Agent having neurotrophic factor-like activity

Abstract

The present invention provides a pharmaceutical agent having high safety and a neurotrophic factor-like activity, which contains, as an active ingredient, any one compound included in fatty acids each having 8 carbon atoms (C8) or having 10 carbon atoms (C10) to 12 carbon atoms (C12) or fatty acid esters thereof, such as 3,7-dimethyloctanoic acid ethyl ester, geranic acid ethyl ester, and the like, each of which has 8 carbon atoms (C8), decanoic acid methyl ester, trans-2-decenoic acid, trans-2-decenoic acid methyl ester, trans-2-decenoic acid ethyl ester, trans-2-decenoic acid-2-decenyl ester, trans-2-decenoic acid cyclohexyl ester, trans-2-decenoic acid isopropyl ester, trans-3-decenoic acid methyl ester, trans-9-decenoic acid methyl ester, and the like, each of which has 10 carbon atoms (C10), trans-10-undecenoic acid methyl ester, trans-10-undecenoic acid ethyl ester, and the like, each of which has 11 carbon atoms (C11), and dodecanoic acid, and the like, each of which has 12 carbon atoms (C12), or salts thereof or prodrugs thereof.

1 . An agent having a neurotrophic factor-like activity, comprising, as an active ingredient, any one compound included in fatty acids each having 8 carbon atoms (C8) or having 10 carbon atoms (C10) to 12 carbon atoms (C12) or fatty acid esters thereof, such as n-octanoic acid methyl ester, n-octanoic acid ethyl ester, 3,7-dimethyloctanoic acid ethyl ester, or geranic acid ethyl ester, each of which has 8 carbon atoms (C8), decanoic acid methyl ester, decanoic acid ethyl ester, trans-2-decenoic acid, trans-2-decenoic acid methyl ester, trans-2-decenoic acid ethyl ester, trans-2-decenoic acid-2-decenyl ester, trans-2-decenoic acid cyclohexyl ester, trans-2-decenoic acid octyl ester, trans-2-decenoic acid isopropyl ester, trans-3-decenoic acid methyl ester, trans-3-decenoic acid ethyl ester, trans-9-decenoic acid, trans-9-decenoic acid methyl ester, or trans-9-decenoic acid ethyl ester, each of which has 10 carbon atoms (C10), trans-10-undecenoic acid methyl ester or trans-10-undecenoic acid ethyl ester, each of which has 11 carbon atoms (C11), and dodecanoic acid, dodecanoic acid methyl ester, or dodecanoic acid ethyl ester, each of which has 12 carbon atoms (C12), or salts thereof or prodrugs thereof. 
   
   
       2 . The agent having a neurotrophic factor-like activity according to  claim 1 , which is a preventive and therapeutic agent for a nervous disorder. 
   
   
       3 . The agent having a neurotrophic factor-like activity according to  claim 2 , wherein the nervous disorder is a neurodegenerative disease. 
   
   
       4 . The agent having a neurotrophic factor-like activity according to  claim 3 , wherein the neurodegenerative disease is Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), or diabetic neuropathy. 
   
   
       5 . The agent having a neurotrophic factor-like activity according to  claim 2 , wherein the nervous disorder is a mental disease. 
   
   
       6 . The agent having a neurotrophic factor-like activity according to  claim 5 , wherein the mental disease is depression. 
   
   
       7 . The agent having a neurotrophic factor-like activity according to  claim 5 , wherein the mental disease is anxiety disorder (neurosis). 
   
   
       8 . Trans-2-decenoic acid-2-decenyl ester, having a neurotrophic factor-like activity. 
   
   
       9 . Trans-2-decenoic acid cyclohexyl ester, having a neurotrophic factor-like activity.