Development of biochemically standardized extracts from fresh rhizomes of turmeric (
View Patent ↗The present invention demonstrates the ethanol extracts of fresh rhizome of turmeric ( Curcuma longa ) strongly inhibit xanthine oxidase, a key biological enzyme responsible for the production of uric acid and superoxide radicals. The dose-response data demonstrate the turmeric extracts prepared with 40% and 50% ethanol are much stronger inhibitors of xanthine oxidase than curcumin. Based on the enzyme-inhibitory data (IC 50 values), a biochemical method is developed to standardize turmeric extracts/products as Enzyme-Inhibitory Units (EIU), which has many commercial and biological applications, including, identification and development of pharmacologically effective turmeric products; use of turmeric extracts/products with EIU values >50 per mg to prevent the production of harmful uric acid and superoxides in diseases caused by hyperuricemia and gout; determination of the stability (shelf-life) of turmeric products stored at the retail stores by comparing their EIU values.
1. A method for treating gout or hyperuricemia comprising:
orally administering to a subject having gout or hyperuricemia, an effective amount of a pharmaceutical dosage form, wherein said pharmaceutical dosage form consists essentially of an extract of Curcuma longa rhizome and a carrier; wherein said Curcuma longa rhizome extract is prepared by the following steps:
(a) washing Curcuma longa rhizomes in distilled water, removing most of the rhizome skin, cutting said rhizome into pieces, drying said cut rhizomes at 40-42° C. and powdering said dry, cut rhizomes to obtain powdered rhizome;
(b) combining the powdered rhizomes of part (a) with 40% ethanol to create a mixture;
(c) stirring the mixture of part (b) for 20 hours at room temperature to create a stirred mixture,
(d) centrifuging the stirred mixture of part (c) to create insoluble material and a clear, soluble extract,
(e) removing the insoluble material from the clear, soluble extract and collecting said clear, soluble extract;
wherein the clear, soluble extract of part (e) is the extract of Curcuma longa rhizome;
wherein said pharmaceutical dosage form is selected from the group consisting of a tablet, a coated tablet, a capsule and an emulsion;
wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of magnesium carbonate, magnesium stearate, talc, sugar, lactose, pectin, dextrin, starch, gelatin, methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, cocoa butter, a colorant, a flavor, a stabilizer, a buffer, a sweetener, a dispersant, a thickener, a solubilizing agent and mixtures thereof;
and wherein in part (b), the powdered rhizome and 40% ethanol are combined in a ratio of 1:5 to 1:100 (powdered rhizome: 40% ethanol).
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said pharmaceutical dosage form contains about 5% to about 95% of said Curcuma longa rhizome extract.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the powdered rhizome and 40% ethanol are combined in a ratio of 1:20 to 1:80 (powdered rhizome: 40% ethanol).
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the powdered rhizome and 40% ethanol are combined in a ratio of 1:30 to 1:50 (powdered rhizome: 40% ethanol).
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the powdered rhizome and 40% ethanol are combined in a ratio of 1:40 (powdered rhizome: 40% ethanol).
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is a mammal.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the mammal is selected from the group consisting of cattle, pigs, sheep, chicken, turkey, buffalo, llama, ostrich, dogs, cats, and humans.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the mammal is a human.