Materials and Methods Preparation of treatment composition

A 30X Convolvulus soldanella extract (bindweed extract) was prepared by water extraction of the dried leaves and stems of the plant. The extract was condensed under low pressure and dehydrated.

Example 1

Treatment with the composition was studied in 15 cases of patients aged 4 years to 68 years diagnosed with eczema or psoriasis (7 adults and 2 children with eczema, 6 adults with psoriasis). Before the trial, the patients recorded the severity of dryness and inflammation for the eczema and the severity of the scaling for the psoriasis on a five point scale (1-symptoms not present; 2-very mild symptoms; 3-mild symptoms; 4-severe symptoms; 5-very severe symptoms). The results are presented in Table 1.

Table 1: Patients presenting severe or very severe symptoms
Symptoms of eczema Number of Patients Percentage (%)
Dryness 7 78.0
Inflammation 9 100.0
Dryness and Inflammation 6 67.0
Symptoms of psoriasis
Thickness of scaling 6 100.0
Inflammation 4 67.0
Thickness and Inflammation 4 67.0

The patients were treated with 500-2000 mg of the bindweed extract, two or three times daily, on an empty stomach, for 3 months. At the end of each week, the patients recorded the severity of dryness and inflammation for the eczema and the severity of the scaling for the psoriasis on the five point scale as above. The results are summarized in Tables 2 and 3. Most of the eczema patients recorded improvement after 3 days to one week after commencement of treatment. Most of the psoriasis patients recorded improvement in symptoms after one to two weeks of treatment.

Table 2: Eczema treatment results
Symptoms Adults (7) Children (2) Total (9) Percentage (%)
Improvement 7 2 9 100
No change or worse 0 0 0 0

Table 3: Psoriasis treatment results
Symptoms Patients (6 total) Percentage (%)
Improvement 5 83
No change or worse 1 17

Example 2

A 59 year-old male was diagnosed with severe eczema and presented a rash and pustules over 70% of his body. The patient was treated with oral steroid with no improvement. The patient had been experiencing symptoms of eczema for approximately 10 years.
The patient was treated with 2000 mg of bindweed extract, three times daily. After two weeks of treatment, the rash and pustules had faded and dried. After 6-7 weeks of treatment, the patient showed no visual evidence of the eczema.

Example 3

A 28 year-old female was diagnosed with eczema and presented itching, skin dryness, and pain in several places. The patient was treated with corticosterol cream with no improvement. The patient was then treated with hydrocortisol injections to control the symptoms. The patient had been experiencing symptoms of eczema for approximately 6 years.
The patient was treated with 2000 mg of bindweed extract, twice daily. After three days of treatment, the symptoms were reduced by more than 50%. At the end of four weeks of treatment, the symptoms were reduced by more than 80%. After two months of treatment, the patient showed almost no visual evidence of the eczema.

Example 4

A 34 year-old female was diagnosed with eczema presenting open sores on the scalp. The patient was treated with 2000 mg of bindweed extract, three times daily. After one week of treatment, the sores on the scalp started healing. After three weeks all the open sores and skin eruptions were completely healed.

Example 5

A 4 year-old male was diagnosed with eczema and presented a rash on the face and lower legs. The patient was treated with hydrocortisone cream, which relieved the symptoms temporarily.
The patient was treated with 500 mg of bindweed extract, three times daily. After one week of treatment, the symptoms were reduced by more than 70%. After two months of treatment, the patient showed no visual evidence of the eczema.

Example 6

A 45 year-old male was diagnosed with severe psoriasis with 70% skin cover. The patient was treated with methotrexate, which relieved the symptoms temporarily.

The patient was treated with 2000 mg of bindweed extract, three times daily. The patient's skin appearance improved and symptoms were reduced after five days of treatment. After three weeks of treatment, the symptoms were reduced by more than 80%. After three months of treatment, the patient showed healthy skin with almost no visual evidence of the psoriasis.

Example 7

A 62 year-old female was diagnosed with severe psoriasis with 80% skin cover. The patient was treated with several conventional treatments with no improvement.
The patient was treated with 2000 mg of bindweed extract, three times daily. After ten days of treatment, the symptoms were reduced by more than 50%. After two months of treatment, the psoriasis was in complete remission and the patient showed no visual evidence of the psoriasis.

Example 8

A 10X Convolvulus soldanella extract (bindweed extract) was prepared by water extraction of the dried leaves and stems of the plant. The extract was condensed under low pressure and dehydrated.

The chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay is a widely used assay for screening angiogenesis inhibition as the early chick embryo lacks a mature immune system. To assess the anti-angiogenic or angiogenic activity of test substances, the compounds are prepared on gelatin sponges and then implanted onto the CAM through a window cut in the shell.

Six fertilized chicken eggs of indeterminate variety were scrubbed with 70% ethanol and placed in a sterilized incubator. The eggs were rotated daily for three days. A small hole was pierced in the egg and a syringe an needle was used to remove 2 ml of albumin from the egg. Following this procedure, a band of tape was placed around the egg and a round window approximately 2 cm in diameter was cut in the egg shell. This window was sealed with tape, and the egg was returned to the incubator. The egg was allowed to incubate for a further five days, with a gentle twisting every day to move the embryo.

On day 8, the CAM tests were initiated. The sea bindweed extract to be tested was prepared by dissolving the leaves and stems in distilled water, followed by a coarse filtration through a 1 micron filter, followed by ultra filtration using a Millipore stirred cell and a 100 kDa polysulfone membrane. The retained material was washed into a tube and freeze dried to obtain a solid. This solid was dissolved in sterile water, passed through a .22 micron filter, and measured onto approximately 1 mm cubical sponges using a micro pipette to give a final concentration of 100 micrograms of freeze dried solid per sponge. The sponge was laid on the CAM near the Y branch of a large blood vessel. The egg was resealed and returned to the incubator for 3 days.
On day 11, the CAM was observed to determine the degree of anti-angiogenic activity of the samples. The activity was estimated by comparing a region about 4 mm in diameter surrounding the sponge to a similar region further away from the sponge. The number of branches and size of the blood vessels were counted and estimated. C-Statin inhibited angiogenesis by 20%, while the sea bindweed extract inhibited angiogenesis by 100%.

Although the invention has been described with respect to particular embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the invention.

ABSTRACT

Compositions and methods for treating patients suffering from an inflammatory skin disease or a disorder characterized by an increased angiogenesis are described. Included are compositions comprised of an extract of sea bindweed (Convolvulus soldanella).