There is a great interest and medical need for the improvement of bioavailability of a large number of drugs which are (a) poorly bioavailable, (b) given for long periods, and are (c) toxic and expensive. Maximizing oral bioavailability is therapeutically important because the extent of bioavailability directly influences plasma concentrations as well as therapeutic and toxic effects resulting after oral drug administration. Poorly bioavailable drugs remain sub- therapeutic because a major portion of a dose never reaches the plasma or exerts its pharmacological effect unless and until very large doses are given which may lead to serious side effects. Any significant improvement in bioavailability will result in lowering the dose or the dose frequency of that particular drug. Besides, inter-subject variability is inversely correlated with the extent of bioavailability. Therefore, low oral bioavailability leads to high variability and poor control of plasma concentration and pharmacodynamic effects. Inter- subject variability is particularly of concern for a drug with a narrow safety margin.

Incomplete oral bioavailability has various causes. These include poor dissolution or low aqueous solubility, poor intestinal membrane permeation, degradation of the drug in gastric or intestinal fluids and pre-systemic intestinal or hepatic metabolism. The normal practice to offset some of these problems has been to increase the dosage as stated earlier which has the concerns of patients'non-compliance and toxicity.

Many therapeutic treatments are also accompanied by loss of essential nutraceuticals in the course of therapy. The present invention improves nutritional status by increasing bioavailability/bioefficacy of various nutraceuticals also which include metals and vitamins.

Background Art Several approaches have been adopted in the past to maximize oral bioavailability, such as (a) micronization, (b) polymorphic or crystal size and form selection, (c) solubilization of lesser soluble drugs by way of chemical modifications, complexation and use of co-solvents/surfactants, (d) targeted delivery of drug at the site of action, (e) controlled drug delivery by film coating or use of polymeric matrices for sustained release of drugs, (f) prodrug approach, and (g) microencapsulation using liposomes.

However, based on clues from Ayurvedic literature, a new approach of increasing the bioavailability of drugs including poorly bioavailable drugs had been conceptualized at RRL Jammu. One of the groups of herbals which has been documented very frequently as essential part of about 70 % of Ayurvedic prescriptions, was noted to be'Trikatu', that comprises the three acrids viz. long pepper, black pepper and dry ginger in equal proportions. A single major alkaloidal constituent from peppers (piperine) was found to be responsible for bioavailability enhancing effect. Influence of piperine was extensively studied on anti-TB drugs. It was determined that in combination with piperine the dose of ifampicin can be reduced by about 50% while retaining the therapeutic efficacy of this anti-TB drug at par with the standard dose (450 mg). Based on these findings several other reputed plants were evaluated for bioavailability/bioefficacy enhancing activity. Polar and non-polar extracts of parts of a few plants viz., Zingiber officinalis, Carme carvi and CM/ cytnirautn increased significantly (25-300 %), the bioavailability of a number of classes of drugs, for example, but not limited to, antibiotics, antifungals, anti-virals, anticancer, cardiovascular, CNS, anti-inflammatory/anti-arthritic, anti-TB/antileprosy, anti- histaminic/, corticosteroids, immunosppressants. Such extracts either in presence or absence of piperine have been found to be highly selective in their bioavailability/ bioefficacy enhancing action.

Description of the preferred embodiment The present invention is directed to isolation/preparation of an active molecule and a fraction from the plant Cuniarzmn cyminum. which includes their isolation, purification and characterisation and methods of using such products to enhance bioavailability of drugs, natural products and essential nutraceuticals. The products of the present invention viz. , an active molecule and a fraction enhances bioavailability/bioefficacy of certain drugs, natural products and essential nutraceuticals. The chemical name and structure of the active molecule is shown in Fig 1. HPLC fingerprint of the active molecule and the fraction is shown in Fig 2 and 3 respectively. The compound (Fig 1) though known has been for the first time reported to be useful as an effective bioavailability enhancer

3', 5-Dihydroxy flavone 7-O-ß-D-galacturonide-4'-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside Fig-1 Sample : 3', 5-Dihydroxy flavone-7-O-ß-D-galacturonide-4'-O- P-D-glucopyranoside Concentration. 0.0024 gm/10 mL H2O Inj. Vol. # 5 µL Column. RP-18, 5 im Mobile Phase : 2% acetic acid in H2O : ACN (83: 17)

Sample Fraction Concentration 0.0752 gm/10 mL H20 Inj. Vol. 30µL Column RP-18, 5 R m Mobile Phase 2% acetic acid in H2O : ACN (83 : 17) Flow rate 1 mL/min.

Fig: 3 Greenish yellow powder (H20 : EtOH), soluble in H20, m. p. 270°C decompose.

UV Amax. nm MeOH 256.5, 267.5 sh, 350 NaOMe 265.5, 393,5 Aids 273,327. 5 sh, 429.5 Physical and chemical data of as 3', 5-Dihydroxy flavone-7-O-ß-D-galacturonide- 4'-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside Greenish yellow powder (H20: EtOH), soluble in H20, m. p. 270°C decompose.

UV Amax. nm MeOH 256.5, 267.5 sh, 350 NaOMe 265.5, 393,5 Aids 273,327. 5 sh, 429.5 AlCl3/HCI 266,358 NaOAc 261.5, 406.5 NaOAc/H3BO3 260,374. 5 tBMR (DM SO-d6) : 8 3. 08-3.75 (m, 17H, sugar protons), 4.50 (d, 1H, J= 7.21 Hz, H-1'''), 5.21 (d, 1H, J= 6.82 Hz, H-1"), 6.42 (bs, 1H, H-6), 6.65 (bs, 1H, H-8), 6. 81 (d, 1H, J=8. 42, H-5'), 7. 09 (s, 1H, H-3), 7. 35 (q, 1H, J= 8.42 and 1. 8 Hz, H-6/), 7.80 (bs, 1H, H-2).

13CNMR (H20-CD30D) : 8 165.36 (C-2), 104.01 (C-3), 183. 19 (C-4), 160.87 (C-5), 99.41 (C-6), 163.09 (C-7), 96.31 (C-8), 157.65 (C-9), 106.50 (C-10), 122.36 (C-1'), 114.10 (C-2'), 145.37 (C-3), 148.74 (C-4'), 116. 81 (C-G'), 120.75 (C-6), 101.21 (C-1"), 73.25 (C-2), 77.23 (C-3"), 70.72 (C4/), 76.89 (C-5"), 62.02 (C-6//), 103.39 (C-1'''), 75.02 (C-2''' and C-4'''), 77.71 (C-3/) 82.07 (C-5'''), 176. 44 (C-6''').

On the basis of above data the compound has been identified as 3', 5-Dihydroxy flavone-7- O-ß-D-galacturonide-4'-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (Fig. 1).

The products of the invention act by any one or more than one of the following ways: (a) Promoting the absorption of drugs from GIT, (b) Inhibiting or reducing the rate of biotransformation of drugs in the liver or intestines, (c) Modifying the immune system in a way that the overall requirement of the drug is reduced substantially, (d) Increasing the penetration or the entry into the pathogens even where they become persistors within the macrophages such as for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and such others. This eventually ensures the enhanced killing of these organisms well secured within the places otherwise inaccessible to the active drug. (e) Inhibiting the capability of pathogens or abnormal tissue to reject the drug e. g. , efflux mechanisms frequently encountered with anti-malarial, anti- cancer and anti-microbial drugs, (f) Modifying the signalling process between host and pathogen ensuring increased accessibility of the drugs to the pathogens, (g) Enhancing the binding of the drug with the receptors like proteins, DNA, RNA, etc., in the pathogen,

thus potentiating and prolonging its effect leading to enhanced antibiotic activity against pathogens, (h) Besides above plausible modes of action, the bioenhancer agents may also be useful for promoting the transport of nutrients and the drugs across the blood brain barrier, which could be of immense help in the control of diseases like cerebral infections, epilepsy and other CNS problems.

Primarily, but not exclusively, the invention enhances the carrier mediated entry of drugs and also the passive diffusion and the active transport pathways in the tissue which are responsible for transporting physiological substances such as nutraceuticals to their target sites. As applicable to any mechanism of action the products of this invention contribute in a synergistic and/or additive manner so that most drugs and nutraceuticals in presence of the products described in the present art are more bioavailable as a result of one or more of these mechanisms. As a preferred embodiment, the active molecule and the fraction increase the plasma levels and bioefficacy of certain categories of drugs and nutraceuticals by 80-220 % over the effect that results from normal intake of therapeutic and nutraceutical products.

The ratio (w/w) of an effective bioenhancer (fraction/active molecule) in combination with a drug/nutraceutical may vary in the range of 0.1 to 300 %.

The bioavailability of drugs and nutraceuticals is also relevant to animal health besides being important for humans. The invention therefore is also intended to be used in veterinary preparations.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 shows the active molecule 3', 5-dihydroxy flavone 7-O-ß-D-galacturonide-4'0-ß-D- glucopyranoside.

Fig. 2 shows the HPLC fingerprint of the said active molecule 3', 5-dihydroxy flavone 7-O- ß-D-galacturonide-4'O-ß-D-glucopyranoside.

Fig. 3 shows the HPLC fingerprint of the fraction isolated from plant Cunzirzum cyninum.

EXAMPLES: The following examples are intended to demonstrate some of the preferred embodiments and in no way should be construed so as to limit the scope of the invention.

Any person skilled in the art can design more formulations, which may be considered as part of the present invention.

Example 1: cumiMu7n cyminum seeds (0.5 kg) were ground to a coarse powder and then extracted with deionised water at 98 1°C for 2 hrs. Extraction process was repeated four times using total of 3.1 litres water (1 x 1 litre + 3 x 0.7 Litre, four extractions). All the four extracts were pooled. The pooled extract was centrifuged, followed by vacuum filtration through a celite bed. The clear filtrate was lyophilized to get greenish yellow amorphous powder (yield 88 gm, 17.6 %). The dry extract was dissolved in deionised water (500 mL) and partitioned between n-BuOH (6 x 500 mL) and H2O. The n-BuOH extract was concentrated on a rotavapour under reduced pressure at 65°C (residue 11.0 gm). n-BuOH free aqueous extract was freeze dried (residue 75.0 gm) and subjected to adsorption chromatography. Aqueous extract residue was dissolved in minimum quantity of H20 and adsorbed on Si02 gel, 60-120 mesh (150 gm). Solvent was completely removed to get free flowing material. A glass column of 1.5 inch dia was packed with 100 gm Si02 gel, 60-120 mesh in EtOAc. The adsorbed material was charged in the column over the packed Si02 gel. The column was eluted with EtOAc and then with EtOH by gradually increasing the percentage of H20 in EtOH. In all 420 fractions of 70 mL each were collected and pooled on the basis of TLC pattern using BuOH (B): AcOH (A): H20 (W) (4: 1: 5) as developing solvent. Spots were visualized by spraying with freshly prepared Borinate-PEG solution [ 1% solution of 2-aminoethyl diphenylborinate in MeOH and 5% solution of polyethylene glycol 4000 in EtOH (mixed 1: 1 v/v before spraying) ]. Fraction no. 81-167 (eluted in EtOH and 10% H20 in EtOH) showed same TLC pattern. These fractions were pooled, dried and then dissolved in minimum quantity of water. Crystallisation was carried out by the addition of EtOH in small portions, supernatant was drained off and residue was washed with aq. EtOH. Residue was repeatedly crystallized from H20 : EtOH. A yellow powder (70 mg) soluble in H20 was thus obtained. Compound Rf 0.28 solvent system B: A: W (4: 1: 5) was identified as 3', 5-dihydroxy flavone 7-O-ß-D-galacturonide-4'-O-ß-D- glucopyranoside.

Example 2 cuminuMl cyrrzinum seeds (0.5 kg) were ground to a coarse powder. The powder was soaked in 50% aqueous ethanol (1.0 L) for 16 hrs. The marc was extracted three times more under same conditions using 0. 7 L of extraction solvent each time. The pooled extract was clarified by vacuum filtration through a celite bed. The extract thus obtained was concentrated at 60 2°C on a rotavapour. The EtOH free extract was lyophilized to

get a greenish yellow powder (88 gm, 17.60%). 80 gm of the extract was extracted by heating on a steam bath respectively with 1. CHCl3 (2 X 200 mL) 2.10% EtOH in CHC13 (1x 200) 3.20% EtOH in CHCl3 (lx 200 mL) 4.30% EtOH in CHCl3 (lx 200 mL) 5.40% EtOH in CHCl3 (lx 200 mL) 6.50% EtOH in CHCl3 (Ix 200 mL) 7.60% EtOH in CHCl3 (lx 200 mL) 8. 70% EtOH in CHC13 (lx 200 mL) 9. EtOH (6 x 200 mL) 10. EtOH + 10% H20 (1 x 200 mL) The insoluble residue left after extraction with 10% water in EtOH was then extracted at room temperature with EtOH + 20% H20 (3 x 500 mL). The left over fraction (25 gm) was subjected to adsorption chromatography. It was adsorbed on silica gel (60-120 mesh 70 gm). Solvent was completely removed to get free flowing material. A glass column of 1.5 inch dia was packed with 70 gm Si02 gel 60-120 mesh in EtOH. The adsorbed extract was charged in the column. The column was eluted with EtOH by gradually increasing the % age of H2O. In all 94 fractions of 70 mL each were collected and pooled on the basis of TLC pattern using B: A: W (4: 1: 5) as developing solvent. Spots were visualized by spraying the TLC plate with Borinate PEG spray reagent. Fractions 56-80 homogeneous on TLC were pooled, dried and charged on a Sephadex LH-20 column. Column was eluted with water then with EtOH to produce two fractions of 200 and 500 mL respectively. The first fraction was purified repeatedly (three times) on Sephadex LH-20 column. TLC homogeneous fractions containing target compound were pooled and residue was repeatedly crystallized from H20 : EtOH. A yellow powder (50 mg) soluble in water was obtained. Compound Rf 0.28, Solvent system: B: A: W (4: 1: 5) was identified 3', 5- dihydroxyflavone 7-O-ß-D-galacturonide-4'-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside.

Example 3 Cuminu7n cyrrzinum seeds (100 gm) were ground to a coarse powder. Coarse powder was extracted with deionised water at 98 1°C for 2 hrs. Extraction process was repeated four times using total water (200 +3x 100 mL four extractions). All the four extracts were centrifuged, followed by vacuum filtration through celite bed. The clear filtrate was

lyophilized to get a greenish yellow amorphous powder (yield 17.0 gm, 17%). Aqueous extract residue was dissolved in deionised water (100 mL) and partitioned between n- BuOH (6 x 100 mL) and H2O. The n-BuOH extract was concentrated on a rotavapour under reduced pressure at 65°C (residue 2.3 gm). n-BuOH free aqueous extract was freeze dried (residue 13.9 gm). The aqueous residue was dissolved in HPLC grade H20 (15 mg/mL) and subjected to further purification by preparative HPLC under following conditions: Column RP-18, length 10 cmx2 cartridge with guard column Column dia : 1. 5 cm Sample concentration 15 mg/mL Injection volume : 4 mL Mobile phase : CH3CN : H20 (1: 9) Flow rate : 10 mL/min. xmas : 271 nm Run Time : 50 minutes Pooled target fraction was concentrated under reduced pressure and crystallized from H20 : EtOH to afford a yellow powder 110 mg, compound Rf 0.28, solvent system B: A: W (4: 1: 5) and was identified as 3', 5-dihydroxy flavone 7-O-ß-D-galacturonide-4'- O--D-glucopyranoside.

Example 4: Cuminu7n cytrzinum seeds (0.5 kg) were ground to a coarse powder. Coarse powder was defatted with pet. ether 60-80 (1.0 litre) by Soxhlet extraction for 8 hrs. Pet. ether extract was discarded. The marc was dried and then extracted with EtOH (1.0 litre) by Soxhlet extraction for 16 hrs. The EtOH extract was also discarded. The marc was then extracted with 50% aqueous EtOH at room temperature for 16 hrs each time (Total solvent used 1 litre + 4 x 0.5 litre, five extractions). All the five extracts were pooled, concentrated on a rotavapour (residue 67 gm). This residue was dissolved in a minimum quantity of water and adsorbed on silica gel 60-120 mesh (125 gm). A glass column of 1.5 inch dia was packed with silica gel 60-120 mesh (100 gm) in EtOH. The adsorbed extract was charged in the column. Elution was carried out with solvents by gradually increasing the % age of H2O. Each fraction of 50 mL was collected. The fractions (148- 190) eluated in 10% H20 in EtOH were pooled and subjected to further purification by preparative HPLC using following conditions.

Column: RP-18, length 10 cmx2 cartridge with guard column Column dia: 2.5 cm Sample concentration: 15 mg/mL Injection volume: 4 mL Mobile phase: CH3CN: H20 (1: 9) Flow rate: 10 mL/min.

Xmax : 271 nm Run Time: 50 minutes Pooled target fraction was concentrated under reduced pressure and crystallized from H20 : EtOH to afford a yellow powder (60 mg) soluble in water, compound Rf 0.28, solvent system B: A: W (4: 1: 5) and was identified as 3', 5-dihydroxyflavone 7-0-P-D-galacturonide-4'- O-ß-D-glucopyranoside.

Example 5.

List of drugs cited as some of the examples for the purpose of the present invention. Categories Drugs I Antibiotics Fluoroquinolones : Cipro-, Nor-, P-, and 0-floxacins Macrolides : Erythro-, Roxythro-, and Azithromycin Cephalosporins: Cefixime, Cefalexin, Cefadroxil, Cefatrioxone Penicillins: moxycillin, Cloxacillin Aminoglycosides: Amikacin, Kanamycin II. Antifungal Fluconazole, Amphotericin B, Ketoconazole Ill. Anti-viral Acyclovir, Zidovudine IV. Anti-cancer Methotrexate, 5-Fluorouracil, Doxorubicin Cisplatin V. Cardiovascular Amlodipin, Lisinopril, Atenolol VI. CNS Alprazolam, Haloperidol VI. Anti-inflammatory/Diclofenac Piroxicam, Nimesulide, antiarthritic (NSAID) Rofecoxib

VII. Anti-TB/Antileprosy Rifampicin Ethionamide, Isoniazid, Cycloserine, Dapsone, Pyrazinamide, Ethambutol VIII. Anti histamines/Salbutamol, Theophylline, Bromhexine, respiratory disorders Loratidine IX. Corticosteroids Prednisolone, Dexamethasone, Betamethasone X. Immunosuppressants Cyclosporin A, Tacrolimus Mycophenolate mofetil XI. Antiulcer Ranitidine, Cimetidine, Omeprazole Example 5 (i): Antibiotics: (a) Fluroquinolones Drug % Enhancement in bioavailability Active molecule Fraction Ciprofloxacin 65 130 P-floxacin 55 137 O-floxacin 70 103 Norfloxacin 45 55 (b) Macrolides Drug % Enhancement in bioavailability Active molecule Fraction Erythromycin 70 80 Roxythromycin 65 105 Azithromycin 82 115 (c) Cephalosporins Drug % Enhancement in bioavailability Active molecule Fraction Cefalexin 70 105 Cefadroxil 85 120 Cefatrioxone 75 100 Cefixime nil Nil (d) Penicillins Drug % Enhancement in bioavailability Active molecule Fraction Amoxycillin 68 105 Cloxacillin 77 105 (d) Aminoglycosides: : Drug % Enhancement in bioavailability Active molecule Fraction Amikacin 76 87 Kanamycin Nil 35 5 (ii) Antifungal Drug % Enhancement in bioavailability Active molecule Fraction Fluconazole 110 105 Amphotericin B 95 90 Ketoconazole 77 85 5 (ixia) Anti-viral Drug % Enhancement in bioavailabilit Active molecule Fraction Acyclovir 89 110 Zidovudine 120 135 5. (iv) CNS drugs : Drug % Enhancement in bioavailability Active molecule Fraction Alprazolam 70 75 Haloperidol 72 60 5. (v) Anti-cancer Drug % Enhancement in bioavailability Active molecule Fraction Methotrexate 95 140 5-Fluorouracil 110 240 Doxorubicin 78 90 Cisplatin 65 95

5. (vi) Cardiovascular: Drug % Enhancement in bioavailability Active molecule Fraction Amlodipine 80 130 Lisinopril Nil Nil Atenolol 75 110 Propranolol 85 140 5. (vii) Anti-inflammatory/antiarthritic : Drug % Enhancement in bioavailability Active molecule Fraction Diclofenac 105 125 Piroxicam 76 100 Nimesulide 90 115 Rofecoxib 43 70 5. (viii) Anti-TB/Antileprosy drugs: Drug % Enhancement in bioavailability Active molecule Fraction Rifampicin 90 170 Isoniazid Nil 30 Pyrazinamide Nil Nil Ethambutol Nil Nil Dapsone 67 93 Ethionamide 120 110 Cycloserine 85 110 5. (ix) Anti-histamines/respiratory disorders: Drug % Enhancement in bioavailability Active molecule Fraction Salbutamol 98 75 Theophylline 75 95 Bromhexine Nil 35 Loratidine 62 45

5. (x) Corticosteroids: Drug % Enhancement in bioavailability Active molecule Fraction Prednisolone 46 57 Dexamethasone 67 60 Betamethasone 6550 5. (xi) Immunosuppressants: Drug % Enhancement in bioavailability Active molecule Fraction Cyclosporin A 135 170 Tacrolimus 90 110 Mycophenolate Nil Nil Mofeit 5. (xii) Anti-ulcer Drug % Enhancement in bioavailability. Active molecule Fraction Ranitidine 95 95 Cimetidine 76 70 Omeprazole 72 87 Example 6: Herbal formulations :- Drug % Enhancement in bioavailability/ bioefficacy Active molecule Fraction Echinacea 77 147 Tinospora cordifolia 102 185 Picrorrlziza kurroa 68 180 Aegles marmelos Nil Nil Andrographis paniculata Nil 190 Emblica ribes 67 90 Asparagus racemosus 78 145 Tenninalia chebula 45 85 Withania son1nifera Nil Nil Centella asiatica 82 60 C. Nutraceuticals Category I. Vitamins Vitamin A Vitamin E Vit. B 1 Vit. B6 Vit B 12 Vit. C Folic acid II Antioxidants ß-Carotene Silymarin Selenium Lycopene Ellagiogallotannins III Natural herbal products Curcumin Boswellic acids Rutin IV Essential nutritional components Methionine Lysine Leucine Valine Isoleucine Zinc Calcium Glucose Potassium Copper Iron