PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS FOR THE TREATMENT OF ARTHRITIS

PREPARATIONS PHARMACEUTIQUES POUR LE TRAITEMENT DE L'ARTHRITE

English Abstract

The pharmaceutical composition for treating arthritis comprises
glucosamine or a salt thereof, plant materials or extracts, collagen,
pantothenic acid and minerals. The minerals may be copper, manganese
and selenium. The composition is made in a form for oral administration.
The combination of the mineral components with the glucosamine and the
plant materials produces a synergistic action in treating arthritis.

Claims

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WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A pharmaceutical composition for treating arthritis,
comprising:
(a) glucosamine or a salt thereof;
(b) plant materials or extracts;
(c) collagen;
(d) pantothenic acid; and
(e) minerals.
2. A composition according to claim 1 wherein said minerals
comprise copper, manganese and selenium.
3. A composition according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said
glucosamine salt is glucosamine sulphate.
4. A composition according to any one of claims 1 - 3 wherein
said plant materials or extracts comprise boswellia extract, white
root bark, yucca root powder, devil's claw, sarsaparilla, feverfew
leaf powder and bromelain.
5. A composition according to any one of claims 1 - 4 wherein
said collagen is Type II collagen.
6. A composition according to any one of claims 1 - 5 wherein
said composition is in a form for oral administration.

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7. A composition according to claim 6 wherein one dosage of
said composition for oral administration comprises at least 375 mg
of said glucosamine salt, at least 5 mg of pantothenic acid, at least
35 mg of copper, at least 750 mg of manganese and at least 13 mcg
of selenium.
8. A composition according to claim 6 or 7 wherein each of said
components is present in a medicinally-effective amount.
9. A composition according to any one of claims 1 - 7 wherein
said pantothenic acid, copper, manganese and selenium are present
at a level totaling at least 1% by weight of said pharmaceutical
composition.

Description

CA 02559634 2006-09-13
PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS
FOR THE TREATMENT OF ARTHRITIS
Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to compositions for treating arthritis in
humans and animals.
Background of the Invention
Medications for oral administration are known for the treatment of
arthritis which contain glucosamine, protein and various herbal materials
or extracts. It has been discovered by the present inventors that the
addition of certain compositions including minerals to such medications
can produce a medication having an enhanced effectiveness in treating
arthritis, and in particular in helping to form connective tissue in the
afflicted joints and to prevent further cartilage deterioration.
Summary of the Invention
The invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for treating
arthritis comprising glucosamine or a salt thereof, plant materials or
extracts, collagen, pantothenic acid, and minerals. The glucosamine salt is
preferably glucosamine sulphate. The minerals are preferably copper,
manganese and selenium. The composition can be made in a form for oral
administration, such as a capsule, and each capsule preferably contains at
least 375 mg of glucosamine sulphate, 5 mg of pantothenic acid, 350 mg of
copper, 750 mg of manganese and 13 mcg (micrograms) of selenium, in
addition to the other components. The combination in the composition of
the mineral components with the glucosamine and the plant materials
produces a synergistic action in treating the arthritis and the pain caused by
it.

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These and other features of the invention will be apparent from the
following description of the preferred embodiments.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments
The pharmaceutical compositions of the invention are for oral
administration and comprise components which serve a number of
necessary functions in effectively treating arthritis. These functions
include relieving pain, relieving inflamation, rebuilding cartilage and
preventing cartilage deterioration. The compositions comprise
glucosamine or a salt thereof, plant materials, collagen, pantothenic acid
(Vitamin B5), and minerals, preferably copper, manganese and selenium.
Glucosamine is an amino acid derivative. It is used in the
composition to protect against deterioration of cartilage and contribute to
the building of heathy cartilage. It is preferably in the form of one of its
salts, such as glucosamine sulphate (which is preferred) or glucosamine
hydrochloride. One dose of the composition contains approximately 375
mg of glucosamine sulphate, or the equivalent amount of glucosamine in
another form.
The plant materials or extracts that are components of the
composition are preferably boswellia extract, white willow bark, yucca
root powder, devil's claw, sarsaparilla, feverfew leaf powder and
bromelain.
Boswellia extract acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. The preferred
form used in the composition is derived from Boswellia serrata and is
standardized to contain about 65% boswellic acid. One dosage of the
composition contains approximately 10 mg of boswellia extract.

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White willow bark acts as a pain reliever in the composition. It is
preferably prepared from Salalix alba in a form standardized to 25%
salacin. One dosage of the composition contains approximately 50 mg of
white willow bark.
Yucca root powder acts as an anti-inflammatory agent in the
composition. It is derived from Yucca schidigera. One dosage of the
composition contains approximately 15 mg of yucca root powder.
Devil's claw acts as an anti-inflammatory agent in the composition.
It is derived from Harpagophytum procumbens. One dosage of the
composition contains approximately 15 mg of devil's claw.
Sarsaparilla acts as an anti-inflammatory agent in the composition.
It is derived from Smilax sp. One dosage of the composition contains
approximately 15 mg of sarsaparilla.
Feverfew leaf powder acts as a pain reliever in the composition. It
is derived from Tanacetum parthenium. One dosage of the composition
contains approximately 10 mg of feverfew leaf powder.
Bromelain acts as an anti-inflammatory agent in the composition.
One dosage of the composition contains approximately 5 mg.
The collagen used in the composition is preferably Type II collagen.
The unhydrolyzed form is preferred for ready absorption into the body
tissues. Collagen promotes the rebuilding of cartilage. One dosage of the
composition contains approximately 30 mg of collagen.

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Pantothenic acid is a component of the composition and promotes
tissue formation. One dosage of the composition contains approximately 5
mg.
The preferred minerals in the composition are copper, manganese
and selenium. Copper helps produce red blood cells and connective tissue.
One dosage of the composition contains approximately 350 mcg of copper.
Manganese is a component that acts in the process of bone
metabolism. One dosage of the composition contains approximately 750
mcg of manganese.
Selenium is a non-metallic mineral component of the composition
that is a factor in the maintenance of health body cells and tissues. One
dosage of the composition contains approximately 13 mcg of selenium.
The composition of invention is made by the following method. A
mixture of the glucosamine sulphate, the collagen and the plant materials
or extracts, all of which are in dry powdered form, is prepared. A second
mixture is prepared comprising the pantothenic acid and the copper,
manganese and selenium. These two mixtures are mixed together and the
resulting powdered mixture is used to prepare single-dosage capsules.
Alternatively, the composition and/or the second mixture (the pantothenic
acid, copper, manganese and selenium) can be used by topical
administration.
Example 1
A pharmaceutical preparation is compounded as a dry powdered mix
and is made into single-dosage capsules. The ingredients, their weight

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percent in the total composition and their weights in a single capsule are as
shown in Table 1.
Ingredient Weight Percent Weight in Single
Capsule
Pantothenic acid 0.907 5 mg
Copper 0.0635 350 mcg
Manganese 0.136 750 mcg
Selenium 0.0235 13 mcg
Glucosamine sulphate 68.0 375 mcg
Boswellia extract 10.9 60 mg
Collagen 0.0054 30 mg
White willow bark 9.07 50 mg
Yucca root powder 2.73 15 mg
Devil's claw 2.73 15 mg
Sarsaparilla 2.73 15 mg
Feverfew leaf powder 1.81 10 mg
Bromelain 0.907 5 mg
The capsules are administered to an adult human at a rate of 4 to 6
capsules per day until the arthritic symptoms are relieved. They are then
administered at a maintenance dosage of 2 to 4 capsules per day.
Although the invention has been described in terms of specific
embodiments, it is not intended that the invention be limited to those
embodiments. Various modifications of the invention will be apparent to
those skilled in the art. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims
that follow.