Anti Viral, Anti Bacterial and/or Anti Fungal Composition Containing Metal Oxyalkylate

The present invention relates to a method of treating viral, bacterial, and/or fungal infections and to an anti viral, anti bacterial and/or anti fungal composition. The invention relates particularly to a composition and method of treating Herpes Virus, including Herpes simplex virus, type I and II (hereinafter referred to as "HSV-1" and "HSV-2").

In accordance with the invention, the reaction product of a metal, a carboxylic acid, and hydrogen peroxide, such as zibnc, hexakis(acetato) oxotetra (hereinafter referred to as "zinc oxyacetate") is used to treat a virus, bacteria or fungus infection by administering an effective amount thereof to an infected patient. The compound can be administered topically or systemically, preferably in admixture with a pharmaceutical carrier. For topical use, the compound is preferably administered in an ointment or cream containing, preferably, from 0.1 to 20% by weight of the compound. For systemic use, daily dosage is generally about 15-50 mg of zinc for a person of average (70 kg) weight.

Zinc oxyacetate has the empirical formula C.sub.12 H.sub.18 O.sub.13 Zn.sub.4 and the structural formula Zn.sub.4 O(CH.sub.3 CO.sub.2).sub.6 and the compound and its preparation are described in the literature. See the Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Japan, March 1954, Volume 27, No. 2, pp. 112-114, in which the compound is prepared by slowly distilling powdered anhydrous zinc acetate in a high vacuum. Zinc oxyacetate sublimes gradually and is collected as crystalline crust on a cool place in the distillation vessel. It is preferred, however, to make the compound in the manner described in our co-pending application Ser. No. 304,305, filed 9/21/81 and entitled "Metal Oxyalkylates, Methods of Making Same, and Uses Thereof". The disclosure of said application is herein incorporated by reference. In that method, a metal, a carboxylic acid, and hydrogen peroxide are reacted in an aqueous reaction mixture and the metal oxyalkylate precipitate is recovered. Preferred metals include zinc, beryllium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, cadmium and mercury. The structural formula for all of the compounds has not been confirmed. However, the following general formula is attributed:

where M represents the metal cation, and R represents hydrogen or alkyl. The manganese and zinc compounds have been found to have the structural formula M.sub.4 O(R--CO.sub.2).sub.6. Preferred acids include aliphatic carboxylic acids, preferably lower alkyl of up to 8 carbon atoms. Preferred acids include formic and acetic.

The Examples which follow illustrate the use of the compound as an anti virus, anti bacteria, or anti fungas agent.

A stock (1%) solution is prepared by dissolving 0.1 gm of zinc ocyacetate in 10 ml of water. A 1/2 dilution (0.5% solution) is made by admixing 5 ml of the stock solution and 5 ml of water. A 1/4 dilution (0.25% solution) is made by admixing 5 ml of the 0.5% solution and 5 ml of water. A 1/10 dilution (0.1% solution) is made by admixing 1 ml of the stock (1%) solution and 9 ml of water. Fine filter paper discs of 1 cm diameter are placed in each of four clean petri dishes. In dish #1, 0.1 ml of the 1% solution is dropped onto each filter disc and allowed to air dry. The same is done in dish #2 except that the 0.5% solution is used. The same is done on dishes #3 and #4 except that the 0.25 and 0.1% solutions, respectively, are used. One ml of a previously prepared 1.times.10.sup.-4 dilution of a broth bacterial culture (Staphylococcus aureus) is then spread evenly over the entire surface of four agar plates. At the 12 o'clock position on each of the agar plates, a disc from dish #1 (1% solution) is placed. Discs from dishes #2, #3 and #4 are similarly placed at the 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, and 9 o'clock positions, respectively, of each of the four plates. Each disc is gently pressed to enure good contact with the agar surface. For comparison purposes, a further stock solution of zinc sulphate (1%) is made up and an identical series of tests made. Each plate is incubated overnight at 37.degree. C. and the area of inhibition--the clear area around each disc--is measured.

Results are as follows:

The results show that zinc oxyacetate has bacteriostatic qualities comparable to those of zinc sulphate. At 1% and 0.50% concentration of zinc sulphate, a visible precipitate formed under each sensitivity disc.

Bread mold is innoculated on a nutrient plate. Disc of filter paper prepared as in Example 1 show good growth inhibition for the undiluted material and the 1% solution. The less concentrated solution does not noticeably inhibit growth.

Evaluation of the compound is made using a simple neutralization of viral cytopathogenic effect (CPE) on Buffalo Green Monkey (BGM) cells using two tubes for each dilution of virus. The titer of Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is 10.sup.-4 based on 4.sup.+ (100%) CPE, while that of HSV-2 is 10.sup.-2. In order to evaluate zinc oxyacetate, the compound (or the compound in equal weight admixture with lauryl alcohol) is incubated for 1 hour with the virus prior to making ten-fold serialdilutions and innoculating the BGM tubes. The amount of virus used is 0.1 ml. The amount of test material used is 0.1 ml of a solution containing 0.1% of Tween 80 and 0.1% of the test material.

The data shows that the compound is effective in inhibiting the virus and that the compound in admixture with the lauryl alcohol carrier is substantially more effective than the compound per se in inhibiting the more virulent HSV-1 virus.

In a test similar to that of Example 2, zinc oxyacetate is tested for inhibition of four bread molds. The amount of zinc oxyacetate is 0.1 ml of a 1% solution containing 0.1% Tween 80. The amount of mold is 0.1 ml. Test results are indicated in the table.

The preferred carriers, for topical use, are petrolatum and alcohols of from 8-18 carbon atoms, preferably lauryl alcohol. An admixture of petrolatum and one or more of said alcohols may be used, preferably in a weight ratio of petrolatum to alcohol of 1:10 to 10:1. A suitable admixture is petrolatum 80% and lauryl alcohol 20%, by weight.

Magnanese oxyacetate having the structural formula Mn.sub.4 O (CH.sub.3 CO.sub.2).sub.6 is prepared as disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 304,305. In this example, the manganese compound is compared by plague assays done on HSV-1 and HSV-2 with the zinc lauryl alcohol composition of Example 3. All of the tests including those of Examples 12-17 which follow are with test substances dissolved in 2% FBS(fetal bovine serum)-MEM (Eagles Minimum Essential Medium). The solubility of the zinc containing compounds is poor and is reported as less than 1 mg/ml. The manganese compound is readily soluble and concentration is 1 mg/ml. Results are as follows:

As indicated in the results, both substances inhibited HSV-2. However, the manganese compound was less effective than the zinc composition.

The HSV-1 does not plaque as easily as the HSV-2 strain. HSV-1 has a tendency to cause cell aggregate formation rather than distinct plaques. Consequently, two different concentrations of methylcellulose are used in the overlay medium, and finally, in the last trial a liquid overlay is used in an effort to get clear, distinct plaques. There are some variations in the results but, overall, with HSV-1, the Zn substance is less effective than the maganese compound in inhibiting HSV-1. This finding could be due to the lower solubility of the Zn material in 2% FBS-MEM.

Cytopathogenic effect (CPE) trials are carried out on the manganese compound and zinc composition of Examples 5-11. As shown in the following results, these substances are not effective against the RNA viruses Echo 5 and Polio 1:

CPE trials for the Maganese compound of Examples 5-11 are conducted as in Examples 12.varies.14 on HSV-1 and HSV-2. As is shown in the results which follow, the manganese compound is effective against HSV-2 but is probably not effective against HSV-1. The HSV-2 data are interesting because of the apparent viristatic action of the Mn compound rather than the viricidal activity seen with the Zn compound. Apparently at 10.sup.-1 dilution of HSV-2, enough Mn compound is present to inhibit the virus completely and cause an increase in the size of the BGM cells. At 10.sup.-2 and 10.sup.-3, one tube in each dilution showed early inhibition of virus but later the virus manifested itself in the typical syncytial formation.

CPE trials for the manganese compound and zinc composition of Examples 5-11 are connected as in Examples 12-14 on a DNA virus, Adenovirus type 4, using KB cells (human continuous cell line). The data clearly indicates that neither the test compound nor Zn carrier are effective in inhibiting the CPE of Adenvirus type 4 on KB cells. The titer in all cases in 10.sup.-3.