Medicinal agent and beverage/food for preventing cerebral dysfunction and improvidng same

Abstract

Provided is method for improving depression of a patient by administering to a patient suffering from depression an effective dose of sepiapterin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of sepiapterin in an amount from 0.1 to 100 mg/kg of body weight per day. The sepiapterin or salt of sepiapterin entering the patient's bloodstream and passing the patient's blood-brain barrier to enter a neuron, and the sepiapterin or salt of sepiapterin converting to tetrahydrobiopterin in a neuron of the brain and the tetrahydrobiopterin facilitating biosynthesis of an aromatic monoamine in the patient's brain to provide an elevated level of an aromatic monoamine in the patient's brain to improve depression of the patient

1 . A method for improving depression of a patient, the method comprising facilitating biosynthesis of an aromatic monoamine in the patient's brain to provide an elevated level of an aromatic monoamine in the patient's brain by administering to the patient suffering from depression an effective dose of sepiapterin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of sepiapterin in an amount from 0.1 to 100 mg/kg of body weight per day via a peripheral route of administration, the sepiapterin or salt of sepiapterin entering the patient's bloodstream and passing the patient's blood-brain barrier to enter a neuron, and the sepiapterin or salt of sepiapterin converting to tetrahydrobiopterin in a neuron of the brain and the tetrahydrobiopterin facilitating biosynthesis of an aromatic monoamine in the patient's brain to provide an elevated level of an aromatic monoamine in the patient's brain to improve depression of the patient. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the sepiapterin or salt of sepiapterin is administered orally to the patient to provide a dose from 0.1 to 100 mg/kg of body weight per day. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the sepiapterin or salt of sepiapterin is administered intravenously to the patient at a dose from 0.1 to 100 mg/kg of body weight per day. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the salt of sepiapterin comprises at least one salt selected from the group of alkaline metal salts, alkaline earth metal salts, metal salts, inorganic salts, organic acid salts, organic amine salts, amino acid salts, or organic salts. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the aromatic monoamine is at least one of serotonin, noradrenaline, dopamine or adrenaline. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the aromatic monoamine is serotonin. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the sepiapterin or salt of sepiapterin is administered in a composition comprising a carrier. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one of a binder, disintegrating agent, solubilizing agent, solvent, diluting agent, smoothing agent, sweetener, coloring agent, antiseptic, antioxidant agent or buffering agent. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the composition is in a form of a consumable food or drink. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising an inhibitor of a retrograde transporter. 
     
     
         11 . A method for improving depression, the method comprising facilitating biosynthesis of an aromatic monoamine in the patient's brain to provide an elevated level of an aromatic monoamine in the patient's brain by administering to the patient suffering from depression an effective dose of sepiapterin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of sepiapterin in an amount from 0.1 to 100 mg/kg of body weight per day via a parenteral route of administration, the sepiapterin or salt of sepiapterin entering the patient's bloodstream and passing the patient's blood-brain barrier to enter the neuron, and the sepiapterin or salt of sepiapterin converting to tetrahydrobiopterin in a neuron of the brain and the tetrahydrobiopterin facilitating biosynthesis of an aromatic monoamine in the patient's brain to provide an elevated level of an aromatic monoamine in the patient's brain to improve depression of the patient. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the salt of sepiapterin comprises at least one salt selected from the group of alkaline metal salts, alkaline earth metal salts, metal salts, inorganic salts, organic acid salts, organic amine salts, amino acid salts, or organic salts. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the aromatic monoamine is at least one of serotonin, noradrenaline, dopamine or adrenaline. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the aromatic monoamine is serotonin. 
     
     
         15 . A method for improving depression, the method comprising facilitating biosynthesis of an aromatic monoamine in the patient's brain to provide an elevated level of an aromatic monoamine in the patient's brain by administering to the patient suffering from depression an effective dose of sepiapterin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of sepiapterin in an amount from 0.1 to 100 mg/kg of body weight per day, the sepiapterin or salt of sepiapterin entering the patient's bloodstream and passing the patient's blood-brain barrier to enter the neuron, and the sepiapterin or salt of sepiapterin converting to tetrahydrobiopterin in a neuron of the brain and the tetrahydrobiopterin facilitating biosynthesis of an aromatic monoamine in the patient's brain to provide an elevated level of an aromatic monoamine in the patient's brain to improve depression of the patient.