Use of snuff for treatment of house dust mite allergy and/or cigarette smoke allergy

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of an aqueous preparation derived from leaves of Nicotiana tabacum for the preparation of a medicament for treatment of house dust mite allergy and/or cigarette smoke allergy. The preparation may comprise tobacco extract, ground tobacco leaves or snuff. In a preferred embodiment, the aqueous preparation is a preparation of snuff dispersed in water or an aqueous solution.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of Netherlands application number 1029798 filed Aug. 24, 2005, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to the use of an (aqueous) preparation derived from leaves of Nicotiana tabacum, in particular a tobacco extract, ground tobacco leaves or snuff, more in particular snuff, for the preparation of a medicament for treatment of house dust mite allergy and/or cigarette smoke allergy, in particular house dust mite allergy. It also relates to a method for treating house dust mite allergy and/or cigarette smoke allergy, in particular house dust mite allergy, said method including the step of administering to a patient in need thereof an aqueous preparation derived from leaves of Nicotiana tabacum, in particular a tobacco extract, ground tobacco leaves or snuff, more in particular snuff.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

House dust mite allergy and cigarette smoke allergy are characterised by one or more of the following symptoms: watering eyes, an itchy nose and palate, a stuffed up nose, snoring.

Such allergies are often treated with conventional medicament such as desloratadine and fexofenadine hydrochloride. However, such medicaments control the symptoms only partly and often cause alleviation of the symptoms of around 40%.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It has now surprisingly been found that daily intranasal administration of an aqueous preparation of snuff during some time resulted in disappearance of the above symptoms. Once the symptoms had disappeared, the therapeutic treatment was stopped. Nevertheless the symptoms did not re-appear for at least one and a half-year, without revering to conventional therapy.

Snuff is a well-known stimulant that has been used for centuries. A method for its preparation is as follows: After undergoing several maturation processes, the tobacco leave is ground to a silk-like powder. Then the powder is sieved to obtain an even and smooth powder. Users snuff this powder for a pleasant and stimulating experience. A therapeutic use of snuff for treatment of house dust mite allergy and/or cigarette smoke allergy, in particular when the snuff is incorporated in an aqueous preparation, has hitherto not been described.

It is expected that the same effect on house dust mite allergy and/or cigarette smoke allergy as described for snuff will also be achieved using other (aqueous) preparations derived from leaves of Nicotiana tabacum, in particular tobacco extract and ground tobacco leaves. It is expected that the leaves comprise one or more substances that can serve as active ingredient in a medicament for treatment of house dust mite allergy and/or cigarette smoke allergy.

Also, the present invention relates to a method for treating house dust mite allergy and/or cigarette smoke allergy, said method comprising the step of administering to a patient in need thereof an aqueous preparation derived from leaves of Nicotiana tabacum.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the use of an aqueous preparation derived from leaves of Nicotiana tabacum for the preparation of a medicament for treatment of house dust mite allergy and/or cigarette smoke allergy.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the use of an aqueous preparation derived from leaves of Nicotiana tabacum for the preparation of a medicament for treatment of house dust mite allergy.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to the use of an aqueous preparation derived from leaves of Nicotiana tabacum for the preparation of a medicament for treatment of cigarette smoke allergy.

In the case of snuff, one-teaspoon snuff was taken into 100 ml sterile water. Sterile water may be obtained commercially or can simply be prepared, for example by boiling tap water. The resultant was adminstered once a day, 3 drops per nostril, during 2 weeks. Using such preparation and administration regime, the intended result was achieved, and all of the above symptoms of house dust mite allergy and/or cigarette smoke allergy disappeared.

The aqueous preparation may be any aqueous preparation that is physiologically acceptably, and is preferably sterile. In the present example, sterile water was used to prepare the aqueous preparation. Sterile saline solutions, in particular physiological saline solutions, may also be used. Further, the aqueous preparation may comprise pharmaceutically acceptable auxiliaries, such as buffer, dispergants, and the like. The skilled practitioner will be aware of suitable aqueous preparations and auxiliaries.

The term “derived from leaves of Nicotiana tabacum” refers to a product that is derived from leaves of Nicotiana tabacum. For example, the preparation may comprise a product that is obtained by extracting the leaves of the tobacco plant Nicotiana tabacum, gring of such leaves, or the like. Any product that can be incorporated in an aqueous preparation and can be administered intranasallly is suitable for incorporation in the aqueous preparation according to the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the preparation comprises a product chosen from the group consisting of tobacco extract, ground tobacco leaves and snuff. The effectivity of snuff has been demonstrated, and it is expected that the invention will similarly be applicable to preparations comprising tobacco extract and/or ground tobacco leaves.

In a more preferred embodiment the product is snuff, since snuff has been found to yield the intended result. The aqueous product may, in particular in the case of snuff, be prepared just prior to it application by adding 1-10 grams, preferably 2-7 grams, more preferably 3-5 grams, to 50-150 ml, preferably about 75-125 ml, water or aqueous solution.

Preferably, the aqueous preparation according to the present invention is administered during 1 week, preferably 2 weeks. The administration regime is preferably once a day administration of the above aqueous preparation, 2-5, preferably about 3, drops a day.

Claims

1. The use of an aqueous preparation derived from leaves of Nicotiana tabacum for the preparation of a medicament for treatment of house dust mite allergy and/or cigarette smoke allergy.

2. The use of an aqueous preparation derived from leaves of Nicotiana tabacum for the preparation of a medicament for treatment of house dust mite allergy.

3. Use according to claim 1, the preparation comprising a product chosen from the group consisting of tobacco extract, ground tobacco leaves and snuff.

4. Use according to claim 3, the product being snuff.

5. A method for treating house dust mite allergy and/or cigarette smoke allergy, said method comprising the step of administering to a patient in need thereof an aqueous preparation derived from leaves of Nicotiana tabacum.

6. A method for treating house dust mite allergy, said method comprising the step of administering to a patient in need thereof an aqueous preparation derived from leaves of Nicotiana tabacum.

7. Method according to claim 5, the preparation comprising a product chosen from the group consisting of tobacco extract, ground tobacco leaves, and snuff.

8. Method according to claim 7, the product being snuff.