Description of the invention

Nutritional supplement suitable for oral administration, in the form of a double layer tablet, comprising d i hydro my ricetin in the form of Ampe/opsis grossedentata ex tract, choline in the form of choline bitartrate and one or more vitamins with antioxidant activity selected from vitamin C, vitamin E or a combination of them. The nutritional supplement of the present invention is suitable for the maintenance of the normal liver function.

Ampe/opsis grossedentata is a pharmaceutical plant growing mainly in southern China. Its leaves and stems are traditionally used as a health tea for the prevention and treatment of common cold symptoms, like sore throat and cough, as well as for pain in the mouth, pharynx and larynx. Dihydromyricetin is the main flavonoid found and isolated from the herb, Ampe/opsis grossedentata. Recent studies demonstrated that dihydromyricetin possesses multiple health-benefit activities, including antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, while is also active in lipid and glucose-metabolism- regulatory activities [Li, H. et a/. The Versatile Effects of Dihydromyricetin in Health. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2017, Article ID 1053617, 10 pages].

Choline is a quaternary ammonium salt (2-hydroxyethyl-N,N,N- trimethylammonium salt) which is either counterbalanced by an anion, i.e., a chloride to form choline chloride or is bound to an organic group, i.e., an acetyl- or a phosphatidyl-group, forming acetylcholine or phosphatidylcholine, respectively. Choline in its various forms occurs in foods (milk, eggs, peanuts) while it is synthesized de novo by the human body. According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), choline contributes to normal homocysteine and lipid metabolism as well as to the maintenance of the normal liver function.

Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) is a water-soluble vitamin mainly found in citrus fruits and vegetables. Vitamin C deficiency is associated with hypovitaminosis and scurvy, which mainly causes vascular lesions, bleeding gums, tiredness and weakness. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and protects the human body from free radicals' activity. Furthermore, vitamin C participates in the hemoglobin production and improves the body's iron absorption from food. Although, Vitamin C is water soluble, however, it is unstable after long storage in aqueous solutions due to oxidation reactions, furthermore, it is quite sensitive to increased temperatures.

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin which is present in milk, vegetable oils and nuts, while its deficiency is related to muscle weakness. Vitamin E comprises a group of four tocopherols, consisting of a chromanol ring and an isoterpene side chain. The main biological activity of vitamin E is to neutralize free radicals in the body and to prevent the oxidation of other essential components such as polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin C.

The liver is the most important organ for the metabolism in the human body and it is responsible for amino acid synthesis and protein synthesis such as albumin and globulins. Among other vital functions, liver produces bile, which helps the absorption of food and its nutrients, as well as the storage of essential vitamins and minerals. Furthermore, liver removes toxic substances from the blood such as alcohol, medicines and ammonia. Gluconeogenesis, another important function of the liver, is defined as the synthesis of glucose from amino acids which occurs if blood sugar levels tend to decrease. Finally, the liver plays a key role in cholesterol homeostasis since it participates in lipid metabolism.

The most usual liver disease is viral hepatitis, which is characterized by inflammation and necrosis of the liver parenchyma leading to the destruction of liver cells. The most common causes of viral hepatitis are the five unrelated viruses hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E, which differ each other both in the mode of transmission and in clinical significance. Chronic hepatitis is the major risk factor for liver fibrosis, liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma.

CN102775455A relates to the use of dihydromyricetin in the treatment of acute and chronic bronchitis.

CN 104116730 relates to the use of dihydromyricetin in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

WO2012027326A2 and US20190343776 relate to the use of dihydromyricetin in the treatment of alcohol intoxication and its side effects. EP2872133 and WO2018/134713 relate to compositions comprising dihydromyricetin suitable for treating hair loss and inducing hair growth.

US2017/0290768 relates to nutritional supplements comprising more than thirty active ingredients, including dihydromyricetin and choline, which are suitably formulated to release them in the gastrointestinal tract. The combination of dihydromyristine, choline and one or more vitamins with antioxidant activity for use in the maintenance and enhancement of liver function, is not reported in the prior art.

The present invention relates to a nutritional supplement in the form of a double-layer tablet, suitable for oral administration, comprising dihydromyricetin, choline bitartrate and one or more vitamins with antioxidant activity for the enhancement of normal liver function.

The nutritional supplement of the current invention comprising dihydromyricetin, choline and one or more vitamins with antioxidant activity significantly enhances the normal liver function and promotes the normal lipid metabolism providing strong antioxidant protection in liver cells.

The nutritional supplement of the present invention comprising dihydromyricetin, choline and one or more vitamins with antioxidant activity provides enhanced action on the protection and the maintenance of normal liver function, compared to compositions consisting of dihydromyricetin only or a combination of dihydromyricetin and choline.

Additionally, it was found that the combination of dihydromyricetin and choline in the presence of two vitamins with antioxidant activity at the same time, presents even better results in the maintenance of normal liver function, especially when the two vitamins with antioxidant activity are vitamin C and vitamin E.

Furthermore, the nutritional supplement of the current invention protects the liver from the effects of chemotherapeutic drugs, such as methotrexate. The nutritional supplement of the current invention comprises a natural extract of Ampe/opsis grossedentata, which is standardized to at least 95 % w/w dihydromyricetin by extract weight.

According to the present invention, the nutritional supplement comprising dihydromyricetin, choline and one or more vitamins with antioxidant activity, comprises an extract of Ampe/opsis grossedentata in a percentage from 8.5 % to 16.0 % w/w of the total weight of the composition, preferably from 10.5 % to 14.0 % w/w of the total weight of the composition, more preferably is 12.5 % w/w of the total weight of the composition.

According to the present invention, the nutritional supplement comprising dihydromyricetin, choline and one or more vitamins with antioxidant activity, comprises dihydromyricetin in a percentage from 8.0 % to 16.0 % w/w of the total weight of the composition, preferably from 10.0 % to 14.0 % w/w of the total weight of the composition, more preferably is 12.2 % w/w of the total weight of the composition. In a preferred embodiment, the nutritional supplement of the present invention comprises an extract of Ampe/opsis grossedentata, standardized in 98 % dihydromyricetin. In a preferred embodiment, the nutritional supplement of the present invention comprises 150 mg of an Ampe/opsis grossedentata extract standardized in 98 % dihydromyricetin, which corresponds to 147 mg dihydromyricetin.

According to the present invention, the nutritional supplement comprising dihydromyricetin, choline and one or more vitamins with antioxidant activity, comprises choline in a percentage from 4.0 % to 10% w/w of the total weight of the composition, preferably in a percentage from 6.0 % to 8.0 % w/w of the total weight of the composition, more preferably is 6.9 % w/w of the total weight of the composition.

In a preferred embodiment, the nutritional supplement comprising dihydromyricetin, choline and one or more vitamins with antioxidant activity, comprises choline, in the form of choline bitartrate.

In a preferred embodiment, the nutritional supplement comprising dihydromyricetin, choline and one or more vitamins with antioxidant activity, comprises choline bitartrate in a percentage from 10.0 % to 24.0 % w/w of the total weight of the composition, preferably in a percentage from 15.0 % to 20.0 % w/w of the total weight of the composition, more preferably is 16.8 % w/w of the total weight of the composition.

According to the present invention, the nutritional supplement comprising dihydromyricetin, choline and one or more vitamins with antioxidant activity, comprises one or more vitamins selected from vitamin C and vitamin E.

In a preferred embodiment, the nutritional supplement comprising dihydromyricetin, choline and one or more vitamins with antioxidant activity, comprises vitamin C in a percentage from 6.0 % to 14.0 % w/w of the total weight of the composition, preferably in a percentage from 6.5 % to 10.0 % w/w of the total weight of the composition.

In a preferred embodiment, the nutritional supplement comprising dihydromyricetin, choline and one or more vitamins with antioxidant activity, comprises vitamin E in a percentage from 0.5 % to 5.0 % w/w of the total weight of the composition, preferably in a percentage from 0.8 % to 3.0 % w/w of the total weight of the composition.

In a preferred embodiment, the nutritional supplement comprising dihydromyricetin, choline and one or more vitamins with antioxidant activity, comprises both vitamin C and vitamin E.

In a preferred embodiment, the nutritional supplement comprising dihydromyricetin, choline and one or more vitamins with antioxidant activity, comprises 6.7 % w/w vitamin C and 1.0% w/w vitamin E, in relation to the total weight of the composition. In a preferred embodiment, the nutritional supplement comprising dihydromyricetin, choline and one or more vitamins with antioxidant activity, comprises 12.2 % w/w dihydromyricetin, 6.9% w/w choline, 6.7% w/w vitamin C and 1.0% w/w vitamin E, in relation to the total weight of the composition.

According to the present invention, the nutritional supplement comprising dihydromyricetin, choline and one or more vitamins with antioxidant activity, is formulated in various solid forms including oral granules, tablets and hard capsules.

According to the present invention, the nutritional supplement comprising dihydromyricetin, choline and one or more vitamins with antioxidant activity, further comprises pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, selected from diluents, binders, lubricants and anticaking agents.

According to the present invention, the nutritional supplement comprising dihydromyricetin, choline and one or more vitamins with antioxidant activity, comprises a diluent selected from mannitol, maltitol and sorbitol in a percentage from 20 % to 30 % w/w of the total weight of the composition, preferably in a percentage from 22 % to 26 % w/w of the total weight of the composition.

According to the present invention, the nutritional supplement comprising dihydromyricetin, choline and one or more vitamins with antioxidant activity, comprises sorbitol as diluent in a percentage of 23 % w/w of the total weight of the composition.

According to the present invention, the nutritional supplement comprising dihydromyricetin, choline and one or more vitamins with antioxidant activity, comprises a binder selected from microcrystalline cellulose, pregelatinized starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone, anhydrous lactose or a combination of them, in a percentage from 25 % to 50 % w/w of the total weight of the composition, preferably in a percentage from 30 % to 40 % w/w of the total weight of the composition. In a preferred embodiment, the nutritional supplement comprising dihydromyricetin, choline and one or more vitamins with antioxidant activity, comprises microcrystalline cellulose in a percentage of 38 % w/w of the total weight of the composition, as a binder.

In a preferred embodiment, the nutritional supplement comprising dihydromyricetin, choline and one or more vitamins with antioxidant activity, comprises as binders both microcrystalline cellulose in a percentage of 33.5 % w/w and pregelatinized starch in a percentage of 4.5 % w/w of the total weight of the composition.

According to the present invention, the nutritional supplement comprising dihydromyricetin, choline and one or more vitamins with antioxidant activity comprises a lubricant, selected from polyethylene glycol 4000, polyethylene glycol 6000 and magnesium stearate, in a percentage from 1.0% to 3.5% w/w of the total weight of the composition.

In a preferred embodiment, the nutritional supplement comprising dihydromyricetin, choline and one or more vitamins with antioxidant activity, comprises magnesium stearate in a percentage of 1.25 % w/w of the total weight of the composition, as a lubricant.

According to the present invention, the nutritional supplement comprising dihydromyricetin, choline and one or more vitamins with antioxidant activity comprises an anticaking agent selected from magnesium carbonate, silicon dioxide, magnesium sulfate and magnesium oxide, in a percentage from 0.5 % to 3 % w/w of the total weight of the composition.

In a preferred embodiment, the nutritional supplement comprising dihydromyricetin, choline and one or more vitamins with antioxidant activity, comprises silicon dioxide in a percentage of 0.75 % w/w of the total weight of the composition, as anticaking agent.

The nutritional supplement of the present invention is further described with the following representative but non-limiting example. Example 1. Nutritional supplement comprising dihydromyricetin, choline bitartrate, vitamin C and vitamin E in the form of a double-layer tablet.

First layer composition. Choline L-bitartrate (1.2 Kg) is mixed with sorbitol (0.6 Kg) for 15 min. Microcrystalline cellulose (1.32 Kg), pregelatinized starch (0.13 Kg) and silicon dioxide (0.02 Kg) are sequentially added and the new blend is mixed for 15 minutes. Magnesium stearate (0.03 Kg) is then added to the final blend and mixing is continued for another 5 minutes.

Second layer composition. Ampeiopsis grossedentata extract (0.90 Kg), vitamin C (0.48 Kg) and vitamin E (0.072 Kg) are mixed in the presence of sorbitol (1.05 Kg) for 15 minutes. Microcrystalline cellulose (1.1 Kg), pregelatinized starch (0.20 Kg) and silicon dioxide (0.035 Kg) are sequentially added and the new blend is further stirred for 15 minutes. Then, magnesium stearate (0.06 Kg) is added and the final blend stirred further for 5 minutes.

Finally, a tablet press machine with the ability to produce multilayer tablets is used to produce 6000 double-layer tablets according to the following specifications:

Average tablet weight: 1200 gr

Average weight of the first layer: 550 mg

Average weight of the second layer: 650 mg According to the present embodiment, a bilayer tablet of the nutritional supplement comprising dihydromyrisetin, choline bitartrate, vitamin C and vitamin E has the following composition: * The amount corresponds to 147 mg dihydromyricetin, ** The amount corresponds to 82.5 mg choline

Each bilayer tablet comprises an amount of active substance corresponding to one dosage unit. Each bilayer tablet provides 100% of the recommended dietary allowance for vitamins C and vitamin E.

There is strong evidence that the daily consumption of two tablets described in Example 1, significantly enchases normal liver function and promotes the normal lipid metabolism, while offering strong antioxidant protection to liver cells.

In addition, it is found that the more defined are the limits of the amount of vitamin C and vitamin E used in the nutritional supplement comprising dihydromyricetin, choline, vitamin C and vitamin E, the more efficient is in the antioxidant protection of liver cells.