Melaleuca quinquenervia extracts and uses of the same

Abstract

A Melaleuca quinquenervia extract and its uses are provided. The extract is extracted by a first polar solvent, wherein the first polar solvent is a C3-C6 ethanol. The extract is especially useful for inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A  Melaleuca quinquenervia  extract, which is prepared by extracting  Melaleuca quinquenervia  with a first polar solvent, wherein the first polar solvent is a C3-C6 alcohol. 
     
     
         2 . The extract as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first polar solvent comprises butanol. 
     
     
         3 . The extract as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first polar solvent is n-butanol. 
     
     
         4 . The extract as claimed in  claim 1 , which is prepared by a method comprising:
 (a) extracting  Melaleuca quinquenervia  with a second polar solvent to provide a first extraction fluid, wherein the second polar solvent is methanol, water, or a combination thereof;   (b) partitioning the first extraction fluid with a first polar solvent and collecting the first polar solvent phase; and   (c) optionally removing the first polar solvent from the first polar solvent phase.   
     
     
         5 . The extract as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the step (a) includes:
 (a1) extracting the  Melaleuca quinquenervia  with methanol to provide a methanol extraction fluid;   (a2) optionally concentrating the methanol extraction fluid to obtain a concentrated solution; and   (a3) adding water into the concentrated solution to obtain the first extraction.   
     
     
         6 . The extract as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the method for preparing the extract further comprises at least one of the following steps prior to the step (b):
 (b1′) partitioning the first extraction fluid with a C5-C8 alkane and removing the alkane phase; and   (b2′) partitioning the product of step (b1′) with ethyl acetate and removing the ethyl acetate phase.   
     
     
         7 . The extract as claimed in  claim 1 , which is prepared by extracting a leaf and/or a branch with leaves of  Melaleuca quinquenervia.    
     
     
         8 . A pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signal transduction pathway, comprising a  Melaleuca quinquenervia  extract as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . The pharmaceutical composition as claimed in  claim 8 , which is for inhibiting the transcription activity of β-catenin and/or inhibiting the combination of β-catenin and T cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor (TCF/LEF). 
     
     
         10 . The pharmaceutical composition as claimed in  claim 9 , which is for blocking the development of a tumor. 
     
     
         11 . The pharmaceutical composition as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the tumor is at least one of rectal cancer, breast cancer, brain cancer, esophageal cancer and liver cancer. 
     
     
         12 . A method for inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signal transduction pathway in a subject, comprising administering to the subject in need an effective amount of a  Melaleuca quinquenervia  extract as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . A method for inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signal transduction pathway in a subject, comprising administering to the subject in need an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition as claimed in  claim 8 .