Purified arabinogalactan-protein (agp) composition useful in the treatment psoriasis and other disorders

Abstract

A purified Arabinogalactan-Protein (AGP) composition isolated through a selective method from the leaves and/or stems of Argemone mexicana plant is described. Also described is a purified Arabinogalactan-Protein (AGP) composition isolated from the leaves and/or stems of Argemone mexicana plant, which has one or more of the following effects: immunosuppression, lymphoproliferation inhibition, cytokine modulation such as IL-2 inhibition, IFN-γ inhibition, or IL- 10 induction; keratinocyte proliferation inhibition, keratolytic activity and inhibitory activity in Mouse Ear Swelling test (MEST).

1 - 89 . (canceled) 
     
     
         90 . A method for treatment of psoriasis comprising administering to a mammal in need thereof an effective amount of a purified Arabinogalactan-Protein (AGP) composition, having an average molecular weight range between 10 KD to 150 KD, isolated from the leaves, stems or both of  Argemone mexicana  plant. 
     
     
         91 . A method of treatment of an inflammatory disorder comprising administering to a mammal in need thereof an effective amount of a purified Arabinogalactan-Protein (AGP) composition, having an average molecular weight range between 10 KD to 150 KD, isolated from the leaves, stems or both of  Argemone mexicana  plant. 
     
     
         92 . A method of treatment of an autoimmune disease comprising administering to a mammal in need thereof an effective amount of a purified Arabinogalactan-Protein (AGP) composition, having an average molecular weight range between 10 KD to 150 KD, isolated from the leaves, stems or both of  Argemone mexicana  plant. 
     
     
         93 . A method of treatment of an allergy comprising administering to a mammal in need thereof an effective amount of a purified Arabinogalactan-Protein (AGP) composition, having an average molecular weight range between 10 KD to 150 KD, isolated from the leaves, stems or both of  Argemone mexicana  plant. 
     
     
         94 . A method for treatment of eczema or scaly itchy patches comprising administering to a mammal in need thereof an effective amount of a purified Arabinogalactan-Protein (AGP) composition, having an average molecular weight range between 10 KD to 150 KD, isolated from the leaves, stems or both of  Argemone mexicana  plant. 
     
     
         95 . A method for treatment of a skin ailment comprising administering to a mammal in need thereof an amount of a purified Arabinogalactan-Protein (AGP) composition, having an average molecular weight range between 10 KD to 150 KD, isolated from the leaves, stems or both of  Argemone mexicana  plant. 
     
     
         96 . A method of treatment according to  claim 90 , wherein the composition is administered orally or topically. 
     
     
         97 . The method according to  claim 91 , wherein the disorder is selected from the group consisting of dermatitis; scleroderma; eczema; psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, irritable bowel disease, ankylosing spondilitis, systemic lupus erythrometosus, Sjogren's syndrome, and scaly itchy patches. 
     
     
         98 . The method according to  claim 93 , wherein the allergy is asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 
     
     
         99 . The method according to  claim 90 , wherein the psoriasis is selected from the group consisting of plaque psoriasis, guttate psoriasis, pustular psoriasis and psoriasis of the nails. 
     
     
         100 . The method for treatment of psoriasis according to  claim 90 , wherein composition containing Arabinogalactan Protein (AGP), the AGP having an average molecular weight range between 10 KD to 150 KD, is obtained by a process comprising the steps of:
 i) extracting 1 part by weight of the leaves, stems or both of  Argemone mexicana  plant with 1 to 10 parts by weight of water, a C1-3 alcohol or mixtures thereof to obtain an extract; and optionally partially or completely concentrating or lyophilizing the extract;   ii) subjecting the extract, partially concentrated extract or an aqueous solution of the completely concentrated or lyophilized extract as obtained in step i) to anion exchange chromatography followed by cation exchange chromatography or cation exchange chromatography followed by anion exchange chromatography to obtain a neutral aqueous extract;   iii) fractionating the neutral extract obtained in step ii) with n-butanol and separating the aqueous phase and the n-butanol phase, fractionating the separated aqueous phase with n-butanol and separating the aqueous phase and n-butanol phase; and   iv) mixing and agitating the aqueous phases obtained in step iii) with methanol or ethanol, and isolating precipitated solids to obtain a methanol or ethanol insoluble fraction; which contains said AGP.   
     
     
         101 . The method for treatment of an inflammatory disorder according to  claim 91 , wherein the composition containing Arabinogalactan Protein (AGP), the AGP having an average molecular weight range between 10 KD to 150 KD, is obtained by a process comprising the steps of:
 i) extracting 1 part by weight of the leaves, stems or both of  Argemone mexicana  plant with 1 to 10 parts by weight of water, a C1-3 alcohol or mixtures thereof to obtain an extract; and optionally partially or completely concentrating or lyophilizing the extract;   ii) subjecting the extract, partially concentrated extract or an aqueous solution of the completely concentrated or lyophilized extract as obtained in step i) to anion exchange chromatography followed by cation exchange chromatography or cation exchange chromatography followed by anion exchange chromatography to obtain a neutral aqueous extract;   iii) fractionating the neutral extract obtained in step ii) with n-butanol and separating the aqueous phase and the n-butanol phase, fractionating the separated aqueous phase with n-butanol and separating the aqueous phase and n-butanol phase; and   iv) mixing and agitating the aqueous phases obtained in step iii) with methanol or ethanol, and isolating precipitated solids to obtain a methanol or ethanol insoluble fraction; which contains said AGP.   
     
     
         102 . The method for treatment of an allergy according to  claim 93 , wherein composition containing Arabinogalactan Protein (AGP), the AGP having an average molecular weight range between 10 KD to 150 KD, is obtained by a process comprising the steps of:
 i) extracting 1 part by weight of the leaves, stems or both of  Argemone mexicana  plant with 1 to 10 parts by weight of water, a C1-3 alcohol or mixtures thereof to obtain an extract; and optionally partially or completely concentrating or lyophilizing the extract;   ii) subjecting the extract, partially concentrated extract or an aqueous solution of the completely concentrated or lyophilized extract as obtained in step i) to anion exchange chromatography followed by cation exchange chromatography or cation exchange chromatography followed by anion exchange chromatography to obtain a neutral aqueous extract;   iii) fractionating the neutral extract obtained in step ii) with n-butanol and separating the aqueous phase and the n-butanol phase, fractionating the separated aqueous phase with n-butanol and separating the aqueous phase and n-butanol phase; and   iv) mixing and agitating the aqueous phases obtained in step iii) with methanol or ethanol, and isolating precipitated solids to obtain a methanol or ethanol insoluble fraction; which contains said AGP.   
     
     
         103 . The method for treatment of eczema or scaly itchy patches according to  claim 94 , wherein the composition containing Arabinogalactan Protein (AGP), the AGP having an average molecular weight range between 10 KD to 150 KD, is obtained by a process comprising the steps of:
 i) extracting 1 part by weight of the leaves, stems or both of  Argemone mexicana  plant with 1 to 10 parts by weight of water, a C1-3 alcohol or mixtures thereof to obtain an extract; and optionally partially or completely concentrating or lyophilizing the extract;   ii) subjecting the extract, partially concentrated extract or an aqueous solution of the completely concentrated or lyophilized extract as obtained in step i) to anion exchange chromatography followed by cation exchange chromatography or cation exchange chromatography followed by anion exchange chromatography to obtain a neutral aqueous extract;   iii) fractionating the neutral extract obtained in step ii) with n-butanol and separating the aqueous phase and the n-butanol phase, fractionating the separated aqueous phase with n-butanol and separating the aqueous phase and n-butanol phase; and   iv) mixing and agitating the aqueous phases obtained in step iii) with methanol or ethanol, and isolating precipitated solids to obtain a methanol or ethanol insoluble fraction; which contains said AGP.   
     
     
         104 . The method for treatment of a skin ailment according to  claim 95 , wherein the composition containing Arabinogalactan Protein (AGP), the AGP having an average molecular weight range between 10 KD to 150 KD, is obtained by a process comprising the steps of:
 i) extracting 1 part by weight of the leaves, stems or both of  Argemone mexicana  plant with 1 to 10 parts by weight of water, a C1-3 alcohol or mixtures thereof to obtain an extract; and optionally partially or completely concentrating or lyophilizing the extract;   ii) subjecting the extract, partially concentrated extract or an aqueous solution of the completely concentrated or lyophilized extract as obtained in step i) to anion exchange chromatography followed by cation exchange chromatography or cation exchange chromatography followed by anion exchange chromatography to obtain a neutral aqueous extract;   iii) fractionating the neutral extract obtained in step ii) with n-butanol and separating the aqueous phase and the n-butanol phase, fractionating the separated aqueous phase with n-butanol and separating the aqueous phase and n-butanol phase; and   iv) mixing and agitating the aqueous phases obtained in step iii) with methanol or ethanol, and isolating precipitated solids to obtain a methanol or ethanol insoluble fraction; which contains said AGP.   
     
     
         105 . The method of treatment according to  claim 91 , wherein the composition is administered orally or topically. 
     
     
         106 . The method according to  claim 101 , wherein the disorder is selected from the group consisting of dermatitis; scleroderma; eczema; psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, irritable bowel disease, ankylosing spondilitis, systemic lupus erythrometosus, Sjogren's syndrome, and scaly itchy patches. 
     
     
         107 . The method according to  claim 90 , wherein the disorder is selected from the group consisting of dermatitis; scleroderma; eczema; psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, irritable bowel disease, ankylosing spondilitis, systemic lupus erythrometosus, Sjogren's syndrome, and scaly itchy patches. 
     
     
         108 . The method according to  claim 103 , wherein the allergy is asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 
     
     
         109 . The method according to  claim 90 , wherein the psoriasis is selected from the group consisting of plaque psoriasis, guttate psoriasis, pustular psoriasis and psoriasis of the nails.