Patent
A Melaleuca quinquenervia extract and its uses are provided. The extract is extracted by a first polar solvent, wherein the first polar solvent is a C3-C6 ethanol. The extract is especially useful for inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
1. A method for inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signal transduction pathway in a subject comprising administering to the subject in need an effective amount of a Melaleuca quinquenervia extract, wherein the extract is prepared by a method comprising the following steps:
(a) extracting Melaleuca quinquenervia with a second polar solvent to provide a first extraction fluid, wherein the second polar solvent is methanol, water, or a combination thereof;
(b1′) partitioning the first extraction fluid with a C5-C8 alkane and removing the alkane phase;
(b2′) partitioning the product of step (b1′) with ethyl acetate and removing the ethyl acetate phase;
(b) partitioning the product of step (b2′) with a first polar solvent and collecting the first polar solvent phase, wherein the first polar solvent is a C3-C6 alcohol; and
(c) optionally removing the first polar solvent from the first polar solvent phase.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first polar solvent comprises butanol.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first polar solvent is n-butanol.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step (a) includes:
(a1) extracting the Melaleuca quinquenervia with methanol to provide a methanol extraction fluid;
(a2) optionally concentrating the methanol extraction fluid to obtain a concentrated solution; and
(a3) adding water into the concentrated solution to obtain the first extraction fluid.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the extract is prepared by extracting a leaf and/or a branch with leaves of Melaleuca quinquenervia.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , which is for inhibiting the transcription activity of β-catenin and/or inhibiting the combination of β-catenin and T cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor (TCF/LEF).
7. The method as claimed in claim 6 , which is for blocking the development of a tumor.
8. The method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the tumor is at least one of rectal cancer, breast cancer, brain cancer, esophageal cancer and liver cancer.
9. A method for inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signal transduction pathway in a subject comprising administering to the subject in need an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition, wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises a Melaleuca quinquenervia extract and the extract is prepared by a method comprising the following steps:
(a) extracting Melaleuca quinquenervia with a second polar solvent to provide a first extraction fluid, wherein the second polar solvent is methanol, water, or a combination thereof;
(b1′) partitioning the first extraction fluid with a C5-C8 alkane and removing the alkane phase;
(b2′) partitioning the product of step (b1′) with ethyl acetate and removing the ethyl acetate phase;
(b) partitioning the product of step (b2′) with a first polar solvent and collecting the first polar solvent phase, wherein the first polar solvent is a C3-C6 alcohol; and
(c) optionally removing the first polar solvent from the first polar solvent phase.
10. The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the first polar solvent comprises butanol.
11. The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the first polar solvent is n-butanol.
12. The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the step (a) includes:
(a1) extracting the Melaleuca quinquenervia with methanol to provide a methanol extraction fluid;
(a2) optionally concentrating the methanol extraction fluid to obtain a concentrated solution; and
(a3) adding water into the concentrated solution to obtain the first extraction fluid.
13. The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the extract is prepared by extracting a leaf and/or a branch with leaves of Melaleuca quinquenervia.
14. The method as claimed in claim 9 , which is for inhibiting the transcription activity of β-catenin and/or inhibiting the combination of β-catenin and T cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor (TCF/LEF).
15. The method as claimed in claim 14 , which is for blocking the development of a tumor.
16. The method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the tumor is at least one of rectal cancer, breast cancer, brain cancer, esophageal cancer and liver cancer.