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Compounds for altering food intake in humansRelated Patent Categories: Drug, Bio-affecting And Body Treating Compositions, Plant Material Or Plant Extract Of Undetermined Constitution As Active Ingredient (e.g., Herbal Remedy, Herbal Extract, Powder, Oil, Etc.), Containing Or Obtained From Leguminosae (e.g., Legumes Such As Soybean, Kidney Bean, Pea, Lentil, Licorice, Etc.)Compounds for altering food intake in humans description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20050249829, Compounds for altering food intake in humans. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present relates to materials derived from jojoba plants that are useful for promoting good health and feeling of well-being, and particularly for altering food intake in humans, and more particularly to materials useful for suppressing appetite, and in human weight control programs. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] With respect to humans and appetite suppression or weight control, a wide variety of low-calorie foods, dietary supplements, pharmaceuticals, medical foods, functional foods and nutraceutical agents have been suggested. Additionally, a number of dietary weight loss and weight control programs have been suggested, many of which incorporate the use of dietary supplements or therapeutic agents. Known therapeutic agents (e.g., as drugs) and known dietary supplements act by a variety of mechanisms. Exemplary drugs include epinephrine (as a pure substance, or in the form within the ephedra herb), norepinephrine, 5-hydroxytryptamine (e.g., flenfluramine), phenylpropanolamine, phentermine, and various amphetamines. The active agents within those drugs have been demonstrated to have some degree of efficacy, but are subject to disadvantages. For example, phenteramine has potential side-effects like nervousness, insomnia, and constipation. Moreover, patients generally develop a tolerance to the drug, and certain programs lasting longer than about eight weeks often are not desirable or feasible. Fenfluramine has been associated with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH), a deadly disorder in which the blood vessels of the lungs are destroyed. There also has been an interest in investigating dietary supplements and active ingredients that are derived from natural sources. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,224,873 to Jones. [0003] A natural material that has been associated with altering appetite in animals is derived from portions of the jojoba plant. The jojoba plant, Simmondsia californica or S. chinenese, is an evergreen shrub that grows wild in Arizona, lower California, and western Mexico. Recently jojoba has been grown, planted, and cultivated as a domestic crop. Typically, the jojoba plant is cultivated for its seeds from which a wax ester oil is removed. The resultant oil is used in cosmetic formulations and lubricant formulations. Portions of the jojoba plant also are used as a feedstock for livestock. See, for example, Elliger et al., J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. 12209-2212 (1973). [0004] Jojoba meal has a high content of simmondsin compounds, and in particular, simmondsin (I), simmondsin-2'-ferulate (II), and related cyanomethylenecyclohexyl glycosides (Elliger et al., Phytochemistry 13, 2319 (1974) and Manos et al., J. Agric. Food Chem. 34, 801-805 (1986)). Simmondsin compounds have been demonstrated to alter appetite in rats (Flo et al., Appetite, 34 147-151 (2000), Cokelaere et al., Food Chem. Toxicol. 36, 13-19 (1998), Cokelaere et al., Ind. Crops Prod., 4 91-96 (1995), Cokelaere et al., Horm. Metab. Res., 318-321 (1995), Cokelaere et al., J. Agric. Food Chem. 41, 1449-1451 (1993), Cokelaere et al., J. Agric. Food Chem. 40, 2443-2445 (1992), Cokelaere et al., J. Agric. Food Chem. 40, 1839-1842 (1992), Cokelaere et al., J. Agric. Food Chem. 41, 1444-1448 (1993), and Booth et al., Life Sciences 15(6), 1115-1120 (1974)); mice (Verbiscar et al., J. Agric. Food Chem. 28, 571-578 (1980)); chickens (Arnouts et al., Poultry Science 72, 1714-1721 (1993); and domestic cats and dogs (U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,245,364 to Jones et al and 5,962,043 to Jones et al). [0005] Various techniques for separating simmondsins compounds from jojoba meal have been suggested. See, for example, Medina et al., Cereal Chem. 67(5) 476-479 (1990), Verbiscar et al., J. Agric. Food Chem. 29, 296-302 (1981), Verbiscar et al., J. Agric. Food Chem. 28, 571-578 (1980) and Booth et al., Life Sciences 15(6), 1115-1120 (1974). Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,823 to Abbott et al. proposes a method for isolation of simmondsin compounds. Typically, simmondsin compounds are first extracted from defatted jojoba meal using water. After separation, the water extract is isolated and water removed- to provide the simmondsin compounds as a solid extract. Individual simmondsin compounds are isolated from the dried extract by contact with a first ethanolic solvent forming a first solvent fraction. The first solvent fraction is then separated from the solid phase and the ethanolic solvent removed by drying. See, also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,371 to d'Oosterlynck. [0006] It would be desirable to provide a composition derived from a natural source (e.g., a jojoba extract containing at least one simmondsin compound), in a form to be administered as a beneficial or therapeutic composition for the purpose of controlling the intake of food in humans. Such controlled intake of food can be used as part of a treatment program for various eating disorders and related conditions (e.g., obesity). SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] In one embodiment, the present invention provides a process of extracting components incorporating at least one simmondsin compound from a jojoba plant (or portion of jojoba plant). The process comprises contacting a portion of jojoba plant (e.g., jojoba meal) with an organic solvent to provide a mixture. The portion of jojoba meal and organic solvent mixture is heated, preferably while mixing or otherwise agitating that mixture. The resulting solvent containing extracted components of the jojoba plant is separated from that portion of the jojoba plant that is insoluble in the solvent. The resulting mixture of extract and solvent is concentrated, such as by applying further heat, and preferably by subjecting that mixture to reduced pressure relative to atmospheric pressure, to provide a mixture comprising at least one extracted simmondsin compound. The mixture can be mixed with other components (e.g., starch-type carriers) and dried. For example, the mixture can be spray dried to provide a powder. The resulting powder then can be formulated into a desirable form (and optionally with other suitable components) for ingestion or administration, such as a capsule or tablet. [0008] Jojoba extracts containing at least one extracted simmondsin compound can be used in a convenient form to be administered to, or ingested by, a human patient or subject for the purpose of altering the desire for intake of food and beverage, and for associated weight control. That is, those jojoba extracts can be ingested or administered to a human in order to modify eating habits, and hence control his/her intake of food. Those jojoba extracts also can also be used as a means to satiate hunger or as an appetite suppressant. As such, ingestion or administration of those jojoba extracts acts as a way to control the weight of a human (e.g., by decreasing a subject's desire for food and by promoting good eating habits, thus resulting in weight loss). Jojoba extracts incorporating at least one extracted simmondsin compound can be used to supplement a diet (e.g., as a dietary supplement), wherein a portion of food intake is supplemented or replaced by the ingestion of at that jojoba extract. Such a jojoba extract can be part of a specific regiment under the administration and control of a medical doctor. Such an extract preferably is taken at predetermined times during a day, and in predetermined amounts; occasionally (e.g., on a day-by-day basis), or regularly over a period or periods of time (e.g., as part of a dietary program). In one embodiment, a therapeutically effective amount of at least one simmondsin compound can be taken at least once a day, preferably prior to a meal. In an alternate embodiment, at least one simmondsin compound is taken before (e.g., at least one hour prior to commencement of) any or each of the three meals that a human would eat in a normal daily routine. Proper and effective use of jojoba extracts containing at least one simmondsin compound can result in significant weight loss, assist in weight control, or assist in maintaining good eating habits for subjects that might otherwise have poor or unhealthy eating habits. Proper and effective use of those jojoba extracts also can result in those subjects having the feeling of being more energetic, and of having improved physical performance. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0009] The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. [0010] As summarized above, the present invention relates to a process of extracting components incorporating at least one simmondsin compound from a portion of the jojoba plant to provide a composition obtained from a natural source and suitable for controlling the intake of food and beverage. Such control of the intake of food can be used to modify eating behavior and to treat various eating disorders. Ingestion of a beneficial amount of a jojoba extract containing an effective amount of at least one natural simmondsin compound can be used to curb or suppress appetite, promote a healthy diet or healthy eating habits, or reduce craving for food. For example, a major characteristic of obesity is overeating. Control of behavior associated with overeating can act to reduce the total number of calories ingested, and as a result, an effective weight loss program can be developed. Similarly, bulimia is characterized by patients, typically females, having an inability to become satiated by food but avoiding weight gain by regurgitating recently ingested food. Thus, the jojoba extract may be used to satiate hunger in such patients, and the resulting undesirable symptoms associated with that disorder can be reduced, minimized or eliminated. [0011] A dietary supplement is defined under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 ("DSHEA"). A dietary supplement is a product (other than tobacco) intended to supplement the diet, and contains one or more of the following dietary ingredients: a vitamin; a mineral; an herb or other botanical; an amino acid; a dietary substance for use by a human to supplement the diet by increasing the total dietary intake; or a concentrate, metabolite, constituent, extract, or combination of any of those ingredients. The product is intended for ingestion in tablet, capsule, powder, softgel, gelcap, or liquid form. As defined by DSHEA, a dietary supplement is not represented for use as a conventional food or as a sole item of a meal or of the diet. [0012] As used herein and in the claims, the terms "beneficially effective amount" or "therapeutically effective amount" mean an amount of material or composition sufficient to significantly induce a positive modification in the condition to be treated, but low enough to avoid serious side effects (at a reasonable benefit/risk ratio) within the scope of sound medical judgment. The beneficially or therapeutically effective amount of the material or composition can vary depending upon factors such as the particular condition being treated, the overall metabolism of the person, the age and physical condition of the person, the severity of the condition, the overall metabolism of that person, the duration of the treatment, the nature of concurrent therapy, the specific composition employed, the desire of the person to have improved eating habits, and like factors within the knowledge and expertise of the medical community. [0013] Jojoba extracts, jojoba extracts containing simmondsin compounds and simmondsin compounds can be provided using a variety of known techniques. Various techniques for separating the simmondsin compounds from jojoba meal have been suggested. See, for example, Medina et al., Cereal Chem. 67(5) 476-479 (1990), Vetbiscar et al., J. Agric. Food Chem. 29, 296-302 (1981), Verbiscar et al., J. Agric. Food Chem. 28, 571-578 (1980) and Booth et al., Life Sciences 15(6), 1115-1120 (1974). See, also, U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,823 to Abbott et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,371 to d'Oosterlynck, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. However, simmondsin compounds also can be provided from jojoba plant using the process steps and conditions of the present invention. [0014] The starting point for providing a jojoba extract containing a relatively high content of at least one simmondsin compound involves contacting the jojoba plant, or a portion of the jojoba plant with an organic solvent. The jojoba plant can be in a form that has not been previously subjected to extraction with any type of solvent, such as with an aqueous solvent. The jojoba plant or portion thereof also can be used in a form wherein the jojoba plant in its natural form has undergone some type of physical or chemical processing. For example, a portion of jojoba plant preferably is used in the form of jojoba meal. Jojoba meal typically is the residue left after oils are removed from the seeds of the jojoba plant. A preferred form of jojoba meal is de-fatted jojoba meal. Sources of jojoba meal and the manner of preparation of jojoba meal will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art of jojoba plant harvesting and processing. The jojoba plant also can be pre-treated with agents capable of enhancing the effectiveness of extraction of simmondsin compounds therefrom. [0015] The jojoba plant is contacted with an organic solvent to provide a mixture. The organic solvent is used to extract relevant components from within the jojoba plant. Those components can be extracted from the jojoba plant using a solvent that is in the form of a liquid, or the components can be extracted using a suitable solvent under supercritical extraction conditions or supercritical-type conditions. The organic solvent can be anhydrous or non-anhydrous in nature. Suitable organic solvents include compounds containing at least one carbon atom, and include alkanes (e.g., pentanes, heptanes, hexanes, octanes and cyclohexane), alcohols (e.g., methanol, ethanol, propanols, butanols, pentanols and other types of lower alcohols), ethers (e.g, diethyl ether), petroleum ethers, halocarbons and halogenated hydrocarbons (e.g., dichloromethane), carbonyl-containing compounds (e.g., acetone and methyl ethyl ketone), and other organic compounds, such as toluene and ethyl acetate. Solvents typically used for the extraction in the food and dietary supplement industries are particularly preferred, and food grade solvents are of particular interest. For example, food grade denatured ethanol is a particularly preferred solvent. For purposes of the present invention, an organic solvent is a liquid solvent comprised primarily of organic liquid, or a supercritical fluid comprising at least one compound containing at least one carbon atom, and cari be essentially pure organic solvent. Supercritical fluids can include carbon dioxide, compound such as the alkanes (e.g., including methane, ethane, butane and pentane), halocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons, on combinations thereof. Supercritcal fluid and supercritical-type extraction materials, equipment, procedures and conditions suitable for extracting components of plant materials are well known. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,153,063 to Roselius; U.S. Pat. No. 4,506,682 to Muller; U.S. Pat. No. 4,714,617 to Gahrs; U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,540 to Grubbs et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,325 to Clapp et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,382 to Castor; U.S. Pat. No. 5,639,431 to Castor and U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,134 to Sievers et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,111,108 to Lopez-Avila and U.S. Pat. No. 6,291,241 to Castor et al.; the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. [0016] In one aspect of the present invention, the jojoba plant or portion thereof is extracted by contacting that plant with a co-solvent mixture, such as a mixture of two or more organic solvents, or a mixture of an alcohol and a liquid having an aqueous character. A preferred co-solvent mixture is a mixture composed primarily of organic solvent and some liquid having an aqueous character (e.g., wherein the organic an aqueous solvents are highly dispersible in one another). One suitable alcohol is ethanol, and one suitable liquid having an aqueous character can be water in the form of tap water, distilled water, or the like. For example, for purposes of the present invention, the organic solvent can be considered to be a co-solvent mixture, and such a mixture can contain about 70 percent to about 95 percent ethanol, and about 5 percent to about 30 percent water, on a weight basis. The solvent or co-solvent mixture can include pH buffers, pH adjusters, organic and inorganic salts, sugars, surfactants, agents to facilitate extraction, or other additives. [0017] The conditions under which the extraction is performed can vary. Extractions using liquid organic solvents typically are carried out under conditions of atmospheric pressure, or under slight vacuum conditions (e.g., about 3 to about 10 inches of water column vacuum). Conditions of temperature can be less than, greater than, or equal to, ambient temperature. Typical temperatures (depending upon the characteristics of the solvent or co-solvent mixture) can range from about 5.degree. C. to about 125.degree. C., often about 10.degree. C. to about 90.degree. C., and frequently about 15.degree. C. to about 85.degree. C. It is most preferred that the extraction be carried out while the mixture of jojoba plant and solvent is maintained at temperatures above ambient temperature. As such, preferred extraction conditions involve heating that mixture. The heating is often performed at a temperature of about 5.degree. C. to about 25.degree. C. less than the boiling point of the solvent in the jojoba plant/solvent mixture. For example, when an ethanol/water co-solvent mixture is used, extraction of the jojoba plant is carried out at a temperature from about 20.degree. C. to about 80.degree. C., preferably about 50.degree. C. to about 70.degree. C. The extraction also can be carried out under the supercritical conditions of the organic solvent (i.e., under conditions of temperature and pressure that define supercritical conditions or supercritical-type conditions). [0018] The extraction preferably is performed at an optimized solvent to jojoba plant ratio, namely at a ratio wherein a relatively large amount of extract is extracted from the jojoba plant using a balance of the optimum and minimum amount of solvent. Typically, the lower amount of solvent used, the more concentrated the extract within the solvent. The ratio of organic solvent to jojoba meal for the extraction preferably is about 3:1 to about 10:1, and often is about 4:1 to about 6:1, on a weight basis. [0019] The manner by which the extraction is carried out can vary. The extraction can be carried out using a liquid organic solvent in a batch or continuous manner. Suitable equipment used to carry out the extraction will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art of extraction of natural materials, such as vegetables, fruits, herbs, and the like. Exemplary extraction equipment is commercially available and is used throughout the food and dietary supplement industries. Exemplary types of extraction equipment can include high shear blenders, food processing mills, counter current extractors, mixing drums, percolators, static mixers, and the like. Preferred extraction equipment is suitably equipped to provide the desired heating of the mixture being extracted. For example, extractors can be equipped with suitable heating jackets. Preferably, the mixture that is being subjected to extraction conditions is agitated. That is, the mixture of solvent and jojoba plant experiences some type of movement during the extraction period, and that movement is supplied in order to facilitate extraction of the desired components from the jojoba plant by the solvent. Such agitation can be provided by high shear mixing, stirring, squeezing, shaking, or other like types of movement. Suitable extraction techniques and apparatus are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,008 to Fagg and 5,360,022 to Newton, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. [0020] The solvent and extracted components therein are separated from the insoluble portion of the jojoba plant. As such, jojoba "pulp" is separated from the liquid portion of the processed mixture. It is desirable to remove as much of the dispersed and insoluble portions from the mixture as possible, however, it is not strictly necessary to remove virtually all of the dispersed and insoluble portions from the solvent containing the extracted components. Techniques for such separation will be readily apparent to those having skill in the art of slurry handling, and in liquid extraction of vegetables, fruits, herbs and other plant materials. Suitable techniques involve the use of filters, screens, centrifuges, presses, screw presses, rotating disk presses, converging belts, and the like. As such, significantly high amounts of the desired jojoba plant extract and solvent are obtained, and isolated. Continue reading about Compounds for altering food intake in humans... Full patent description for Compounds for altering food intake in humans Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Compounds for altering food intake in humans patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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