Use of Emu Oil and its various fractions as a carrier for antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral medications & preparations

Abstract

An animal-derived lipid is disclosed that is useful as a carrying agent for anti-microbial formulations. Pharmaceutical and other preparations including Emu Oil are also described as profoundly useful components in anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral treatments. This lipid material is extracted from the Emu ( Dromais Novae - Hollandiae ), an indigenous bird of Australia and New Zealand. Therapeutic compositions comprising Emu Oil in combination with an extracellular product of Bacillus coagulans or Pseudomonas lindbergii strain, comprising a supernatant or filtrate of said culture suitable for topical application to the skin or mucosal membranes of a mammal are utilized to inhibit the growth of bacterium, yeast, fungi, virus, and combinations thereof. Additionally, the aforementioned therapeutic composition may also include an anti-microbial, anti-mycotic, and/or anti-viral agent. Methods of treatment and therapeutic systems inhibit the growth of bacterium, yeast, fungi, virus, and combinations thereof, by topical application of therapeutic compositions comprising Emu Oil in combination with an extracellular product of Bacillus coagulans or Pseudomonas lindbergii strain suitable for topical application to the skin or mucosal membranes of a mammal. Similarly, the aforementioned method may also employ a therapeutic composition additionally containing an anti-microbial, anti-mycotic, and/or anti-viral agent.

1 . A method of preventing bacterial, yeast, fungal or viral infection comprising the topical application, to the skin or a mucous membrane of a mammal, a composition comprising clotrimazole in a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier which is suitable for topical application to skin or a mucous membrane of a mammal and Emu Oil, and allowing said composition to contact the skin or mucous membrane for sufficient time to inhibit growth of bacteria, yeast, fungus or virus. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said carrier is selected from a group comprising an emulsion, cream, lotion, gel, oil, ointment, suspension, aerosol spray, powder, aerosol powder, or semi-solid formulation. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said Emu Oil comprises approximately 0.5% to approximately 99.9% by weight of said composition. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said Emu Oil comprises approximately 10% to approximately 75%, by weight of said composition. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said Emu Oil comprises approximately 25% to approximately 60%, by weight of said composition. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more compounds selected from the group comprising dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), and Lignisul MSM. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a non-microbially-derived, anti-microbial compound selected from the group consisting of amphotericin B, carbol-fuchsin, ciclopirox, clotrimazole, econazole, haloprogin, ketoconazole, mafenide, miconazole, naftifine, nystatin, oxiconazole, silver sulfadiazine, sulconazole, tioconazole, tolnafiate, and undecylenic acid. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a non-microbially-derived, anti-fungal vaginal compound selected from the group consisting of butoconazle, econazole, gentian violet, miconazole, nystatin, terconazole, and tioconazole. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more anti-microbial agents selected from a group comprising: a quartenary ammonium chloride, an iodine or iodifer compound, a phenolic compound, and an alcohol compound or tincture. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more systemic anti-fungal compounds selected from a group comprising: amphotericin B, dapsone, fluconazole, flucytosine, griseofulvin, itraconazole, kietoconazole, and miconazole KI. 
     
     
         11 . An article of manufacture comprising a flexible article, clotrimazole in a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier and Emu Oil applied to said flexible article, wherein said flexible article is intended to be worn by or attached to skin or a mucous membrane of a mammal so as to allow the indigenous anti-microbial activity of the clotrimazole to occur adjacent to, or on the skin or mucous membrane. 
     
     
         12 . The article of manufacture of  claim 11 , wherein said article of manufacture is selected from the group comprising: a diaper, a pliable material for wiping skin or a mucous membrane, a dermal patch, adhesive tape, an absorbent pad, a tampon, a feminine hygiene napkin, and an article of clothing. 
     
     
         13 . The article of manufacture of  claim 11 , wherein the applying step comprises impregnating said composition into a fibrous or non-fibrous solid matrix.