Plectranthus amboinicus fraction having anti-arthritis activity

Abstract

The invention provides an extract of Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng enriching anti-arthritis activity, which is obtained by eluting the crude extract of Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng using 50%-95% alcoholic solution or solvents such as hexane and/or ethyl acetate. Also provided is a method for treating arthritis comprising such extract.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An extract of  Plectranthus amboinicus  (Lour.) Spreng enriching anti-arthritis activity, which is characterized by having an absorption peak of Cirsmaritin at retention time of about 45 min in a HPLC pattern detected at a wavelength of about 320 nm. 
     
     
         2 . The extract of  claim 1 , characterized in that the extract is obtained by eluting the crude extract of  Plectranthus amboinicus  (Lour.) Spreng using 50%˜95% alcoholic solution. 
     
     
         3 . The extract of  claim 2 , characterized by having an absorption peak at retention time of about 45 min and an absorption peak of Carvacrol at about 55 min in a HPLC pattern detected at a wavelength of about 200 nm; or wherein it is characterized by having 8 absorption peaks at retention time of 39-43 min and an absorption peak of Cirsmaritin at about 45 min in a HPLC pattern detected at a wavelength of about 320 nm. 
     
     
         4 . The extract of  claim 2 , characterized in that the extract is obtained by eluting the crude extract of  Plectranthus amboinicus  (Lour.) Spreng using 70%˜95% alcoholic solution. 
     
     
         5 . The extract of  claim 4 , characterized by having an absorption peak of Cirsmaritin at retention time of about 45 min and an absorption peak of Carvacrol at about 55 min in a HPLC pattern detected at a wavelength of about 200 nm; or wherein it is characterized by having an absorption peak of Cirsmaritin at retention time of about 45 min and an absorption peak of Salvigenin at about 62 min in a HPLC pattern detected at a wavelength of about 320 nm. 
     
     
         6 . The extract of  claim 2 , wherein the alcoholic solution is ethanol. 
     
     
         7 . The extract of  claim 4 , wherein the alcoholic solution is ethanol. 
     
     
         8 . The extract of  claim 1 , characterized in that the extract is obtained by a normal phase chromatography using hexane as a solvent. 
     
     
         9 . The extract of  claim 8 , characterized in that the extract is further isolated by a normal phase chromatography using hexane/ethyl acetate as a solvent. 
     
     
         10 . The extract of  claim 1 , characterized in that the extract is obtained by a normal phase chromatography using hexane as a first solvent and hexane/ethyl acetate as a second solvent. 
     
     
         11 . The extract of  claim 10 , characterized by having an absorption peak of Carvacrol at retention time of about 55 min in a HPLC pattern detected at a wavelength of about 200 nm; or wherein it is characterized by having three absorption peaks at retention time of about 18-21 min, three absorption peaks at 37-41 min, two absorption peaks at 43-45 min, one absorption peak of Cirsmaritin at about 45 min, four absorption peaks at 50-54 min, and one absorption peak of Salvigenin at about 62 min in a HPLC pattern detected at a wavelength of about 320 nm. 
     
     
         12 . A method for preparing an extract of  Plectranthus amboinicus  (Lour.) Spreng enriching anti-arthritis activity comprising: extracting the plant or dried powder of  Plectranthus amboinicus  (Lour.) Spreng in a solvent to obtain a crude extract, and eluting the resulted crude extract by 50%˜95% alcoholic solution to isolate an extract enriching anti-arthritis activity. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the resulted crude extract is eluted by 70%˜95% alcoholic solution. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the resulted crude extract is eluted by 95% alcoholic solution. 
     
     
         15 . The method as in  claim 12 , wherein the alcoholic solution is ethanol. 
     
     
         16 . The method as in  claim 13 , wherein the alcoholic solution is ethanol. 
     
     
         17 . The method as in  claim 14 , wherein the alcoholic solution is ethanol. 
     
     
         18 . A method for preparing an extract of  Plectranthus amboinicus  (Lour.) Spreng enriching anti-arthritis activity comprising: extracting the plant or dried herb of  Plectranthus amboinicus  (Lour.) Spreng in a solvent to obtain a crude extract, and eluting the resulted crude extract by a normal phase chromatography using hexane as a solvent to isolate an extract enriching anti-arthritis activity. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein an extract enriching anti-arthritis activity is further isolated by a normal phase chromatography using hexane/ethyl acetate as a solvent. 
     
     
         20 . A method for preparing an extract of  Plectranthus amboinicus  (Lour.) Spreng enriching anti-arthritis activity comprising: extracting the plant or dried herb of  Plectranthus amboinicus  (Lour.) Spreng in a solvent to obtain a crude extract, and eluting the resulted crude extract by a normal phase chromatography using hexane as a first solvent and hexane/ethyl acetate as a second solvent to isolate an extract enriching anti-arthritis activity. 
     
     
         21 . A method for preventing or treating arthritis comprising administrating to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of the extract as defined in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         22 . A method for preventing or treating arthritis comprising administrating to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of the extract as defined in  claim 11 . 
     
     
         23 . A method for preventing or treating arthritis comprising administrating to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of the extract prepared by the method of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         24 . A pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating arthritis comprising a therapeutically effective amount of the extract as defined in  claim 1 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         25 . A pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating arthritis comprising a therapeutically effective amount of the extract as defined in  claim 11 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         26 . A pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating arthritis comprising a therapeutically effective amount of the extract prepared by the method of  claim 12 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.