black soybean (BGSC).
• the second black soybean product was prepared from whole black soybean by extracting 2 kg of whole black soybeans with 20 L of 35% (v/v) ethanol in water to obtain 104.15 g of an ethanolic extract (BG35E).
• the third type of the black soybean product was prepared from the seed coats of black soybean by removing the seed coats of black soybeans by a mini testing husker, collecting the seed coats (in the amount of 1.05 kg), extracting the seed coats as resulted with 35% (v/v) ethanol in water to obtain
• Example 2 Effects of Black Soybean Extracts (BG35E and BGSC35E) on Phagocytosis of RPE [0035] Preparation of RPE [0036] The fresh bovine eyes were collected from a slaughterhouse within 2-3 hr after slaughtering. The surfaces of the bovine eyes were sterilized with the tincture of iodine, and then were washed with the PBS (phosphate-buffer saline) buffer solution twice.
• PBS phosphate-buffer saline
• the dissected eyes were treated with 0.01% EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid, Sigma, USA) for 40 min and then 5% trypsin (Merck, Germany) for 15 min. Then, a single cell of RPE was obtained after slightly pressing the eyes with a tweezer with round tips and pipetting several times.
• EDTA ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid, Sigma, USA
• the pipetted solution was placed within the DMEM (Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Media, Gibco (Gaithersburg, USA) containing 10% FCS (fetal calf serum, GIBCO (Gaithersburg, USA) and then were incubated in an incubator with a humidified atmosphere with 5% CO 2 at 37 0 C. The medium was replaced per 5-6 days till the cells reach the confluency. The cells were subcultured with a medium containing 0.05% trypsin and 0.02% EDTA. The major cells used for the bioactivity test are the fifth and the sixth generations of the cells.
• the RPE were set up at a concentration of Ix 10 4 cells/ml and seeded into 96 well plates containing 10% FCS DMEM. After a 48-hour incubation, the cultured medium was replaced with 2% FCS DMEM followed by an addition of either 20 ⁇ l of BG35E or BGSC35E in the concentration of 0.1, 1, 10, or 100 ⁇ g/ml into each well, respectively. In addition, a well was added with 10% FCS as a positive control, and a blank well (added with 2% FCS) was used as a control.
• a similar result was found when the ROS-FITC were incubated with the extract of the seed coat of black soybean (BGSC35E).
• the total phagocytosis index in the ROS-FITC treated with 10 ⁇ g/ml of BGSC35E was higher by 1.37 times than that treated with 2% FCS.
• the total phagocytosis index in the ROS-FITC treated with 1 ⁇ g/ml of BGSC35E was higher by 1.55 times than that treated with 2% FCS, as a control.
• the ingestion phagocytosis index in the ROS-FITC treated with lO ⁇ g/ml of BGSC35E was higher by 1.26 times than that treated with 2% FCS as a control, and the ingestion phagocytosis index in the ROS-FITC treated with 1 ⁇ g/ml of
• BGSC35E was higher by 1.55 times than that treated with 2% FCS as a control. As a result, it was found in Figs. 1 and 2 that after incubation with the extract of black soybean (BG35E) or with the extract of seed coat of black soybean (BGSC35E), the phagocytic ability of RPE was enhanced. [0046] EXAMPLE 3: Effect of Black Soybean Extract (BGSC35E) in Mouse
• BALB/c male mice aged 10 weeks, were randomly grouped into a normal group (healthy mice), a control group (damaged by light without a treatment of BGSC35E), a group treated with BGSC35E at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight (BGSC35E 10 mg/kg), a group treated with BGSC35E at a dose of 40 mg/kg body weight (BGSC35E 40 mg/kg), or a group treated with BGSC35E at a dose of 160 mg/kg body weight (BGSC35E 160 mg/kg).
• Each group contained five mice and was provided with sufficient feed and water. The first day of the BGSC35E treatment was defined as Day 0.
• mice that were responsive to light normally were selected for test.
• Day -1 the mice were kept in dark for 24 hours.
• the mice were placed on a warming pad to maintain body temperature.
• the pupils were dilated with 1% cyclopentolate and anesthetized with 1 % proparacaine.
• a gold wire loop electrode was placed on the cornea, and a gold wire differential electrode was placed on the tongue for each mouse.
• a reference electrode was attached to the head.
• mice were exposed to 6 Volt of LED light, having a wave length from 500-575 nm, at the intensity of 5,000 lux for 1 msec.
• the a-wave and b-wave amplitudes of the mice were measured by ERG and recorded under a normal condition and after 2 hours of a light exposure.
• the intensity values of a-wave of the mice treated with BGSC35E at a dose of 160 mg/kg at Day 19 were also found to be increased by more than 150% as compared with themselves at Day 1.
• EXAMPLE 4 Effect of the Seed Coats of Black Soybeans (BGSC) in Mouse Model with Ophthalmic Defect [0053] Mouse Electroretinogram (ERG) Model
• mice were randomly grouped into a normal group (healthy mice), a control group (damaged by light without a treatment of BGSC), a group treated with BGSC at a dose of 80 mg/kg body weight (BGSC 80 mg/kg) or a group treated with BGSC at a dose of 250 mg/kg body weight (BGSC 250 mg/kg).
• Each group contained five mice and were provided with sufficient feed and water.
• the first day of the BGSC treatment was defined as Day 0.
• the b-wave amplitudes were measured by ERG at Day -5, 0 and 15.
• mice that were responsive to light normally were selected for test.
• Day -1 the mice were kept in dark for 24 hours.
• the mice were placed on a warming pad to maintain body temperature.
• the pupils were dilated with 1% cyclopentolate and anesthetized with 1 % proparacaine.
• a gold wire loop electrode was placed on the cornea, and a gold wire differential electrode was placed on the tongue for each mouse.
• a reference electrode was attached to the head.
• the eyes of mice were exposed to 6 Volt of LED light, having a wave length from 500-575 nm, at the intensity of 5,000 lux for 1 msec.
• the b-wave amplitudes of the mice were measured by ERG and recorded under a normal condition and after 2 hours of a light exposure.
• mice treated with BGSC at a dose of 40, 160 or 640 mg/kg body weight, a normal group and a control group was tested.
• the b-wave amplitudes of the mice were measured by ERG at Day -4, 2, 9 and 16.
• the intensity values of b-wave of the mice treated with BGSC at a dose of 80 mg/kg at Day 15 were found to be significantly increased as compared with themselves at Day 0(/? ⁇ 0.05).
• Fig 4B it is found that the mice treated with BGSC at a dose of 40mg/kg, 160mg/kg, or 640mg/kg had ability in restoring b-wave.
• mice treated with BGSC had ability to restore abnormal ERG configuration, indicating that the BGSC provides an efficacy in increasing the RPE function, and could be used in the treatment of ophthalmic condition.

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