Use of rice bran oil distillate extract for prevention and mitigation of the effects of radiation

Abstract

Provided herein is a tocol rich fraction of rice bran oil deodorized distillate that is shown to be both radioprotective and able to protect against oxidative damage. This fraction may prove an inexpensive and readily available extract that can be used to prepare pharmaceutical compositions for use in protecting against radiation exposure and/or other forms of oxidative stress.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising an extract of rice bran oil deodorizer distillate, wherein the total tocotrienols in the extract are between 15% and 80% by weight and wherein squalene comprises at least 15% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         2 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the tocotrienols are α-tocotrienol and β-γ-tocotrienol. 
     
     
         3 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of α-tocotrienol to β-γ-tocotrienol is 2:1 to 1:2. 
     
     
         4 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of α-tocotrienol to β-γ-tocotrienol is 1.3:1 to 1:1.3. 
     
     
         5 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the tocopherols are less than 30% of the total composition by weight. 
     
     
         6 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         7 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 6 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is dimethyl sulfoxide. 
     
     
         8 . A method of treating a subject in need of treatment for a condition comprising administering an effective amount of the composition of  claim 1  to the subject in an amount effective to treat the condition. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the subject is in need of a radioprotectant or for treatment of radiation exposure and the condition is radiation exposure. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the subject is in need of treatment with an antioxidant agent, an anti-inflammatory agent, an immunoregulatory agent, an anti-thromobotic agent, an anti-atherogenic agent, a hypocholesterolemic agent or an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the subject has a condition selected from the group consisting of radiation exposure, cancer, cardiovascular disease including but not limited to coronary artery disease, elevated lipoprotein levels, elevated cholesterol levels, elevated triglycerides, age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, chronic pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, fever, edema, diabetes mellitus, signs of aging, rheumatoid diseases, septic shock, and Alzheimer's disease. 
     
     
         12 . A method of protecting cells from oxidative damage or radiation exposure comprising contacting the cells with the pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1  in an amount effective to protect from oxidative damage or radiation exposure. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is added prior to the radiation exposure or oxidative damage. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is added after the radiation exposure or oxidative damage to the cells.