The present invention relates to a specific multicomponent crystalline system (cocrystal) comprising Urolithin A as one of the components produced by a specific process.

Urolithin A is the compound of formula (I)

Urolithin A is a metabolite compound resulting from the transformation of ellagitannins by the gut bacteria in the body.

Urolithin A belongs to the class of organic compounds known as benzo-coumarins or dibenzo-a-pyrones. Its precursors - ellagic acids and ellagitannins - are ubiquitous in nature, including edible plants, such as pomegranates, strawberries, raspberries, and walnuts.

Urolithin A was isolated and identified in the 1960s.

Urolithin A is a natural food metabolite of the gut microbiome that has been shown to stimulate mitophagy and improve muscle function in aged animals and in models of muscular dystrophy, while also being safe, bioavailable, and able to induce mitochondrial gene expression in older adults.

Due to the fact, that Urolithin A is not to be found in a natural source, the precursors are supplied and then transformed into Urolithin A in the gut system.

The problem with the precursor is that only 30% to 40% people’s microbiome could produce Urolithin A via ellagic acid.

Therefore, the alternative is to provide Urolithin A as such.

Urolithin A is available commercially from a variety of suppliers. Urolithin A has poor water solubility (pg/mL) and low bioavailability. Therefore, a large loading (500 mg per serving) is usually used in the current formulation to achieve an acceptable result.

Surprisingly, it was found that the co-crystal of Urolithin A with betaine, which is the compound of formula (II) shows higher solubility compared to its single parts when producing it by a specific process.

It was found that when using betaine as co-crystal former a stable and soluble cocrystal was obtained when producing it by a specific process. The co-crystal according to the present invention is obtained by using the wet grinding process (also known as liquid, or solvent assisted grinding).

The wet grinding process (WGP) comprises the steps: a) wet grinding of the compound of formula (I) and the compound of formula (II) in a small amount of at least one solvent, and b) isolating the obtained compound.

Therefore, the present invention relates to the co-crystal (CC) obtainable by a) wet grinding of the compound of formula (I) and the compound of formula (II) in a small amount of at least one solvent, and b) isolating the obtained compound.

The second component of a co-crystal is also referred to as co-former. In the present invention, this co-formed is the compound of formula (II), which is known as betaine (or N,N,N-trimethylglycine).

The term “co-crystal” or “co-crystal” refers herein a crystal formed by combining two or more organic molecules in the same crystal lattice through non-covalent bonds (hydrogen bond, TT-TT stacking, van der Waals force, etc.) in a fixed stoichiometric ratio. It is a way of aggregation of multi-component substances in a solid state.

Thus, in a co-crystal a first neutral component crystallizes with at least one second neutral component and interact via non-ionic interactions. Said at least one second component in the co-crystal is commonly referred to as a “coformer” or “co-crystal former” and is solid at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. This definition distinguishes co-crystals from crystalline solvates, in that in a solvate one of the components is a liquid at room temperature and atmospheric pressure.

Besides, it should be noted that, unlike salts, where the components in the crystal lattice are in an ionized state, the co-crystal’s components are in a neutral state and are linked by hydrogen bonding and other non-ionic interactions.

The co-crystal according to the present invention comprises Urolithin A and betaine. In a particular embodiment the molar ratio of Urolithin A : betaine is 1 :1.

Therefore, the present invention relates to a specific multicomponent crystalline system (co-crystal) (CC1 ), which is the co-crystal (CC), wherein molar ratio of Urolithin A : betaine is 1 : 1 .

The grinding may be performed with a mechanical mill, for instance, in a ball mill.

It is also possible to use ultrasound to diminish the starting material. A suitable frequency range is 25-800 kHz, preferred 40-200 kHz.

Therefore, the present invention relates to a specific multicomponent crystalline system (co-crystal) (CC2), which is the co-crystal (CC) or (CC1 ), wherein the grinding is performed in a mechanical mill.

Therefore, the present invention relates to a specific multicomponent crystalline system (co-crystal) (CC2’), which is the co-crystal (CC2), wherein the grinding is performed in a ball mill.

The solvents, which are used in the wet grinding process, are polar or non-polar solvents, which can be protic or non-protic. Suitable solvents are i.e. , alcohols, aromatic hydrocarbons, aliphatic hydrocarbons, non-cyclic ethers, cyclic ethers, esters, ketones, sulfoxides and nitriles.

Suitable solvents are i.e. water, acetonitrile, benzonitrile, dichloromethane, chloroform, dimethylsulfoxide, methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, iso pentanol, ethyl acetate, isopentyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, acetone, methyl isobutyl ketone, tetrahydrofuran, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, cyclopentyl methyl ether, diethylether, methyl tert-butyl ether, toluene, cyclohexane, xylene and heptane; preferably water, ethyl acetate, acetonitrile, methanol and ethanol.

Therefore, the present invention relates to a specific multicomponent crystalline system (co-crystal) (CC3), which is the co-crystal (CC), (CC1 ), (CC2) or (CC2’), wherein the at least one solvent is polar or non-polar solvents, which can be protic or non-protic.

Therefore, the present invention relates to a specific multicomponent crystalline system (co-crystal) (CC3’), which is the co-crystal (CC), (CC1 ), (CC2) or (CC2’), wherein the at least one solvent is chosen from the group consisting of alcohols, aromatic hydrocarbons, aliphatic hydrocarbons, non-cyclic ethers, cyclic ethers, esters, ketones, sulfoxides and nitriles.

Therefore, the present invention relates to a specific multicomponent crystalline system (co-crystal) (CC3”), which is the co-crystal (CC), (CC1 ), (CC2) or (CC2’), wherein the at least one solvent is chosen from the group consisting of water, acetonitrile, benzonitrile, dichloromethane, chloroform, dimethylsulfoxide, methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, iso pentanol, ethyl acetate, isopentyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, acetone, methyl isobutyl ketone, tetrahydrofuran, 2- methyltetrahydrofuran, cyclopentyl methyl ether, diethylether, methyl tert-butyl ether, toluene, cyclohexane, xylene and heptane.

Therefore, the present invention relates to a specific multicomponent crystalline system (co-crystal) (CC3’”), which is the co-crystal (CC), (CC1 ), (CC2) or (CC2’), wherein the at least one solvent is chosen from the group consisting of water, ethyl acetate, acetonitrile, methanol and ethanol. In a preferred embodiment of the wet grinding process the solvent is present in an amount of 0-1 Opl per mg of compound of formula (I) and of the compound of formula (II).

Therefore, the present invention relates to a specific multicomponent crystalline system (co-crystal) (CC4), which is the co-crystal (CC), (CC1 ), (CC2), (CC2’), (CC3), (CC3’), (CC3”) or (CC3’”), wherein the solvent is present in an amount of 0-1 Opd per mg of compound of formula (I) and of the compound of formula (II).

Preferably the wet grinding process is carried out at a temperature of 15 to 30°C, more preferably at room temperature.

As used herein, "room temperature" or its abbreviation "rt" is considered for a temperature between 20 to 25 °C.

Therefore, the present invention relates to a specific multicomponent crystalline system (co-crystal) (CC5), which is the co-crystal (CC), (CC1 ), (CC2), (CC2’), (CC3), (CC3’), (CC3”), (CC3’”) or (CC4), wherein the process is carried out at a temperature of 15 to 30°C.

Therefore, the present invention relates to a specific multicomponent crystalline system (co-crystal) (CC5’), which is the co-crystal (CC), (CC1 ), (CC2), (CC2’), (CC3), (CC3’), (CC3”), (CC3’”) or (CC4), wherein the process is carried out at room temperature.

Usually and preferably the wet grinding process is carried out at ambient pressure (about 1 atm = about 101325 Pa).

It is clear, that the process could (if desired) also carried out at other pressures as well.

Therefore, the present invention relates to a specific multicomponent crystalline system (co-crystal) (CC6), which is the co-crystal (CC), (CC1 ), (CC2), (CC2’), (CC3), (CC3’), (CC3”), (CC3’”), (CC4), (CC5) or (CC5’), wherein wet grinding process is carried out at ambient pressure.

The isolation of the co-crystal may include, for example, one or more of the following operations: such as filtration, filtration under vacuum, evaporation, crystallization by cooling, heating-melting, decantation, and centrifugation and other suitable techniques as known to a person skilled in the art.

The obtained co-crystal of the invention may be further purified, e.g. by recrystallization.

The co-crystal can contain traces of the solvent used in the production of the cocrystal. This is depending on the drying (kind of drying as well as length of drying).

The co-crystals of this invention are stable, wherein "stable" means that the cocrystals maintain their crystalline form over a long period of time at standard ambient conditions of temperature and pressure.

The present invention also relates to the co-crystal of compound of formula (I) and of compound of formula (II), which is the co-crystal (CC), (CC1 ), (CC2), (CC2’), (CC3), (CC3’), (CC3”), (CC3’”), (CC4), (CC5), (CC5’) or (CC6), characterised in that the X- ray diffraction pattern of the obtained co-crystal characteristic peaks exist at 20 angle: 7.52° ± 0.2°, 10.46° ± 0.2°, 16.72° ± 0.2°, 17.22° ± 0.2°, 19.32° ± 0.2°, 21.44° ± 0.2°, 22.08° ± 0.2°, 22.80° ± 0.2°, 27.02° ± 0.2°, 27.48° ± 0.2°, 32.16° ± 0.2°.

The present invention also relates to co-crystal of Urolithin A and betaine, characterized in that, the X-ray powder diffraction pattern of the co-crystal is shown substantially as the XRPD pattern of Fig. 3.

Furthermore, the co-crystal according to the present invention has good handling properties of the solid form. The co-crystal has good flowability properties.

The co-crystals according to the present invention may be used in compositions in the same way as other forms of Urolithin A previously known. The co-crystal according to the present invention can be used in food products, feed products, dietary supplements, pharmaceutical products as well as personal care products.

Therefore, the present invention relates to the use of the co-crystal (CC), (CC1 ), (CC2), (CC2’), (CC3), (CC3’), (CC3”), (CC3’”), (CC4), (CC5), (CC5’) or (CC6) in food products, feed products, dietary supplements, pharmaceutical products and/or personal care products.

Therefore, the present invention relates to food products, feed products, dietary supplements, pharmaceutical products and/or personal care products comprising cocrystal (CC), (CC1 ), (CC2), (CC2’), (CC3), (CC3’), (CC3”), (CC3’”), (CC4), (CC5), (CC5’) or (CC6).

When using the co-crystal according to the present invention in food products, feed products, dietary supplements, pharmaceutical products and/or personal care products, any commonly known and used excipients can be added to the co-crystal.

The amount of the co-crystal of the present invention (depends on the type of formulation and the desired dosage regimen during administration time periods. The amount in each oral formulation may be from 50 to 300 mg, preferably from 75 to 250 mg. Oral formulations may be solid formulations such as capsules, tablets, pills and troches, or a liquid suspension formulation.

It can also be used in other formulation when used in food products, feed products, dietary supplements, pharmaceutical products and/or personal care products.

The crystalline composition according to the invention may be used directly as powders (micronized particles), granules, suspensions, or they may be combined with other (pharmaceutically acceptable) ingredients in admixing the components and optionally finely divide them, and then filling capsules, composed for example from hard or soft gelatine: or compressing tablets, or troches, or suspend in suspensions. Coatings may also be applied. Acceptable ingredients are well known for the various types of formulation and may be for example binders such as natural or synthetic polymers, excipients, disintegrants, lubricants, surfactants, sweetening and other flavouring agents, coating materials, preservatives, dyes, thickeners, adjuvants, antimicrobial agents, and carriers for the various formulation types.

The following examples illustrate the present invention.

All the parts and percentages in the Examples are related to the weight (when not otherwise stated) and the temperature is given in °C (when not otherwise stated).

Examples

Example 1 : Synthesis of Urolithin A - Betaine co-crystal by wet grinding process A mortar was charged with Urolithin A (1 g, 4.4 mmol, 1 eq) and betaine (4.4 mmol, 1 eq).

Methanol (50 pL) was added to the mixture and manually grinded for about 20 min to give the co-crystal. The co-crystal was confirmed by XRD-powder. (Fig.3) The product was obtained in a yield of 82% The so obtained co-crystal has a solubility in water, which is 2.7 higher than Urolithin A. (Fig.4)