Curcuminoid compositions exhibiting synergistic inhibition of the expression and/or activity of cyclooxygenase-2

Abstract

Compositions comprising an effective amount of a curcuminoid species and an effective amount of a diterpene lactone species, a triterpene species or derivatives thereof that have a synergistic effect on specific inhibition of inducible COX-2 activity and have minimal effect on COX-1 activity are disclosed. Methods of using the compositions for providing synergistic anti-inflammatory effects are also disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A composition comprising an effective amount of a curcuminoid species and an effective amount of a diterpene lactone species, a triterpene species or derivatives thereof, wherein the ratio of the curcuminoid species and the diterpene lactone species, the triterpene species or derivatives thereof is from 1:10 to 10:1, said composition when administered to an animal, has a synergistic effect on specific inhibition of inducible COX-2 activity and has minimal effect on COX-1 activity.  
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the curcuminoid species is pharmaceutical grade curcumin, demethoxycurcurmin or bisdemethoxycurcumin.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the diterpene lactone species is a member selected from the group consisting of andrographolide, dehydroandrographolide, deoxyandrographolide, neoandrographolide, selenoandrographolide, homoandrographolide, andrographan, amdrographon, andrographosterin, 14-deoxy-11-oxoandrographolide, 14-deoxy-11, 12-didehydroandrographolide, andrographiside and edelin lactone.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the triterpene species is a member selected from the group consisting of ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, betulin, betulinic acid, glycyrrhetinic acid, glycyrrhizic acid, triperin, 2-a-3-a-dihydroxyurs-12-3n-28-oic acid, 2-a-hydroxyursolic acid, 3-oxo-ursolic acid, celastrol, friedelin, tritophenolide, uvaol, eburicoic acid, glycyrrhizin, gypsogenin, oleanolic acid-3-acetate, pachymic acid, pinicolic acid, sophoradiol, soyasapogenol A, soyasapogenol B, tumulosic acid, ursolic acid-3-acetate and sitosterol.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein at least one member of the curcuminoid species, the diterpene lactone species and the triterpene species is derived from plants) or plant extract(s).  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein at one member of the curcuminoid species, the diterpene lactone species and the triterpene species is conjugated with a compound selected from the group consisting of mono- or di-saccharides, amino acids, sulfates, succinate, acetate and glutathione.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprises one or more members selected from the group consisting of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, glucosamine, chondrotin sulfate and aminosugars.  
     
     
         8 . A method of supplementing the dietary needs of animals suffering symptoms of inflammation, arthritis, acne rosacea or psoriasis comprising administering to said animals a composition comprising an effective amount of a curcuminoid species and an effective amount of a diterpene lactone species or a triterpene species or derivatives thereof such that said composition has a synergistic effect on specific inhibition of Inducible COX-2 activity and having minimal effect on COX-1 activity.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the composition is formulated in a dosage form such that said administration provides from 0.001 to 30.0 mg body weight per day of each curcuminoid species, and from 0.5 to 20.0 mg/kg body weight per day of each diterpene lactones species or triterpenes species.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the composition is administered in an amount sufficient to maintain a serum concentration of 0.1 to 50 μM of each curcuminoid species, and from 0.001 to 50 μM of each diterpene lactone species or triterpene species.