Recurring cystitis or urologic syndrome generally manifests a combination of symptoms including iritative voiding, hematuria or inappropriate urination. Often seen in females of nearly all species, the most commonform is termed idiopathic lowerurinary tract disease or idiopathic cystitis. Other forms ofurologic syndrome includeurolithiasis, urinary tract infections and, least common, anatomic deficits (Figure 1).

There appears to be no single, primary causative agent associated with idiopathic cystitis. Among the risk factors identified, stress and a urinary pH greater than 7.0 are most frequently reported. While bacterial infection does not seem to play a primary role in the disease, several researchgroups have proposed that viral infections may have a predisposing influence. Low fluid intake is also considered a significant risk factor for recurrent idiopathic cystitis.

Antibiotics, steroids, diet change, and/or increased water intake are the commonly prescribed treatments. But treatment of idiopathic cystitis with presently available formulations has drawbacks. For example, reduction of stress is considered critical to terminating the cycle of recurrence. Treatment with amitriptyline, one of the early tricyclic antidepressants, has been reported to be highly effective in reducing the frequency of episodes in severe recurrent cases of idiopathic cystitis. However, potential side-effects of amitriptyline include sedation, hypotension, and weight gain.

Moreover, episodes of idiopathic cystitis tend to be self-limiting and resolve within ten days regardless of the treatment, but if the risk factors for idiopathic cystitis are not addressed, the likelihood of recurrence is high. A frequent complication in active untreated cystitis includes increased risk of infection, often leading to inflammation and painful urination.

Research suggests that acidifying the urine may be effective in the management of recurrent idiopathic cystitis. Ingestion of cranberry fruit juice and DL-methionine are speculated to help provide such acidification. One double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 153 elderly women indicated that the consumption of 300 ml of commercially available

standard cranberry juice reduced the odds of bacteriuria by forty-two percent. Avorn et al., Reduction ofbacteriuriaandpyuria after ingestion ofcranberryjuice, 271 JAMA 751-754 (1994). Other studies suggest that cranberry juice may be more effective in treating than in preventing bacteriuria and urinary tract infections. Fleet, J. C. New support for a folk remedy: cranberry juice reduces bacteriuria and pyuria in elderly women, 52 NUTR.

REV. 168-170 (1994). However, it is unclear whether the positive results obtained with cranberry fruit juice are due to some ingredient of cranberries, such as quinic acid which is thought to have an antimicrobial role, or whether any observed positive results are due simply to the consumption of additional fluids.

While ingestion of cranberry fruitjuice is thoughtto beuseful for alleviating urinary cystitis, any positive clinical results obtained with cranberry fruit juice may simply be due to the consumption of additional fluids, a practice known to reduce the risk of urinary tract infections. Furthermore, even if historical and clinical use of cranberry fruit juice indicates that cranb erries are us eful for treating urinary tract infections, cranberry fruit extract has not been optimally formulated into a dietary supplement or a pharmaceutical composition that can effectively relieve all the symptoms of recurrent idiopathic cystitis.

Accordingly the present invention provides a herbal composition comprising cranberry fruit, DL-methionine and at least one herb selected from Ilex chinensis, Desmodium styracifolium and Schisandra chinensis. In a preferred aspect the herbal composition comprises cranberry fruit, DL-methionine and each of Ilex chinensis, Desmodium styracifolium and Schisandra chinensis.

In a more preferred aspect the herbal composition comprises synergistically effective amounts of the cranberry fruit, DL-methionine and the or each said herb. The invention also provides the use of one Chinese herb selected from Ilex chinensis, Desmodium styracifolium and Schisandra chinensis as a synergist in a herbal composition comprising cranberry fruit and DL-methionine. In this embodiment the herbal composition preferably further comprises one or both of the other two said Chinese herbs. Thus Ilex chinensis may be used as a synergist in a herbal composition comprising cranberry fruit, DL-methionine and one or both of Desmodium styracifolium and Schisandra chinensis; Desmodium styracifolium may be used as a synergist in a herbal composition comprising cranberry fruit, DL-methionine and one or both of Ilex chinensis and Schisandra chinensis;

and Schisandra chinensis may be used as a synergist in a herbal composition comprising cranberry fruit, DL-methionine and one or both of Ilex chinensis and Desmodium styracifolium.

DL-methionine is an amino acid which may help acidify urine and is available commercially. DL-Methionine has been used clinically to acidify the urine. Doses of 1500 to 3000 mg/day in humans reduced the mean pH values of the urine of 19 subjects from 7.5 to 5.5 (p<0.05). Jarrar, K., R. H. et al., Struvite stones : long term follow-up under metaphylaxis, 30 ANN UROL. (Paris) 112-117 (1996).

Some information indicates that an herbal extract of Ilex chinensis is both an antimicrobial and an antiinflammatory agent. This herb has also been reported to reduce vascular resistance in coronary vessels resulting in an increase in blood flow. Following oral administration, the herb is almost completely absorbed from the small intestine and eliminated primarily through the kidneys. The antibacterial effect of Ilex chinensis allows it to be effective in the treatment of infectious diseases such as acute and chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, dysentery, nephritis, pelvic infections, urethritis and cervicitis.

Information also exists indicating that herbal extracts of Desmodium styracifolium may have anti-inflammatory activity. Desmodium styracifolium has been found to contain several classes of biologically active compounds. The flavones and triterpenoids identified inDesmodium styracifolium may be responsible forthe anti-inflammatory activity ascribed to the herb. In rat studies, the triterpenoid fraction inhibited the formation of experimentally-induced calcium oxalate renal stones.

Schisandra fruit, derived from Schisandra chinensis, has been used in China as both a foodstuff and a medicinal herb. It has been classifie as an adaptogen because of its ability to balance and regulate many functions of the body.

Theherbal composition ofthe invention, comprising cranberry fruit, DL-methionine and one or more of the herbs as described above, is an ideal formulation for the reduction of risk factors associated with cystitis since it (i) decreases urinary pH, (ii) reduces physiological stress, (iii) reduces pain, and (iv) decreases the inflammatory response. It therefore adds to the potential acidification properties offered by cranberry fruit by addressing the additional risk factors for cystitis of physiological stress, inflammation and infection. Working together the components of the composition reduce the frequency of

recurrent idiopathic cystitis and normalize urinary tract function. Furthermore, the composition is inexpensively manufactured and complies with all governmental regulations.

The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical or veterinary composition comprising a herbal composition of the invention as defined above and pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable excipients.

The present invention further provides a dietary composition, such as a dietary supplement, which comprises a herbal composition of the invention as defined above and dietetically acceptable excipients.

The present invention also provides a method of dietary supplementation which comprises administering to a human or animal a composition of the invention as described above in an amount sufficient to support healthy urinary tract function. This method can thus be used to enhance the urinary health of mammals.

The invention further provides the use of cranberry fruit, DL-methionine and at least one herb selected from Ilex chinensis, Desmodium styracifolium and Schisandra chinensis in the manufacture of a medicament for preventing or treating one or more symptoms of urinary cystitis.

The present invention further provides a method of treating urinary cystitis, for instance recurrent idiopathic cystitis, which comprises the administration to a human or animal patient in need thereof a pharmaceutical or veterinary composition of the invention as described above and continuing the administration of the formulation until the symptoms are reduced. Preferably the composition comprises a synergistically effective amount of cranberry extract, DL-methionine, Ilex chinensis, Desmodium styracifolium, and Schisandra chinensis.

The symptoms of cystitis to be treated can be any abnormal urinary function including irritativevoiding, hematuria, inappropriate urination, urolithiasis orurinary tract infection..

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 provides a schematic of the breakdown of lower urinary tract disorders and the risk factors associated with idiopathic cystitis.

The compositions of the invention include cranberry fruit juice or extract, DL- methionine and at least one additional herb selected from the group consisting of Ilex chinensis, Desmodium styracifolium, or Schisandra chinensis. These herbs are used for

recurrent idiopathic cystitis and normalize urinary tract function. Furthermore, the composition is inexpensively manufactured and complies with all governmental regulations.

The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical or veterinary composition comprising a herbal composition of the invention as defined above and pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable excipients.

The present invention further provides a dietary composition, such as a dietary supplement, which comprises a herbal composition of the invention as defined above and dietetically acceptable excipients.

The present invention also provides a method of dietary supplementation which comprises administering to a human or animal a composition of the invention as described above in an amount sufficient to support healthy urinary tract function. This method can thus be used to enhance the urinary health of mammals.

The invention further provides the use of cranberry fruit, DL-methionine and at least one herb selected from Ilex chinensis, Desmodium styracifolium and Schisandra chinensis in the manufacture of a medicament for preventing or treating one or more symptoms of urinary cystitis.

The present invention further provides a method of treating urinary cystitis, for instance recurrent idiopathic cystitis, which comprises the administration to a human or animal patient in need thereof a pharmaceutical or veterinary composition of the invention as described above and continuing the administration of the formulation until the symptoms are reduced. Preferably the composition comprises a synergistically effective amount of cranberry extract, DL-methionine, Ilex chinensis, Desmodium styracifolium, and Schisandra chinensis.

The symptoms of cystitis to be treated can be any abnormal urinary function including irritativevoiding, hematuria, inappropriate urination, urolithiasis orurinary tract infection..

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 provides a schematic of the breakdown of lower urinary tract disorders and the risk factors associated with idiopathic cystitis.

The compositions of the invention include cranberry fruit juice or extract, DL- methionine and at least one additional herb selected from the group consisting of Ilex chinensis, Desmodium styracifolium, or Schisandra chinensis. These herbs are used for

their antiinflammatory, antimicrobial and stress-reducing properties. The resulting composition can be used as a dietary supplement or pharmaceutical formulation to address the risk factors associated with reoccurring urinary cystitis without introducing any harmful side effects. Thus, the present composition is useful as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of recurrent idiopathic cystitis or urinary tract infection and for maintaining the health of the urinary system.

It is thought that the cranberry fruit (Vaccinium macrocarpon) provides (i) acidification of urine, (ii) inhibition of bacterial adherence to bladder cells, and (iii) reduction of bacteriuria and pyuria. The cranberry fruit can be used in the form of fruit juice, fruit extract or dried fruit. When it is used in dried form it is preferably pulverized to a powder. When it is used in the form of an extract it is suitably an extract that can be obtained commercially, for example from Freeman Industries, L. L. C. 100 Marbledale Road, Tuckahow, NY10707-3420, which provides a 5: 1 extract of cranberry fruit that has been standardized to contain about 3.4% quinic acid. Preferably, when employed in the herbal composition of the present invention the cranberry fruit can be provided as a 2: 1 to about 10: 1 extract which contains about 0.5% to about 10% quinic acid.

DL-Methionine is an amino acid which may help acidify urine and which can be obtained commercially.

In addition to cranberry fruit and DL-methionine, the present composition contains at least one Chinese herb. The herb is selected from Ilex chinensis, Desmodium styracifolium and Schisandra chinensis.

The herbs used in the herbal composition of the present invention may be employed in any suitable form, for instance as dried herb or as a herbal extract.

When dried Chinese herb is used it is preferably pulverized. In this embodiment the whole herb is dried and ground to a powder. The resulting powder of the or each herb is then conveniently mixed with powdered cranberry fruit or cranberry extract and powdered <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> DL-methionine to form a herbal composition of the invention in powder form. This powder can be administered directly, for instance by being dispersed in a liquid for human subjects to drink or by being mixed into animal feed, especially cat feed, for animals to consume.

Alternatively the powder an be processed into any other conventional dosage form such as tablets or granules.

When a herbal extract is used the extract is prepared by any conventional technique known for the extraction of ingredients from botanical material. These include solvent extraction and supercritical fluid extraction using. a liquefied gas such as carbon dioxide.

If desired the extract may be dried before being formulated into a herbal composition of the invention, for instance by spray drying or by freeze drying (lyophilisation). In that case the dried Chinese herbal extract may be mixed with pulverized dried cranberry fruit or dried cranberry extract and powered DL-methionine to form a powder for direct administration to human or animal subjects, for instance as described above. Alternatively the extract may be used directly without prior drying.

The Chinese herbs or herb extracts are combined with the cranberry fruit and DL- methionine using any conventional technique that is suitable for ingredients of this type.

When the Chinese herbs or herb extracts, the cranberry fruit and the DL-methionine are all in dry form they are conveniently mixed together, for instance by hand or by means of a mechanical mixer. A mixing procedure of this type may also be suitable if some, but not all, of the components of the herbal composition are in dry form.

When Ilex chinensis extract is employed it is preferably a pharmaceutical grade extract that can be obtained commercially, for example, from the Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Haiding District, Xibeiwang, Beijing 100094, China, a Chinese manufacturer. Pharmaceutical grade Ilex chinensis extract manufactured in China is standardized for protocatechuic acid (>1.5 weight percent) and protocatechuic aldehyde (>0.15 weight percent). The pharmaceutical grade extract must pass extensive safety and efficacy procedures. Preferably, in accordance with the present invention the Ilex chinensis contains about 0.1 to about 10% weight percentage protocatechuic acid and about 0.01 to about 5% weight percentage protocatechuic aldehyde. Preferably, the Ilex chinensis contains more than about 1.5 weight percentage protocatechuic acid and more than about 0.15 weight percentage protocatechuic aldehyde. Without limiting the invention, Ilex chinensis may act as depicted in Figure 1 to reduce inflammation and inhibit the growth of microorganisms.

When Desmodium styracifolium extract is employed it is preferably a pharmaceutical grade extract that can be obtained commercially, for example from the Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Haiding District, Xibeiwang, Beijing 100094,

China, a Chinese manufacturer. The pharmaceutical grade extract must pass extensive safety and efficacy procedures. Pharmaceutical grade Desmodium styracifolium extract manufactured in China is standardized for total flavone content of about 6 weight percent.

Preferably, when used in the practice of the present invention the Desmodium styracifolium extract has a flavone content of about 1 to about 25%. Preferably the minimum flavone content is about 6 percent by weight. Without limiting the invention to a specific mechanism the action of the Desmodium styracifolium is thought to inhibit the formation of renal stones, decrease blood pressure and decrease inflammation as shown in Figure 1.

When Schisandra chinensis extract is employed it is preferably a pharmaceutical grade extract that can be obtained commercially, for example, from a Chinese manufacturer, the Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Haiding District, Xibeiwang, Beijing 100094, China. Pharmaceutical grade Schisandra chinensis extract manufactured in China is standardized for schisandrin and schisandrin B content of about 6.0 and 0.5 weight percent, respectively. The pharmaceutical grade extract must pass extensive safety and efficacy procedures. Preferably, when employed in the practice of the present invention the Schisandra chinensis extract has a minimum schisandrin content of about 1.0 to about 50% weight percentage, and a schisandrin B content of about 0.1 to about 20% weight percentage. Preferably, the Schisandra chinensis extract used in the present invention has a minimum schisandrin and schisandrin B content of at least 6.0 and 0.5 weight percent, respectively.

The herbal composition of the present invention as described above is typically formulated into a pharmaceutical or veterinary composition, or a dietary composition such as a dietary supplement, by conventional methods. In addition to the cranberry fruit, DL- methionine and Chinese herb or herbs the composition may include pharmaceutically, veterinarily or dietetically acceptable excipients as well as various additives such as other vitamins and minerals and inert ingredients such as talc and magnesium stearate which are standard excipients in the manufacture of tablets, capsules and other dosage forms.

The pharmaceutically, veterinarily or dietetically acceptable excipient may be a solvent, dispersion medium, coating, isotonic or absorption delaying agent, sweetener orthe like. These include any and all solvents, dispersion media, coatings, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, sweeteners and the like. These pharmaceutically acceptable carriers may

China, a Chinese manufacturer. The pharmaceutical grade extract must pass extensive safety and efficacy procedures. Pharmaceutical grade Desmodium styracifolium extract manufactured in China is standardized for total flavone content of about 6 weight percent.

Preferably, when used in the practice of the present invention the Desmodium styracifolium extract has a flavone content of about 1 to about 25%. Preferably the minimum flavone content is about 6 percent by weight. Without limiting the invention to a specific mechanism the action of the Desmodium styracifolium is thought to inhibit the formation of renal stones, decrease blood pressure and decrease inflammation as shown in Figure 1.

When Schisandra chinensis extract is employed it is preferably a pharmaceutical grade extract that can be obtained commercially, for example, from a Chinese manufacturer, the Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Haiding District, Xibeiwang, Beijing 100094, China. Pharmaceutical grade Schisandra chinensis extract manufactured in China is standardized for schisandrin and schisandrin B content of about 6.0 and 0.5 weight percent, respectively. The pharmaceutical grade extract must pass extensive safety and efficacy procedures. Preferably, when employed in the practice of the present invention the Schisandra chinensis extract has a minimum schisandrin content of about 1.0 to about 50% weight percentage, and a schisandrin B content of about 0.1 to about 20% weight percentage. Preferably, the Schisandra chinensis extract used in the present invention has a minimum schisandrin and schisandrin B content of at least 6.0 and 0.5 weight percent, respectively.

The herbal composition of the present invention as described above is typically formulated into a pharmaceutical or veterinary composition, or a dietary composition such as a dietary supplement, by conventional methods. In addition to the cranberry fruit, DL- methionine and Chinese herb or herbs the composition may include pharmaceutically, veterinarily or dietetically acceptable excipients as well as various additives such as other vitamins and minerals and inert ingredients such as talc and magnesium stearate which are standard excipients in the manufacture of tablets, capsules and other dosage forms.

The pharmaceutically, veterinarily or dietetically acceptable excipient may be a solvent, dispersion medium, coating, isotonic or absorption delaying agent, sweetener orthe like. These include any and all solvents, dispersion media, coatings, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, sweeteners and the like. These pharmaceutically acceptable carriers may

be prepared from a wide range of materials including, but not limited to, diluents, binders and adhesives, lubricants, disintegrants, coloring agents, bulking agents, flavoring agents, sweetening agents and miscellaneous materials such as buffers and adsorbents that may be needed in order to prepare a particular dosage form. The use of such media and agents for pharmaceutically active substances is well known in the art. Except insofar as any conventional media or agent is incompatible with the active ingredient, its use in the present compositions is contemplated.

The present composition can be provided in any convenient form and for administration by any route such as orally, topically or parenterally. It can be provided as a dietary supplement or any pharmaceutical dosage form. It can be formulated into a food or drink, and provided, for example, as a snack bar; a cereal, a drink, a gum, or in any other easily ingested form. It can also be provided as a cream or lotion for topical application.

One trained in the art can readily formulate the present composition into any of these convenient forms for oral or topical administration.

The herbal composition of the present invention is also suitably formulated into granules or a powder. In this form it can be readily dispersed in water or other liquid such as tea or a soft drink for human patients to drink. It can be equally readily mixed into feed for administration to animals such as cattle, cats and dogs.

According to the present invention, a therapeutically effective amount ofthe present compositions is an amount sufficient to relieve the symptoms of cystitis while minimizing harmful side effects. In one embodiment, the therapeutically effective amount is an amount sufficient to reduce the symptoms of recurrent idiopathic cystitis without causing harmful side effects. In another embodiment, the therapeutically effective amount is an amount sufficient to normalize urinary tract function without causing harmful side effects.

Preferably, a daily dose (mg/kg-day) of the present dietary supplement or pharmaceutical formulation would be formulated to deliver per kg body weight of the mammal the following active ingredients within the suggested ranges: (a) about 10 to 40 mg/kg cranberry fruit extract; (b) about 5 to 50 mg/kg DL-methionine; (c) about 8 to 35 mg/kg Ilex chinensis extract; (d) about 8 to 35 mg/kg Desmodium styracifolium; and (e) about 1 to 7 mg/kg Schisandra chinensis. Dosages can be readily determined by one of ordinary skill in the art and can be readily formulated into the present supplemental and

pharmaceutical compositions.

The invention will be further described in the Examples which follow: EXAMPLE 1: Preparation of herbal Composition A herbal composition of the invention was prepared containing the following: DL- methionine, cranberry, Ilex chinensis, Desmodium styracifolium and Schisandra chinensis.

Pharmaceutical grade DL-methionine was obtained commercially. Likewise the pharmaceutical grade cranberry extract (5: 1) standardised to contain 3.4% quinic acid was obtained from Freeman Industries, L. L. C., USA. The other three herb extracts were specifically made at the Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Beijing, China.

The authentication and quality evaluation of the raw herb material, critical to the production of the standardised herb extracts and the therapeutic effect of the finished product, were achieved by macroscopic and microscopic methods of inspection and authentication involving the application of expertise in pharmacognosy, phytochemstry and Chinese Materia Medica. In addition TLC and HPLC profiling were used.

The herb extracts of Ilex chinensis, Desmodium styracifolium and Schisandra chinensis were made separately with the extraction procedures designed specifically for each herb in order to achieve the expected therapeutic potency of the extracts. With the consistent concentration of 10: 1 (1 g extract is equivalent to 10 g dry herb), each extract contained a set amount of selected chemical markers which were quantified by HPLC. The chemical marker contentwas 1.5% protocatechuic acid and 0.15% protocatechuic aldehyde inIlex chinensis extract; 6.0% schisandra and 0.5% schisandra B in Schisandra chinensis extract and 6.0% total flavones in Desmodium styracifolium extract. Each extract was standardized.

The pharmaceutical grade cranberry extract and DL-methionine was combined by mixing with each of the Chinese herb extracts as described above to form a herbal composition.

EXAMPLE 2: Preparation of Pharmaceutical Composition A herbal composition prepared according to Example 1 was formulated into granules such that the following amounts of active ingredients would be supplied per kg body weight per day: (a) 20 mg/kg cranberry extract; (b) 40 mg/kg DL-methionine; (c) 21 mg/kg Ilex chinensis extract (1.5% wt protocatechuic acid and 0.15% wtprotocatechuic aldehyde) ; (d) 6.5 mg/kg Desmodium styracifolium extract (6% wt total flavones); and (e) 4 mg/kg Schisandra chinensis extract (6.0% wt schisandrin and 0.5% wt schisandrin B).

EXAMPLE 3: Clinical evaluation in the cat.

In a clinical study on cats, a tablet dosage form comprising the herbal composition described in Example 1 was administered daily to a group of cats observed to be suffering from symptoms of cystitis.

The tablets were ground into a powder and mixed into cat food for administration to each cat. Preliminary observations by a veterinarian indicated that there was an improvement in each animal's symptoms after two to five doses of the ground tablets.