Uses of compounds and mixtures from antrodia cinnamomea mycelia

Abstract

The present invention relates to novel uses of compounds from Antrodia cinnamomea mycelia and mixtures comprising the compounds. The novel uses comprise whitening skin, combating skin ageing, reducing scar formation, inducing or enhancing liver regeneration, or treating fibrosis or a fibrosis-associated disorder in a subject in need thereof. The compounds have the formula and preferably are selected from 3-isobutyl-4-[4-(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy)phenyl]furan-2,5-dione, 3-isobutyl-4-[4-(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy)phenyl]-1H-pyrrol-2,5-dione, 3-isobutyl-4-[4-(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy)phenyl]-1H-pyrrol-1-ol-2,5-dione, 3R*,4S*-1-hydroxy-3-isobutyl-4-[4-(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy)phenyl]pyrrolidine-2,5-dione, and 3R*,4R*-1-hydroxy-3-isobutyl-4-[4-(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy)phenyl]pyrrolidine-2,5-dione.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for inducing or enhancing liver regeneration, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a composition comprising a compound having the formula 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         or its tautomeric forms, its stereoisomers, its polymorphs, its salts, or its solvates, 
         wherein 
         X is N or O; 
         R 1  is H, hydroxyl, C 1-10  alkyloxy, C 2-10  alkenyloxy, or C 2-10  alkynyloxy; 
         R 2  is H, hydroxyl, C 1-10  alkyl, C 2-10  alkenyl or C 2-10  alkynyl; 
         R 3  is H, hydroxyl, C 1-10  alkyl, C 2-10  alkenyl or C 2-10  alkynyl; 
            denotes a single or double bond; 
         provided that 
         if X is O, R 3  is absent; 
         if   denotes a single bond, the compound has the formula: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compound is
 3-isobutyl-4-[4-(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy)phenyl]furan-2,5-dione,   3-isobutyl-4-[4-(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy)phenyl]-1H-pyrrol-2,5-dione,   3-isobutyl-4-[4-(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy)phenyl]-1H-pyrrol-1-ol-2,5-dione,   3R*,4S*-1-hydroxy-3-isobutyl-4-[4-(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy)phenyl]pyrrolidine-2,5-dione, or   3R*,4R*-1-hydroxy-3-isobutyl-4-[4-(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy)phenyl]pyrrolidine-2,5-dione.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject has a liver resection. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject has liver fibrosis or cirrhosis. 
     
     
         5 . A method for inducing or enhancing liver regeneration, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a mixture comprising water or organic solvent extract of mycelium of  Antrodia cinnamomea , wherein the extract comprises a compound having the formula 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         or its tautomeric forms, its stereoisomers, its polymorphs, its salts, or its solvates, 
         wherein 
         X is N or O; 
         R 1  is H, hydroxyl, C 1-10  alkyloxy, C 2-10  alkenyloxy, or C 2-10  alkynyloxy; 
         R 2  is H, hydroxyl, C 1-10  alkyl, C 2-10  alkenyl or C 2-10  alkynyl; 
         R 3  is H, hydroxyl, C 1-10  alkyl, C 2-10  alkenyl or C 2-10  alkynyl; 
            denotes a single or double bond; 
         provided that 
         if X is O, R 3  is absent; 
         if   denotes a single bond, the compound has the formula: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the compound is
 3-isobutyl-4-[4-(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy)phenyl]furan-2,5-dione,   3-isobutyl-4-[4-(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy)phenyl]-1H-pyrrol-2,5-dione,   3-isobutyl-4-[4-(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy)phenyl]-1H-pyrrol-1-ol-2,5-dione,   3R*,4S*-1-hydroxy-3-isobutyl-4-[4-(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy)phenyl]pyrrolidine-2,5-dione, or   3R*,4R*-1-hydroxy-3-isobutyl-4-[4-(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy)phenyl]pyrrolidine-2,5-dione.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the fermented mycelium of  Antrodia cinnamomea  is prepared by submerged liquid fermentation. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the organic solvent comprises but is not limited to alcohol, ester, alkane, and halogenated alkane. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the organic solvent is ethanol or alcoholic solvent. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the subject has a liver resection. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the subject has liver fibrosis or cirrhosis.