Biologically active oils

Abstract

A process for the production of fats or oils and their extracts containing biologically-active chemical compounds from a lipid substrate, the process comprising: a) inoculation of a lipid substrate with fungally derived lipolytic enzymes b) incubating the inoculated substrate for a period of between about 7-120 days at a temperature of between about 4-35° C., at a humidity of between about 75-100%, and C) processing said substrate mixture to obtain a biologically active fat or oil.

1 . A solid state process for the production of fats or oils and/or their extracts containing biologically-active chemical compounds from a lipid substrate, the process comprising: 
 a) Inoculation of a lipid substrate with a fungal mixture having enzymatic activity, said fungal mixture being derived from said substrate,    b) Incubating the inoculated substrate for a period of between about 7-120 days at a temperature of between about 4-35° C., at a humidity of between about 75-100%, such that said fungal mixture metabolises/transforms the lipid substrate into said fats or oils and/or their extracts containing biologically-active chemical compounds, and    c) Processing said incubated substrate mixture to obtain a biologically active fat or oil.    
   
   
       2 . A solid state process for the production of fats or oils and/or their extracts containing biologically-active chemical compounds from a lipid substrate, the process comprising: 
 a) Incubating the lipid substrate without any inoculation of a fungal mixture, for a period of between about 7-120 days at a temperature of between about 4-35° C. at a humidity of between about 75-100%, such that the lipid substrate transforms into said fats or oils and/or their extracts containing biologically-active chemical compounds, and    b) Processing said incubated substrate mixture to obtain a biologically active fat or oil.    
   
   
       3 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein in step b), the period of incubation is between about 7 to 56 days, at a temperature of between about 5-20° C. and at a humidity of between about 80-100%.  
   
   
       4 . The process according to  claim 2  wherein in step a), the period of incubation is between about 7 to 56 days, at a temperature of between about 5-20° C. and at a humidity of between about 80-100%.  
   
   
       5 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein in step c), the lipid substrate is animal-derived and said metabolised/transformed inoculated lipid substrate is rendered to obtain a biologically active oil.  
   
   
       6 . The process according to  claim 2  wherein in step b), the lipid substrate is animal-derived and said metabolised/transformed lipid substrate is rendered to obtain a biologically active oil.  
   
   
       7 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein in step c), the lipid substrate is plant or seed derived, and said biologically active oil is obtained by cold pressing or solvent extraction of said inoculated substrate mixture.  
   
   
       8 . The process according to  claim 2 , wherein in step b), the lipid substrate is plant or seed derived, and said biologically active oil is obtained by cold pressing or solvent extraction of said substrate mixture.  
   
   
       9 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein a concentrated extract of a biologically active oil is prepared by solvent extraction of the obtained biologically active oil, using, methanol at low temperature.  
   
   
       10 . A biologically active fat or oil and extracts thereof produced according to the process of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       11 . A method of treating or preventing a disease or condition in a human or animal patient, which comprises administration to the patient of an effective amount of a biologically active fat or oil or extract thereof, produced according to the process of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein said administration is oral, transdermal or subcutaneous.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said condition is an inflammatory condition including musculo-skeletal disorders such as arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said disease or condition is a gastrointestinal disorder, including inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's, disease and ulcerative colitis, gastric ulcers, gastric reflux and pancreatitis.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said disease is a respiratory disease, including asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said disease is a cardiovascular disease, including atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease and hypertension.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said disease is a skin disease, including dermatitis, psoriasis and atopic eczema.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said disease or condition is cancer, including bowel cancer, skin cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer and sarcoidosis and non-solid tumours such as Hodgkin's lymphoma.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said disease or condition includes leukemia, diabetes, allergies (e.g., otitis media, ocular allergy, uveitis), dysmenorrhoea, kidney diseases (e.g., glomerulonephritis, nephrotic syndrome), benign prostate hyperplasia, septic shock.  
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein pathogenesis of said disease or condition involves activation of the lipoxygenase (LOX) pathways, including the 5-, 12- and 15- LOX pathways.  
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein pathogenesis of said disease or condition involves activation of the of cyclo-oxygenase (COX) pathways, including COX-1 and COX-2 pathways.  
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein pathogenesis of said disease or condition is characterised by an increase in blood C-reactive protein levels.  
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said biologically active fat or oil or extract thereof is topically administered in the form of a pharmaceutical cream, prepared with one or more acceptable carriers or diluents.  
   
   
       24 . Use of a biologically active fat or oil and extracts thereof as claimed in  claim 10  in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of an inflammatory disease or condition in a human or animal.  
   
   
       25 . The use according to  claim 24  where said biologically active fat or oil inhibits the lipoxygenase (LOX) pathways, including the 5-, 12- and 15- LOX pathways.