Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides a group of tobacco alkaloids, tobacco extract, Yerbamaté extract, and an extract of chewing gum and lozenges which are modulators of monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity (i.e., compounds and substances which inhibit MAO enzyme and prevent its biological activity). The MAO inhibitors of the present invention can cause an increase in the level of norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin in the brain and other tissues, and thus can cause a wide variety of pharmacological effects mediated by their effects on these compounds. The MAO inhibitors of the present invention are useful for a variety of therapeutic applications, such as the treatment of depression, disorders of attention and focus, mood and emotional disorders, Parkinson's disease, extrapyramidal disorders, hypertension, substance abuse, smoking substitution, anti-depression therapy, eating disorders, withdrawal syndromes, and the cessation of smoking.

1 . A method of treating drug withdrawal syndromes or drug dependence disorders comprising administering to a mammal in need thereof an effective amount of an active agent in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or vehicle, wherein said active agent is selected from the group consisting of anabasine, anatabine, and nornicotine.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mammal is human.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the active agent is administered in an amount effective to inhibit monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the inhibition of MAO activity is asymptotic.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the active agent is anabasine.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the active agent is anatabine.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the active agent is nornicotine.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the active agent is administered in an amount effective to inhibit monoamine oxidase A (MAO A) activity.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the active agent is administered in an amount effective to inhibit monoamine oxidase B (MAO B) activity.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the drug withdrawal syndrome or drug dependence disorder involves a dependence on at least one of alcohol, opioids, amphetamines, cocaine, tobacco, and cannabis.  
     
     
         11 . A method of treating tobacco withdrawal syndrome or tobacco dependence disorder comprising administering to a mammal in need thereof an effective monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibiting amount of anabasine in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or vehicle.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the mammal is human.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the inhibition of MAO is asymptotic.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the anabasine is administered in an amount effective to inhibit monoamine oxidase A (MAO A) activity.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the anabasine is administered in an amount effective to inhibit monoamine oxidase B (MAO B) activity.  
     
     
         16 . A method of treating tobacco withdrawal syndrome or tobacco dependence disorder comprising administering to a mammal in need thereof an effective monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibiting amount of anatabine in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or vehicle.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the mammal is human.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the inhibition of MAO is asymptotic.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the anatabine is administered in an amount effective to inhibit monoamine oxidase A (MAO A) activity.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the anatabine is administered in an amount effective to inhibit monoamine oxidase B (MAO B) activity.  
     
     
         21 . A method of treating tobacco withdrawal syndrome or tobacco dependence disorder comprising administering to a mammal in need thereof an effective monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibiting amount of nomicotine in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or vehicle.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the mammal is human.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the inhibition of MAO is asymptotic.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the nornicotine is administered in an amount effective to inhibit monoamine oxidase A (MAO A) activity.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the nornicotine is administered in an amount effective to inhibit monoamine oxidase B (MAO B) activity.