LOBSTER HEMOLYMPH AS A UTILITY FOR THE TREATMENT OF MAMMALIAN TISSUE LESIONS

Abstract

The invention is crustacean hemolymph as a utility for the pharmaceutical and/or cosmetic treatment of viral and other neoplastic or pre-neoplastic mammalian tissue lesions. The method comprises topically administering to mammalian tissue a formula that is made from lobster hemolymphneat; or lobster hemolymph extracts; or lobster hemolyph in combination with certain carriers, binders; or as an adjuvant. The hemolymph may be from various species of lobster, Homarus americanus in particular.

Claims

1. A method of treating a pre-neoplastic skin lesion comprising administering to a mammalian skin epidermis a topical formula that comprises lobster hemolymph, wherein the lobster hemolymph is extracted from one or more of Homarus americanus, Homarus gammarus, or Panulirus argus.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hemolymph is neat.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the hemolymph is extracted by piercing the pericardial membrane of Homarus americanus and drawing hemolymph into an attached syringe.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the hemolymph is extracted by lancing the soft tissue of Homarus americanus to allow hemolymph to flow into a catch basin or bottle.

5. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the hemolymph is extracted by separating the thorax from the abdomen of Homarus americanus to open the circulatory system and allow hemolymph to drain into a catch basin or bottle.

6. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the hemolymph is extracted by piercing the pericardial membrane of Homarus gammarus and drawing hemolymph into an attached syringe.

7. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the hemolymph is extracted by lancing the soft tissue of Homarus gammarus to allow hemolymph to flow into a catch basin or bottle.

8. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the hemolymph is extracted by separating the thorax from the abdomen of Homarus gammarus to open the circulatory system and allow hemolymph to drain into a catch basin or bottle.

9. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the hemolymph is extracted by piercing the pericardial membrane of Panulirus argus and drawing hemolymph into an attached syringe.

10. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the hemolymph is extracted by lancing the soft tissue of Panulirus argus to allow hemolymph to flow into a catch basin or bottle.

11. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the hemolymph is extracted by separating the thorax from the abdomen of Panulirus argus to open the circulatory system and allow hemolymph to drain into a catch basin or bottle.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hemolymph is an active ingredient combined with unspecified binders or carriers.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hemolymph is used as an adjuvant to existing prophylactic and/or cosmetic treatments of pre-neoplastic skin lesions, by topical administration to mammalian epidermis.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Hemolymph from the lobster, particularly but not exclusively Homarus americanus is utilized (neat or with active fragments extracted or in compounds) for the treatment in mammals of viral (such as Molluscum contagiosum, Verruca vulgariscommonly known as warts, among others) and tissue neoplastic or pre-neoplastic lesions (such as ephelides, solar lentigoscommonly known as sun spots, and actinic keratosis, among others). By neat it is meant the hemolymph is in the form collected from the lobster, and by active fragments it is meant a fragment or fragments of the hemolymph that stimulate an immune response.

[0022] Typically, the mammal treated will be human. The treatment can also be applied to other mammals such as those in the bovine, porcine, ovine, equine, canine, or feline families, among others.

[0023] Preparation may involve partial drying of whole hemolymph or plasma to produce a slurry.

[0024] The hemolymph can be incorporated into a cosmetic or pharmaceutical compound together with a suitable carrier or carriers i.e. carageenans, starches, gelatins, vitamins, aloe, proteins, glycerins, parabens, crustacean shell powder, mineral oils, and plant oils. In non-clinical testing, various skin lesions were exposed to lobster hemolymph neat or absorbed into fibrous absorptive material attached to adhesive tape. It was found that the topical hemolymph treatment had an atrophic and/or fading effect on said lesions. It is not known how the hemolymph interacts with tissue to produce his effect. However, it is known that the immune system of arthropods resides in the hemolymph and the hemocytes within the hemolymph play a role, which may be part of the explanation.

[0025] The following examples provide further descriptive details of the invention:

EXAMPLE 1

Extraction of Hemolymph from American lobster (Homarus americanus)

[0026] Hemolymph is extracted using a variety of methods, including but not limited to: [0027] 1.1. needle and syringe to pierce the pericardial membrane to draw directly from circulatory system; [0028] 1.2. using a knife or scalpel to lance the soft tissue allowing blood flow to a catch basin or bottle; [0029] 1.3. by separating the thorax (body) from the abdomen (tail) thus opening the circulatory system at the pericardium and draining the hemolymph into a catch basin or bottle.

EXAMPLE 2

Treatment of Molluscum Contagiosum With Homarus americanus HemolymphNeat Anecdotal Study

[0030] A juvenile female human suffering from molluscum contagiosum lesions treated with neat hemolymph (neat is defined as that form of hemolymph extracted directly from the lobster) in a dose 0.5 ml for 5 days. The treated lesion atrophied over the course of the treatment period, whereas, adjacent lesions remained unchanged during that same time period.

EXAMPLE 3

Treatment of an Actinic Lesion With Homarus americanus HemolymphNeat Anecdotal Study

[0031] An adult male human with a facial actinic lesion was treated with neat hemolymph in a dose of 0.5 ml for approximately 10 days. Before the hemolymph was administered the lesion was prepared by lightly abrading the affected epidermis. The lesion initially blanched and then and appeared to atrophy over the course of the treatment.

EXAMPLE 4

Treatment of Verruca vulgaris With Homarus americanus HemolymphNeat Anecdotal Study

[0032] An adult male human with a manifestation of the virus Verruca vulgaris (a common wart) topically treated the lesion with neat hemolymph in a dose of 0.5 mL sporadically over two weeks. Over the course of treatment the wart softened and atrophied.

EXAMPLE 5

Treatment of Herpes zoster with Homarus americanus HemolymphNeat Anecdotal Study

[0033] An adult female exhibiting a rash from the virus Herpes zoster (shingles) topically treated the rash with neat hemolymph in a dose of approximately 0.5 ml and noticed considerable reduction is redness, itchiness and swelling in a 12 hour period.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] NA

REFERENCES

[0035] Cuthbertson, AdrianInventor. 2011. Original Assignee: MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY AUSTRALIA PTY LTD. Current U.S. Classification: 424/208.1; 424/204.1; 424/209.1; 424/229.1; 424/230.1; 424/231.1; 514/3.7; 514/3.8; 514/4.2

[0036] Dolashka P, Velkova L, Iliev I, Beck A, Dolashki A, Yossifova L, Toshkova R, Voelter W, Zacharieva S. 2003. Antitumor activity of glycosylated molluscan hemocyanins via Guerin ascites tumor. Eur Urol.; 37 Suppl 3:34-40. (Institute of Organic Chemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, G. Bonchev 9, Sofia 1113, Bulgaria. pda54@ abv.bg)

[0037] Greco K N, Mendona R M, Moraes R H, Mancini D A, Mendona R Z. 2004. Antiviral activity of the hemolymph of Lonomia obliqua (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae). Antiviral Res. Feb; 61(2):93-9.

[0038] Linn J F, Black P, Derksen K, Rbben H, Throff J W. 2009. Keyhole limpet haemocyanin in experimental bladder cancer: literature review and own results. Antiviral Res. Oct; 84(1):84-90. Epub 2009 Aug. 7. (Department of Urology, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Germany. jflinn@compuserve.com)

[0039] Lobster Conservancy. 2004. Retrieved from http://www.lobsters.org/tlcbio/biology5.html

[0040] Olicard C, Didier Y, Marty C, Bourgougnon N, Renault T. 2005. In vitro research of anti-HSV-1 activity in different extracts from Pacific oysters Crassostrea gigas. Dis Aquat Organ. 2005 Nov 9; 67(1-2):141-7. PMID: 16385820

[0041] Olicard C, Renault T, Torhy C, Benmansour A, Bourgougnon N. 2005. Putative antiviral activity in hemolymph from adult Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas. Antiviral Res. Jun; 66(2-3):147-52. Epub Apr 26.

[0042] Pan. 2008. PAN, L., & JIN, C. (2008). A review on hemocyanins of crustacean. Journal of Fisheries of China/Shuichan Xuebao, 32(3), 484-491. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.prxy4.ursus.maine.edu/docview/883018286?accountid=14583

[0043] Pan, J., Kurosky, A., Xu, B., Chopra, A. K., Coppenhaver, D. H., Singh, I. P, & Baron, S. 2000. Broad antiviral activity in tissues of crustaceans. Antiviral Research, 48(1), 39-47. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.prxy4.ursus.maine.edu/docview/17741569? accountid=14583

[0044] Soderhall, K. 1999. Review of crustacean immunity. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.prxy4.ursus.maine.edu/docview/18106793?accountid=14583

[0045] Soderhall, K., & Cerenius, L. 1992. Crustacean immunity. Annual Review of Fish Diseases, 2, 3-23. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.prxy4.ursus.maine.edu/docview/15681912?accountid=14583 Abstract (summary)

[0046] Stiefel, T., Porcher, H., Markl, J.,Inventors. 1993. Use of hemocyanins and arylphorins to influence the immune system and for the treatment of tumors. USPTO # U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,081

[0047] Young Lee, S., & Soederhaell, K. 2002. Early events in crustacean innate immunity. Fish & Shellfish Immunology, 12(5), 421-437. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/fsim.2002.0420

[0048] Zhang X, Huang C, Qin Q. 2003. Antiviral properties of hemocyanin isolated from shrimp Penaeus monodon. (Key Laboratory of Marine Biogenetic Resources, The Third Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, 361005, Xiamen, PR China.)