LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT COMPONENTS OF SHARK CARTILAGE, PROCESSES FOR THEIR PREPARATION AND THERAPEUTIC USES THEREOF

摘要

This invention relates to a process by which organic solvent-containing solutions are used in lieu of pure water for the preparation of cartilage extracts and fractions thereof. Different organic solvents have been tested for the preparation of extracts containing biologically active components possessing at least an activity against a matrix metalloprotease (anti-MMP). This invention also relates to a process by which a total liquid extract of shark cartilage composed of molecules having molecular weights less than about 500kDa (0-500 fraction) is purified into two well separated fractions composed of molecules having molecular weights less than about 1 kDa (0-1 fraction) and between about 1 to 500 kDa (1-500 fraction). In order to prevent the formation of aggregates, to improve the dissolution and the stability of active components, sucrose or other stabilizing agents can be added. The 0-500 fraction, the 0-1 fraction and the 1-500 fraction as well as their equivalents containing 1 % w/v sucrose possess anti-MMP and anti-tumor activities. The invention also provides a component which has at least anti-MMP and anti-tumor activities, and which has a mass of 244 amu (atomic mass unit). The use of the above extracts, derived fractions or components for inhibiting MMP enzyme, neovascularization and/or metastase formation is also described.