Vaccinium species compositions with novel beneficial properties

• US 20050175720A1
• Filed: 04/03/2003
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Denali Biotechnologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Maureen A. Mckenzie
• Inventors: McKenzie, Maureen A
• Granted Patent: US 8,591,964 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/732
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/105 Plant extracts, their artificial duplicates or their derivatives
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2300/00 Mixtures or combinations of active ingredients, wherein at least one active ingredient is fully defined in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 35/60 Fish, e.g. seahorses; Fish eggs
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 36/45 Ericaceae or Vacciniaceae (Heath or Blueberry family), e.g. blueberry, cranberry or bilberry

Abstract

This invention relates to novel compositions comprising as an active ingredient one or more berries, leaves, roots, and/or root barks obtained from one or more plant species of the genus Vaccinium, wherein said plant(s) is/are grown under the following conditions: a. Subject to one or more uninterrupted photoperiod(s) of at least about 18 hours to 24 hours per day for about 60 days during flowering and fruit setting; and; b. Subject to one or more uninterrupted photoperiod(s) of at least about 15 hours per day for about 30 days during fruit ripening and maturity. More particularly, said plant(s) is/are optionally grown at least 7 days past maturity. Further, the compositions of the inventive subject matter optionally may include an additional element comprising an oil from Oncorhynchus species. Further, said compositions may be employed to treat a variety of diseases, disorders, and conditions, as described herein.

Claims

1. A composition comprising:

i. one or more berries, leaves, roots, and/or root barks obtained from one or more plant species of the genus Vaccinium, wherein said plant(s) is/are grown under the following conditions;

(a) Subject to one or more uninterrupted photoperiod(s) of at least about 18 hours to 24 hours per day for about 60 days during flowering and fruit setting; and

(b) Subject to one or more uninterrupted photoperiod(s) of at least about 15 hours per day for about 30 days during fruit ripening and maturity.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein said plant(s) is/are grown at least about 7 days past peak fruit ripeness.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein said growing conditions comprise growth of said plant(s) at a latitude greater than 55 degrees north or south of the equator of the Earth.

4. The composition of claim 3, wherein said growing conditions comprise growth of said plant(s) at a latitude greater than 66 degrees north or south of the equator of the Earth.

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein said conditions additionally comprise the step of exposing said plant(s) to one or more freeze cycle(s) during growth and/or post-harvest.

6. The composition of claim 1, comprising the additional step of drying said berries, leaves, roots, and/or root barks.

7. The composition of claim 6, wherein said drying step is a refractance window drying process.

8. The composition of claim 6, wherein said dried berries, leaves, roots, and/or root barks do not require an additional processing or extraction step.

9. The composition of claim 1, wherein said one or more plant species of the genus Vaccinium are selected from the group consisting of V. alaskensis, V. axillare, V. caespitosum, V. caespitosum var. paludicola, V. membranaceum, V. parvifolium, V. ovalifolium, V. oxycoccus, V. shikokianum, V. uliginosum subsp. alpinum, V. uliginosum var. salicinum, V. uliginosum subsp. microphyllum, V. vitis-idaea subsp. minus, V. vitis-idaea subsp. vitis-idaea.

10. The composition of claim 1, wherein said composition comprises berries of said plant(s).

11. The composition of claim 1, wherein said composition does not require an additional antioxidant element for effectiveness.

12. The composition of claim 1, further comprising an oil from Oncorhynchus species.

13. The composition of claim 1, additionally comprising a physiologically acceptable carrier.

14. The composition of claim 13, wherein said physiologically acceptable carrier is selected from the group consisting of a softgel capsule and a two-piece capsule.

15. The composition of claim 13, wherein said physiologically acceptable carrier comprises one or more liquid(s) selected from the group consisting of water, fruit juice, milk, and/or one or more milk derivative(s).

16. A method for treating a disorder in an animal, which comprises administering to said animal an effective amount of a composition comprising one or more berries, leaves, roots, and/or root barks obtained from one or more plant species of the genus Vaccinium,

wherein said plant(s) is/are grown under the following conditions:

i. Subject to one or more uninterrupted photoperiod(s) of at least about 18 hours to 24 hours per day for about 60 days during flowering and fruit setting; and

ii. Subject to one or more uninterrupted photoperiod(s) of at least about 15 hours per day for about 30 days during fruit ripening and maturity;

and wherein said disorder is selected from the group consisting of diabetes mellitus, inflammatory disorders, ulcers, viral diseases or disorders, microbial diseases or disorders, interstitial fluid formation, capillary resistance and permeability, decreased platelet aggregation, eyestrain, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, cancer, obesity, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease;

for improving visual function by promoting dark adaptation, enhancing the activity of metabolic enzymes in the retina, improving retinal regeneration, improving visual acuity, night vision, and contrast sensitivity; and

for promoting wound-healing, normal formation of connective tissue, and strengthening of capillaries.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said plant(s) is/are grown at least about 7 days past peak fruit ripeness.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said conditions comprise growth of said plant(s) at a latitude greater than 55 degrees north or south of the equator of the Earth.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said conditions comprise growth of said plant(s) at a latitude greater than 66 degrees north or south of the equator of the Earth.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said conditions additionally comprise the step of exposing said plant(s) to one or more freeze cycle(s) during growth and/or post-harvest.

21. The method of claim 16, comprising the additional step of drying said berries, leaves, roots, and/or root barks.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said drying step is a refractance window drying process.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said dried berries, leaves, roots, and/or root barks do not require an additional processing or extraction step.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein said one or more plant species of the genus Vaccinium are selected from the group consisting of V. alaskensis, V. axillare, V. caespitosum, V. caespitosum var. paludicola, V. membranaceum, V. parvifolium, V. ovalifolium, V. oxycoccus V. shikokianum, V. uliginosum subsp. alpinum, V. uliginosum var. salicinum, V. uliginosum subsp. microphyllum, V. vitis-idaea subsp. minus, V. vitis-idaea subsp. vitis-idaea.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein said composition comprises berries of said plant(s).

26. The method of claim 16, wherein said composition additionally comprises an oil from Oncorhynchus species.

27. A product produced by the process of:

i. Growing a plant of a species of the genus Vaccinium under the following conditions;

(a) Subject to one or more uninterrupted photoperiod(s) of at least about 18 hours to 24 hours per day for about 60 days during flowering and fruit setting,

(b) Subject to one or more uninterrupted photoperiod(s) of at least about 15 hours per day for about 30 days during fruit ripening and maturity, and

(c) Grown at least about 7 days past peak fruit ripeness;

ii. Harvesting berries, leaves, roots, and/or root barks from said plant; and

iii. Drying said berries, leaves, roots, and/or root barks from said plant.

28. The product produced by the process of claim 27, wherein the growing step and/or the harvesting step of said process additionally comprises exposing said plant(s) to one or more freeze cycle(s) during growth and/or post-harvest.

29. The product produced by the process of claim 27, wherein the harvesting and drying steps are limited to the berries of said plant(s).

30. A composition comprising berries obtained from one or more plant species of the genus Vaccinium, wherein said plant(s) is/are processed according to the following steps:

(a) Exposed to one or more uninterrupted photoperiod(s) of at least about 18 hours to 24 hours per day for about 60 days during flowering and fruit setting;

(b) Exposed to one or more uninterrupted photoperiod(s) of at least about 15 hours per day for about 30 days during fruit ripening and maturity;

(c) Grown at least about 7 days past peak fruit ripeness;

(d) Dried; and

(e) Formulated into a therapeutic or nutritional composition having about 0.1 mg to about 100 mg per kilogram body weight of active ingredients.