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Weight Loss Patent Abstract
The present invention relates to herbal compositions and methods
for regulating body weight, especially for promoting body weight
loss, for maintaining or controlling body weight, reducing blood
levels of circulating chemical fuels (e.g., glucose, carbohydrates,
fatty acids, and cholesterol), facilitating or promoting metabolism,
treating diabetes, treating body weight disorders, and the like.
Weight Loss Patent Claims
What we claim:
1. An herbal composition comprising: green tea, ginseng, konjac,
and seaweed, wherein each ingredient is present in an amount effective
to promote body weight loss, maintain or control body weight, reduce
blood levels of circulating chemical fuels, facilitate or promote
metabolism, or treat diabetes and other blood sugar disorders.
2. An herbal composition of claim 1, comprising by weight, 30-70%
green tea, 120% ginseng, 10-70% konjac, and 10-70% seaweed.
3. An herbal composition of claim 2, comprising by weight, 30-40%
green tea, 15% ginseng, 10-20% konjac, and 40-60% seaweed
4. An herbal composition of claim 2, comprising by weight, 35%
green tea, 1% ginseng, 14% konjac, and 50% seaweed.
5. An herbal composition of claim 4, wherein the ginseng is panex
ginseng.
6. An herbal composition of claim 2, wherein the green tea is an
extract comprising 25% polyphenol and 7% caffeine.
7. An herbal composition of claim 4, wherein the green tea is an
extract comprising 25% polyphenol and 7% caffeine.
8. An herbal composition of claim 1, wherein said amounts are effective
to promote body weight loss.
9. An herbal composition of claim 1, wherein said amounts are synergistic.
10. A method of promoting weight loss, comprising administering
an effective amount of a composition of claim 1.
11. A method of promoting weight loss, comprising administering
an effective amount of a composition of claim 2.
12. A method of promoting weight loss, comprising administering
an effective amount of a composition of claim 3.
13. A method of promoting weight loss, comprising administering
an effective amount of a composition of claim 4.
14. A method of promoting weight loss, comprising administering
an effective amount of a composition of claim 6.
15. A method of promoting weight loss, comprising administering
an effective amount of a composition of claim 7.
16. A method of claim 13, wherein 1-3 grams a day of said composition
is administered.
Weight Loss Patent Description
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application Serial No. 60/376,526, filed May 1, 2002, which is hereby
incorporation by reference in its entirety.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to herbal compositions and
methods for regulating body weight, especially for promoting body
weight loss, for maintaining or controlling body weight, reducing
blood levels of circulating chemical fuels (e.g., glucose, carbohydrates,
fatty acids, and cholesterol), facilitating or promoting metabolism,
treating diabetes, treating body weight disorders, and the like.
[0003] Compositions useful for modulating weight loss, include:
[0004] 1. An herbal composition comprising at least two ingredients
selected from rhubarb, green tea, or chitosan, wherein each ingredients
is an amount effective to promote body weight loss, maintain or
control body weight, reduce blood levels of circulating chemical
fuels, facilitate or promote metabolism, treat diabetes or other
blood sugar disorders, etc. A composition can comprise, e.g., all
three ingredients, or pairs of ingredients, such as rhubarb and
green tea, rhubarb and chitosan, and green tea and chitosan
[0005] 2. An herbal composition comprising rhubarb, green tea,
and/or sea weed, wherein each is present in an amount effective
to promote body weight loss, maintain or control body weight, reduce
blood levels of circulating chemical fuels, facilitate or promote
metabolism, treat diabetes or other blood sugar disorders, etc.
A composition can comprise, e.g., all three ingredients, or pairs
of ingredients, such as rhubarb and sea weed and green tea and sea
weed.
[0006] 3. An herbal composition comprising rhubarb, green tea,
and konjac, wherein each is present in an amount effective to promote
body weight loss, maintain or control body weight, reduce blood
levels of circulating chemical fuels, facilitate or promote metabolism,
treat diabetes or other blood sugar disorders, etc. A composition
can comprise, e.g., all three ingredients, or pairs of ingredients
as long as konjac is included, e.g., rhubarb and konjac, or green
tea and konjac.
[0007] 4. Herbal compositions of formula 1, 2, and 3 can further
comprise one or more additional ingredients selected from: green
tea, konjac, sea weed, ginger root, hawthorn fruit, lotus leaf,
alisma root, duckmeat herb, wolfberry fruit, jujube fruit, sparganium
root, and rice vinegar, wherein each is present in an amount effective
to promote body weight loss, maintain or control body weight, reduce
blood levels of circulating chemical fuels, facilitate or promote
metabolism, treat diabetes or other blood sugar disorders, etc.
[0008] 5. An herbal composition comprising rhubarb root, lotus
leaf, duckmeat herb, cinnamomi stem, bitter orange, and alisma,
wherein each is present in an amount effective to promote body weight
loss, maintain or control body weight, reduce blood levels of circulating
chemical fuels, facilitate or promote metabolism, treat diabetes
or other blood sugar disorders, etc.
[0009] 6. Herbal compositions of formula 5, can further comprise
one or more additional ingredients selected from: hawthorn fruit,
red rooted sage, areca catechu fruit, and perilla fruit, wherein
each is present in an amount effective to promote body weight loss,
maintain or control body weight, reduce blood levels of circulating
chemical fuels, facilitate or promote metabolism, treat diabetes
or other blood sugar disorders, etc. 7. An herbal composition comprising
one or more of the following ingredients: green tea, ginseng, konjac
and seaweed, wherein each is present in an amount effective to promote
body weight loss, maintain or control body weight, reduce blood
levels of circulating chemical fuels, facilitate or promote metabolism,
treat diabetes or other blood sugar disorders, etc. The composition
can further comprise one or more of any of the other ingredients
mentioned herein.
[0010] Various combinations of the ingredients can be used, including,
e.g.,
[0011] According to formula 1,
[0012] (1) An herbal composition, comprising green tea from about
25-70% by weight of said composition, rhubarb root from about 25-80%
by weight of said composition, and chitosan from about 1-75% by
weight of said composition. Any amount of ingredients can be used
which are effective to achieve the desired purpose. For instance,
about 0.5 gram-20 gms, 0.5-5 gms, 0.5-3 gms, 2 gms, can be administered
one or more times a day, such as three times a day, depending upon
the subject's physical condition and the potency of the ingredients
included.
[0013] (2) An herbal composition comprising: green tea extract,
from about 40-60%, such as 45%, e.g., 500 mg; rhubarb 5:1 extract,
from about 40-50%, such as 45%, e.g., 450 mg; and chitosan containing
90% Deacetylation, from about 5-15%, such as 5%, e.g., 50 mg.
[0014] (3) An herbal composition comprising: green tea extract,
from about 40-60%, such as 50%, e.g., 500 mg; and rhubarb root 5:1
extract, from about 40-50%, such as 50%, e.g., 500 mg.
[0015] (4) An herbal composition comprising: rhubarb root 5:1 extract,
from about 2540%, such as 25%, e.g., 500 mg; and chitosan containing
90% Deacetylation, from about 55-75%, such as 75%, e.g., 1500 mg.
[0016] (5) An herbal composition comprising: green tea extract,
from about 25-35%, such as 25%, e.g., 500 mg; rhubarb root 5:1 extract,
from about 25-35%, such as 25%, e.g., 500 mg; and chitosan containing
90% Deacetylation from about 34-60%, such as 50%, e.g., 1000 mg.
[0017] (6) An herbal composition comprising green tea extract from
about 25-70%, rhubarb root 5:1 extract from about 25-50%, hawthorn
fruit 5:1 extract from about 530%, lotus leaf 5:1 extract from about
4-20%, alisma root 5:1 extract from about 5-30%, and duckmeat leaf
5:1 extract from about 4-20%. An example of such formula is green
tea leaf 5:1 extract from about 30%, rhubarb root 5:1 extract from
about 40%, hawthorn fruit 5:1 extract from about 10%, lotus leaf
5:1 extract from about 6%, and alisma root 5:1 extract from about
8%, and duckmeat leaf 5:1 extract from about 6%.
[0018] According to formula 2,
[0019] (1) An herbal composition, comprising green tea leaf extract
comprising from about 25-70% by weight of said composition, rhubarb
root from about 25-50% by weight of said composition, and sea weed
from about 5-75% by weight of said composition. Examples include,
where the green tea extract is present in about 30%, the rhubarb
root 5:1 extract in about 50%, and sea weed dry powder in 20%; where
the green tea extract is present in about 45%, the rhubarb 5:1 extract
in about 40% and the sea weed dry powder in 15%. Any effective amount
of the composition can be administered. For instance, about 0.5
gram-20 gms, 0.5-5 gms, 0.5-3 gms, 2 gms, can be administered one
or more times a day, such as three times a day, depending upon the
subject's physical condition and the potency of the ingredients
included.
[0020] (2) The composition of (1) can further comprise sparganium
from about 5-30% and ginseng root from about 3-15%. Examples include,
where the green tea extract is present in about 35%, the rhubarb
root 5:1 extract in about 45%, sea weed dry powder in about 10%,
sparganium 5:1 extract in about 15%, and ginseng root powder in
about 3%; where the green tea extract is present in about 50%, the
rhubarb 5:1 extract in about 15%, sea weed dry powder in about 20%;
sparganium 5:1 extract in about 10%; and ginseng root powder in
about 5%.
[0021] (3) The composition of (1) can further comprise rice vinegar
from about 30-300 liters per 100 kilograms of said composition.
Examples include, where the green tea extract is present in about
30%, rhubarb root 5:1 extract in about 50%, sea weed dry powder
in about 3%, hawthorn fruit 5:1 extract in about 10%, wolfberry
fruit 5:1 extract in about 6%, and jujube fruit 5:1 extract in about
1%, and 50 liter rice vinegar for every 20 kilograms of the above
composition.
[0022] According to formula 3,
[0023] (1) An herbal composition, comprising green tea leaf extract
comprising from about 25-70% by weight of said composition, rhubarb
root from about 25-80% by weight of said composition, and Konjac
from about 5-75% by weight of said composition. Examples include,
where the green tea extract is present in about 30%, the rhubarb
root 5:1 extract in about 40%, and Konjac powder extract containing
90% Glucomannan in 30%; where the green tea extract is present in
about 40%, the rhubarb 5:1 extract in about 45% and the Konjac powder
extract containing 90% Glucomannan in 15%. Any effective amount
of the composition can be administered. For instance, about 0.5
gram-20 gms, 0.5-5 gms, 0.5-3 gms, 2 gms, can be administered one
or more times a day, such as three times a day, depending upon the
subject's physical condition and the potency of the ingredients
included. (2) The composition of (1) can further comprise sea weed
from 3-50%. Examples include, where the green tea extract is present
in about 30%, the rhubarb root 5:1 extract in about 40%, Konjac
extract containing 90% glucomannan in about 20%, and sea weed powder
in about 10%.
[0024] (3) The composition of (1) can further comprise sparganium
from about 5-30% and ginseng root from about 3-15%. Examples include,
where the green tea extract is present in about 25%, the rhubarb
root 5:1 extract in about 32%, konjac extract containing 90% glucomannan
in about 20%, sea weed dry powder in about 10%, sparganium 5:1 extract
in about 10%, and ginseng root powder in about 3%; where the green
tea extract is present in about 20%, the rhubarb 5:1 extract in
about 40%, konjac extract containing 90% glucomannan in about 20%,
sea weed dry powder in about 10%; sparganium 5:1 extract in about
8%; and ginseng root powder in about 2%.
[0025] (4) The composition of (1) can further comprise rice vinegar
from about 30-300 liters per 100 kilograms of said composition.
Examples include, where the green tea extract is present in about
30%, rhubarb root 5:1 extract in about 40%, konjac extract containing
90% glucomannan in about 20%, sea weed dry powder in about 10%,
and 50 liter rice vinegar for every 20 kilograms of the above composition.
[0026] According to formula 4 and 5:
[0027] (1) An herbal composition comprising: Rhubarb Root 5:1 extract,
30%; Hawthorn Fruit 5:1 extract, 6%; Lotus Leaf 5:1 extract, 5%;
Red Rooted Sage (Salvia Root) 5:1 extract, 5%; Alisma Root 5:1 extract,
10%; Areca Catechu Fruit 5:1 extract, 5%; Duckmeat Herb 5:1 extract,
10%; Perilla Fruit 5:1 extract, 9%; Cinnamomi Stem 5:1 extract,
10%; and Bitter Orange 5:1 extract, 10%.
[0028] (2) An herbal composition comprising: Rhubarb Root 5:1 extract,
30%; Hawthorn Fruit 5:1 extract, 6%, Lotus Leaf 5:1 extract, 5%;
Red Rooted Sage (Salvia Root) 5:1 extract, 5%; Alisma Root 5:1 extract,
5%; Areca Catechu Fruit 5:1 extract, 5%; Duckmeat Herb leaf 5:1
extract, 5%; Pirelli Fruit 5:1 extract, 9%; Cinnamomi Stem 5:1 extract,
10%; Bitter Orange (Citrus aurantium 5:1 extract), 10%; and green
tea leaf extract 10%.
[0029] According to formula 7:
[0030] (1) An herbal composition comprising: Green tea, from about
30-70% by weight of the compostion; Ginseng, from about 1-20% by
weight of the composition; Konjac, from about 10-70% by weight of
the composition; and Seaweed about 10-70% by weight of the composition.
The green tea can be present as an extract, e.g., comprising about
25% polyphenol and/or 7% caffeine. The ginseng can be present as
a root powder or extract. The Konjac and seaweed can be used as
a fine powder.
[0031] Any effective species and/or variety of ginseng can be used,
e.g., Panax ginseng or Korean ginseng. Any effective species and/or
variety of seaweed can used, especially, sargassum or lainaria japonica
aresch.
[0032] (2) An herbal composition, comprising: about 35% by weight
of green tea, about 1% by weight of ginseng, about 14% by weight
of Konjac, and 50% by weight of seaweed.
[0033] The amounts of the ingredients, individually or in combination,
are effective in promoting weight loss, maintaining or controlling
body weight, reducing blood levels of circulating chemical fuels
(e.g., glucose, carbohydrates, fatty acids, and cholesterol), facilitating
or promoting metabolism, treating diabetes, treating body weight
disorders, etc. An "effective amount" indicates that the
mass of ingredient or ingredients in the composition is useful to
achieve the purpose for which it is administered. Amounts are selected
based on various factors, including age, health, gender, and weight
of a patient or animal to be treated, etc. Useful amounts include,
about 0.5 gram-20 gms, 0.5-5 gms, 0.5-3 gms, 2 gms, 1 gm per dosage,
one or more times a day, such as twice a day, or three times a day,
etc., depending upon the subject's physical condition and the potency
of the ingredients included.
[0034] The ingredients can be combined in "synergistic amounts."
By this, it is meant that the amounts of the ingredient present
in the composition (and in combination with the other ingredients)
is more effective at achieving the desired purpose (e.g., promoting
weight loss) than when administered alone or in another herbal composition.
Synergy indicates that the ingredients cooperate with each other
to achieve an enhanced or superior result than would be achieved
if either were administered alone, i.e., the effect is not additive
(the sum is greater than the sum of the individual parts).
[0035] The present invention relates to methods of modulating body
weight in a subject, comprising, e.g., administering to a subject
in need thereof a composition comprising an effective amount of
any composition, ingredient, or ingredients, as mentioned above.
[0036] By the phrase "modulating body weight in a subject,"
it is meant that the mass of a subject is controlled, regulated,
changed, altered, modified, etc. A subject can be any individual,
human or non-human animal (e.g., cow, pig, sheep, goat, mice, rats,
pets, such as dogs and cats, etc.) in need of weight modulation.
[0037] The compositions are especially useful for promoting weight
loss. The phrase "promoting weight loss," indicates that
the compositions and methods are useful to encourage, elicit, cause,
produce, etc., reduction in the mass of a subject's body. The loss
in mass can be from a tissue, such as fat and muscle, where stored
lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and/or liquids, such as water,
are lost. The invention is not limited by how much weight loss is
promoted of facilitated. For instance, it can be 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%,
5%, 7%, 10%, or more of total body weight.
[0038] The invention is not limited by how the reduction in weight
loss occurs. Various mechanisms, acting alone or in combination,
produce the weight loss effect. This includes, e.g., promoting metabolism,
promoting utilization of chemical fuels (e.g., fats and carbohydrates),
reducing blood cholesterol levels, acting as diuretic, promoting
utilization of stored fuels, such as fat from adipose tissue and
glycogen,
[0039] To achieve weight modulation, a composition in accordance
with the present invention is administered to a subject. By the
term "administered," it is meant that the composition
is delivered to a subject by any means or route which is effective
to achieve the desired result, including, e.g., oral, parenteral,
enteral, intraperitoneal, topical, transdermal (e.g., using any
standard patch), ophthalmic, nasally, local, non-oral, such as aerosal,
inhalation, subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, buccal, sublingual,
rectal, vaginal, intra-arterial, intrathecal.
[0040] Compositions can be administered at any time suitable time.
For example, compositions can be administered before, after, or
together with an activity to be effected, e.g., prior or after a
meal, prior to exercise, prior to a sporting event, etc. Times can
vary, e.g., about 6 hours, 4 hours, 2 hours, 1.5 hours, 1 hour,
30 minutes, 15 min, 10 min, 5 min, etc., to the activity which is
to be effected. Additionally, the compositions can be administered
concurrently with the activity. Where weight-loss and/or control
is desired, compositions of the invention can be administered when
nutrients from a meal or snack begin to appear in the blood, i.e.,
the absorptive state, when ingested nutrients are entering the blood
from the gastrointestinal tract. See, e.g., Human Physiology, Vander
et al., Fifth Edition, 1990, e.g., Chapters 16 and 17. The adsorptive
state can vary, depending upon the content of the food, e.g., from
about 1 hour to about 4 hours.
[0041] The compositions can be in any effective form, including,
oral, pill, capsule, troche, liquid, extract, beverage, food, tea,
topical, injectable, etc. They can be administered alone, or in
combination with other active or inert agent(s).
[0042] Any effective part of an herb in accordance with the present
invention can be used, including to seeds, leaves, stems, flowers,
roots, berries, bark, or any other plant parts that are useful for
the purposes described. Herbs can be in any form which is effective,
including, but not limited to dry powders, grounds, emulsions, extracts,
and other conventional compositions. To extract or concentrate the
effective ingredients of an herb, typically the plant part is contacted
with a suitable solvent, such as water, alcohol, methanol, or any
other solvents, or mixed solvents. The choice of the solvent can
be made routinely, e.g., based on the properties of the active ingredient
that is to be extracted or concentrated by the solvent.
[0043] Herbs can be used as 5:1 extract, e.g., an aqueous extract.
This indicates that the dry weight of the herb is concentrated five
times (5:1) in the extract. Any of the aforementioned formula can
be prepared with a 5:1 extract, and any of the aforementioned values
can refer to the weight of the extract. Green tea (O. ktze.) can
be used as an extract containing about 10% caffeine and about 18%
epigallocatechin) or 5:1 extract prepared from a dry powder. It
can also be used as an extract containing about 7% caffeine and
about 25% polyphenol.
[0044] Compositions can further comprise inert and carrier ingredients,
stabilizers, antioxidants, etc., including, but not limited to,
water, salt solutions, alcohols, gum arabic, vegetable oils, benzyl
alcohols, gelatin, carbohydrates such as lactose, amylose or starch,
magnesium stearate, talc, silicic acid, viscous paraffin, perfume
oil, fatty acid monoglycerides and diglycerides, pentaerythritol
fatty acid esters, hydroxy methylcellulose and the like. Other additives
include, e.g., antioxidants and preservatives, coloring, flavoring
and diluting agents, emulsifying and suspending agents, such as
acacia, agar, alginic acid, sodium alginate, bentonite, carbomer,
carrageenan, carboxymethylcellulose, cellulose, cholesterol, gelatin,
hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxppropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose,
methylcellulose, octoxynol 9, oleyl alcohol, povidone, propylene
glycol monostearate, sodium lauryl sulfate, sorbitan esters, stearyl
alcohol, tragacanth, xanthan gum, and derivatives thereof, solvents,
and miscellaneous ingredients such as microcrystalline cellulose,
citric acid, dextrin, dextrose, liquid glucose, lactic acid, lactose,
magnesium chloride, potassium metaphosphate, starch, and the like.
EXAMPLE
[0045] A clinical trial was performed using Tea Light, an herbal
composition comprising, by weight, 35% green tea, 50% seaweed, 14%
konjac, and 1% panex ginseng. A double blind, placebo controlled
human clinical trial on the weight loss effect of Tea Light on a
total 43 obesity patients was conducted. Patients in the Tea Light
group took two Tea Light capsules (500 mg/capsule) each time, twice
a day (i.e., about 2 grams/day), for six weeks. Patients in the
control group took two placebo capsules (500 mg/capsule) each time,
twice a day, for six weeks. Patients were instructed to avoid a
diet rich in fat, sugar, and salt for the period of the treatment.
[0046] At the end of the six week trial, the average weight loss
of the patients in the Tea Light group was about 5.6 kg or 12.3
lb. For the experimental group, total body weight was from about
84.2.+-.126.5 kg before the trial, to 78.6.+-.16 kg after taking
Tea Light. For the control group, the average weight loss of the
patients in the control group taking placebo capsules was about
1.9 kg or 4.2 lb. Total body weight was about from 83.8.+-.127.6
kg before the trial, to 81.9.+-.29.5 kg after taking the placebos.
Conclusion: Tea Light was effective for promoting weight loss. The
average weight loss was about 0.93 kg or 2.1 lb per week. |