Pharmaceutical compositions comprising monoterpenes
The present invention provides a process for purifying a monoterpene or sesquiterpene having a purity greater than about 98.5% (w/w). The process comprises the steps of derivatizing the monoterpene (or sesquiterpene) to produce a monoterpene (or sesquiterpene) derivative, separating the monoterpene (or sesquiterpene) derivative, and releasing the monoterpene (or sesquiterpene) from the derivative. Also encompassed by the scope of the present invention is a pharmaceutical composition comprising a monoterpene (or sesquiterpene) having a purity greater than about 98.5% (w/w). The purified monoterpene can be used to treat a disease such as cancer. The present monoterpene (or sesquiterpene) may be administered alone, or may be co-administered with radiation or other therapeutic agents, such as chemotherapeutic agents.
1. A method for treating a tumor of the nervous system, comprising the step of delivering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of (S)-perillyl alcohol, the (S)-perillyl alcohol having a purity of greater than about 98.5% (w/w).
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tumor is a glioblastoma.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of treating the subject in need thereof with radiation.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of delivering to the subject in need thereof a chemotherapeutic agent.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the chemotherapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of a DNA alkyl ting agent, a topoisomerase inhibitor, an endoplasmic reticulum stress inducing agent, a platinum compound, an antimetabolite, an enzyme inhibitor, a receptor antagonist and a therapeutic antibody.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the chemotherapeutic agent is dimethyl-celecoxib (DMC), irinotecan (CPT-11), temozolomide (TMZ) or rolipram.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the (S)-perillyl alcohol is delivered by inhalation, intranasally, orally, intravenously, subcutaneously or intramuscularly.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the (S)-perillyl alcohol is admixed or coformulated with a therapeutic agent.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the therapeutic agent is a chemotherapeutic agent.
10. A method for inhibiting growth of a cell, comprising the step of contacting the cell with an effective amount of (S)-perillyl alcohol, wherein the (S)-perillyl alcohol has a purity of greater than about 98.5% (w/w), wherein the cell is a glioma cell, a meningioma cell, a pituitary adenoma cell, a lung cancer cell, a prostate cancer cell, a breast cancer cell a hematopoietic cancer cell cancer stem cell or an ovarian cancer cell.
11. The method of claim 10 , her in the cell is temozolomide resistant cell.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the contacting is in vitro.