Echinacea supplement and method of manufacture

Abstract

In one aspect, the present invention provides Echinacea compositions including standardized amounts of at least two Echinacea components. More preferably the Echinacea compositions of the present invention include standardized amounts of at least three Echinacea components. Presently preferred Echinacea components are cichoric acid, Echinacea alkylamides and Echinacea polysaccharides. In another aspect, the present invention provides methods for preparing Echinacea compositions, the methods including the step of combining amounts of at least two Echinacea components, preferably three Echinacea components, sufficient to yield an Echinacea composition including standardized amounts of each of the combined Echinacea components. In yet another aspect, the present invention provides Echinacea extracts, and methods for preparing Echinacea extracts. Presently preferred Echinacea extracts are enriched in one or more members of the group consisting of polysaccharides, alkylamides and cichoric acid. In yet another aspect, the present invention provides methods for enhancing immune system activity in a mammal.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . An Echinacea composition comprising standardized amounts of a first Echinacea component and a second Echinacea component.  
     
     
         2 . The Echinacea composition of  claim 1  wherein each of said first and said second Echinacea components are independently selected from the group consisting of essential oils, alkamides, alkylamides, cichoric acid, polysaccharides, polyalkynes and polyalkenes.  
     
     
         3 . The Echinacea composition of  claim 2  wherein each of said first and said second Echinacea components are independently selected from the group consisting of alkylamides, cichoric acid and polysaccharides.  
     
     
         4 . The Echinacea composition of  claim 3  wherein said standardized amount of cichoric acid is from about 0.2 mg/ml to about 500 mg/ml, said standardized amount of Echinacea alkylamides is from about 0.02 mg/ml to about 50 mg/ml and said standardized amount of Echinacea polysaccharides is from about 10 mg/ml to about 800 mg/ml.  
     
     
         5 . The Echinacea composition of  claim 4  wherein said standardized amount of cichoric acid is from about 0.3 mg/ml to about 30 mg/ml, said standardized amount of Echinacea alkylamides is from about 0.05 mg/ml to about 50 mg/ml and said standardized amount of Echinacea polysaccharides is from about 20 mg/ml to about 800 mg/ml.  
     
     
         6 . The Echinacea composition of  claim 5  wherein said standardized amount of cichoric acid is from about 5.0 mg/ml to about 30 mg/ml, said standardized amount of Echinacea alkylamides is from about 0.8 mg/ml to about 50 mg/ml and said standardized amount of Echinacea polysaccharides is from about 50 mg/ml to about 800 mg/ml.  
     
     
         7 . The Echinacea composition of  claim 3  wherein said standardized amount of cichoric acid is from about 0.01 mg/g to about 500 mg/g, said standardized amount of Echinacea alkylamides is from about 0.005 mg/g to about 100 mg/g and said standardized amount of Echinacea polysaccharides is from about 5 mg/g to about 900 mg/g.  
     
     
         8 . The Echinacea composition of  claim 7  wherein said standardized amount of cichoric acid is from about 0.05 mg/g to about 500 mg/g, said standardized amount of Echinacea alkylamides is from about 0.1 mg/g to about 100 mg/g and said standardized amount of Echinacea polysaccharides is from about 10 mg/g to about 900 mg/g.  
     
     
         9 . The Echinacea composition of  claim 8  wherein said standardized amount of cichoric acid is from about 15 mg/g to about 500 mg/g, said standardized amount of Echinacea alkylamides is from about 5 mg/g to about 100 mg/g and said standardized amount of Echinacea polysaccharides is from about 200 mg/g to about 900 mg/g.  
     
     
         10 . An Echinacea composition comprising standardized amounts of cichoric acid, Echinacea alkylamides and Echinacea polysaccharides.  
     
     
         11 . The Echinacea composition of  claim 10  wherein said standardized amount of cichoric acid is from about 0.2 mg/ml to about 500 mg/ml, said standardized amount of Echinacea alkylamides is from about 0.02 mg/ml to about 50 mg/ml and said standardized amount of Echinacea polysaccharides is from about 10 mg/ml to about 800 mg/ml.  
     
     
         12 . The Echinacea composition of  claim 11  wherein said standardized amount of cichoric acid is from about 0.3 mg/ml to about 30 mg/ml, said standardized amount of Echinacea alkylamides is from about 0.05 mg/ml to about 50 mg/ml and said standardized amount of Echinacea polysaccharides is from about 20 mg/ml to about 800 mg/ml.  
     
     
         13 . The Echinacea composition of  claim 12  wherein said standardized amount of cichoric acid is from about 5.0 mg/ml to about 30 mg/ml, said standardized amount of Echinacea alkylamides is from about 0.8 mg/ml to about 50 mg/ml and said standardized amount of Echinacea polysaccharides is from about 50 mg/ml to about 800 mg/ml.  
     
     
         14 . The Echinacea composition of  claim 10  wherein said standardized amount of cichoric acid is from about 0.01 mg/g to about 500 mg/g, said standardized amount of Echinacea alkylamides is from about 0.005 mg/g to about 100 mg/g and said standardized amount of Echinacea polysaccharides is from about 5 mg/g to about 900 mg/g.  
     
     
         15 . The Echinacea composition of  claim 10  wherein said standardized amount of cichoric acid is from about 0.05 mg/g to about 500 mg/g, said standardized amount of Echinacea alkylamides is from about 0.1 mg/g to about 100 mg/g and said standardized amount of Echinacea polysaccharides is from about 10 mg/g to about 900 mg/g.  
     
     
         16 . The Echinacea composition of  claim 10  wherein said standardized amount of cichoric acid is from about 15 mg/g to about 500 mg/g, said standardized amount of Echinacea alkylamides is from about 5 mg/g to about 100 mg/g and said standardized amount of Echinacea polysaccharides is from about 200 mg/g to about 900 mg/g.  
     
     
         17 . The Echinacea composition of  claim 1  wherein said composition is in a form selected from the group consisting of a solid, a gel and a liquid.  
     
     
         18 . A method for preparing an Echinacea composition comprising combining an amount of a first Echinacea component and an amount of a second Echinacea component sufficient to yield an Echinacea composition including a standardized amount of said first Echinacea component and a standardized amount of said second Echinacea component.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said first Echinacea component and said second Echinacea component are each independently selected from the group consisting of cichoric acid, Echinacea alkylamides and Echinacea polysaccharides.  
     
     
         20 . A method for preparing an Echinacea extract comprising: 
 selecting an Echinacea plant at a developmental stage having an enhanced amount of a Echinacea component;    excising a portion of the selected plant that is enriched in the desired Echinacea component; and    contacting the excised plant portion with an amount of a solvent, selected from the group consisting of ethanol and water, effective to extract the desired Echinacea component from the plant portion.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising the step of concentrating the extracted Echinacea component.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said excised plant portion is contacted with solvent in a ratio by weight of no more than about two parts plant material to about one part solvent.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said excised plant portion is contacted with solvent in a ratio by weight of about one part plant material to about four parts solvent.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said Echinacea component is Echinacea polysaccharide.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein: 
 said selected Echinacea plant is from about one to about four years old;  
 said portion of the selected plant that is enriched in polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of flowers, leaves, stems and roots;  
 said excised plant material is contacted with a mixture of ethanol and water comprising an amount of ethanol that is from about 0.1% (w/w) to about 50% (w/w);  
 said excised plant material is contacted with said solvent for a period of from about 48 hours to about 14 days at a temperature of from about 20° C. to about 80° C.; and  
 said extract is concentrated to a polysaccharide concentration of from about 1 mg/ml to about 900 mg/ml.  
 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the excised plant material is contacted with a mixture of ethanol and water comprising an amount of ethanol that is from about 5% (w/w) to about 20% (w/w).  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said excised plant material is contacted with said solvent for a period of from about three days to about 12 days.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein said excised plant material is contacted with said solvent for a period of from about four days to about eight days.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said excised plant material is contacted with said solvent at a temperature of from about 30° C. to about 70° C.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said excised plant material is contacted with said solvent at a temperature of from about 30° C. to about 50° C.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said extract is concentrated to a polysaccharide concentration of from about 60 mg/mL to about 900 mg/mL.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said extract is concentrated to a polysaccharide concentration of from about 100 mg/mL to about 900 mg/mL.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said Echinacea component is a alkylamide.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein: 
 said selected Echinacea plant is from about two to about four years old;  
 said portion of the selected plant that is enriched in alkylamide is selected from the group consisting of flowers and roots;  
 said excised plant material is contacted with a mixture of ethanol and water comprising an amount of ethanol that is from about 50% (w/w) to about 95% (w/w);  
 said excised plant material being contacted with said solvent for a period of from about 24 hours to about 7 days at a temperature of from about 4° C. to about 85° C.; and  
 said extract being concentrated to an alkylamide concentration of from about 0.1 mg/mL to about 300 mg/mL.  
 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the excised plant material is contacted with a mixture of ethanol and water comprising an amount of ethanol that is from about 65% (w/w) to about 85% (w/w).  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the excised plant material is contacted with a mixture of ethanol and water comprising an amount of ethanol that is from about 70% (w/w) to about 80% (w/w).  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34  wherein said excised plant material is contacted with said solvent for a period of from about one day to about four days.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34  wherein said excised plant material is contacted with said solvent for a period of from about two days to about three days.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 34  wherein said excised plant material is contacted with said solvent at a temperature of from about 30° C. to about 70° C.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 34  wherein said excised plant material is contacted with said solvent at a temperature of from about 40° C. to about 60° C.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 34  wherein said extract is concentrated to an alkylamide concentration of from about 1 mg/mL to about 300 mg/mL.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 34  wherein said extract is concentrated to an alkylamide concentration of from about 20 mg/mL to about 300 mg/mL.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said Echinacea extract is a cichoric acid extract.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43  wherein: 
 said selected Echinacea plant is from about one to about three years old;  
 said portion of the selected plant that is enriched in cichoric acid is selected from the group consisting of whole, young Echinacea plants, leaves and immature flowers;  
 said excised plant material is contacted with a mixture of ethanol and water comprising an amount of ethanol that is from about 40% (w/w) to about 95% (w/w);  
 said excised plant material is contacted with said solvent for a period of from about 24 hours to about 3 days at a temperature of from about 4° C. to about 45° C.; and  
 said extract is concentrated to a cichoric acid concentration of from about 1 mg/mL to about 700 mg/mL.  
 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the excised plant material is contacted with a mixture of ethanol and water comprising an amount of ethanol that is from about 60% (w/w) to about 95% (w/w).  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the excised plant material is contacted with a mixture of ethanol and water comprising an amount of ethanol that is from about 75% (w/w) to about 95% (w/w).  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44  wherein said excised plant material is contacted with said solvent for a period of from about 24 hours to about 40 hours.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44  wherein said excised plant material is contacted with said solvent for a period of from about 24 hours to about 36 hours.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44  wherein said excised plant material is contacted with said solvent at a temperature of from about 4° C. to about 30° C.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 44  wherein said extract is concentrated to a cichoric acid concentration of from about 5 mg/mL to about 700 mg/mL.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 44  wherein said extract is concentrated to acichoric acid concentration of from about 30 mg/mL to about 700 mg/mL.  
     
     
         52 . An Echinacea cichoric acid extract comprising cichoric acid at a concentration of greater than about 0.005% (w/w).  
     
     
         53 . An Echinacea cichoric acid extract of  claim 52  comprising cichoric acid at a concentration of greater than about 0.05% (w/w).  
     
     
         54 . An Echinacea cichoric acid extract of  claim 52  comprising cichoric acid at a concentration of greater than about 1.5% (w/w).  
     
     
         55 . An Echinacea polysaccharide extract comprising polysaccharide at a concentration of greater than about 0.01% (w/w).  
     
     
         56 . An Echinacea polysaccharide extract of  claim 55  comprising polysaccharide at a concentration of greater than about 0.05% (w/w).  
     
     
         57 . An Echinacea polysaccharide extract of  claim 55  comprising polysaccharide at a concentration of greater than about 20.0% (w/w).  
     
     
         58 . An Echinacea alkylamides extract comprising alkylamides at a concentration of greater than about 0.001% (w/w).  
     
     
         59 . An Echinacea alkylamides extract of  claim 58  comprising alkylamides at a concentration of greater than about 0.01% (w/w).  
     
     
         60 . An Echinacea alkylamides extract of  claim 58  comprising alkylamides at a concentration of greater than about 0.5% (w/w).  
     
     
         61 . An Echinacea cichoric acid extract comprising cichoric acid at a concentration of greater than about 0.25% (w/v).  
     
     
         62 . An Echinacea cichoric acid extract of  claim 61  comprising cichoric acid at a concentration of greater than about 0.5% (w/v).  
     
     
         63 . An Echinacea cichoric acid extract of  claim 61  comprising cichoric acid at a concentration of greater than about 3.0% (w/v).  
     
     
         64 . An Echinacea polysaccharide extract comprising polysaccharide at a concentration of greater than about 1.0% (w/v).  
     
     
         65 . An Echinacea polysaccharide extract of  claim 64  comprising polysaccharide at a concentration of greater than about 5.0% (w/v).  
     
     
         66 . An Echinacea polysaccharide extract of  claim 64  comprising polysaccharide at a concentration of greater than about 10.0% (w/v).  
     
     
         67 . An Echinacea alkylamides extract comprising alkylamides at a concentration of greater than about 0.1% (w/v).  
     
     
         68 . An Echinacea alkylamides extract of  claim 67  comprising alkylamides at a concentration of greater than about 1.0% (w/v).  
     
     
         69 . An Echinacea alkylamides extract of  claim 67  comprising alkylamides at a concentration of greater than about 3.0% (w/v).  
     
     
         70 . An Echinacea cichoric acid extract prepared according to the method of  claim 44 .  
     
     
         71 . An Echinacea polysaccharide extract prepared according to the method of  claim 25 .  
     
     
         72 . An Echinacea alkylamides extract prepared according to the method of  claim 34 .  
     
     
         73 . A method for enhancing immune system activity in a mammal comprising administering to said mammal an effective daily dosage of an Echinacea composition comprising standardized amounts of Echinacea cichoric acid, Echinacea alkylamides and Echinacea polysaccharides.  
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 73  wherein said standardized amount of Echinacea cichoric acid is from 5 μg/Kg body weight to 2000 μg/Kg body weight, said standardized amount of Echinacea alkylamides is from 0.5 μg/Kg body weight to 200 μg/Kg body weight, and said standardized amount of Echinacea polysaccharides is from 125 μg/Kg body weight to 50 mg/Kg body weight.  
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 74  wherein said standardized amount of Echinacea cichoric acid is from 120 μg/Kg body weight to 1000 μg/Kg body weight, said standardized amount of Echinacea alkylamides is from 12 μg/Kg body weight to 100 μg/Kg body weight, and said standardized amount of Echinacea polysaccharides is from 3 mg/Kg body weight to 30 mg/Kg body weight.  
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 75  wherein said standardized amount of Echinacea cichoric acid is 800 μg/Kg body weight, said standardized amount of Echinacea alkylamides is 80 μg/Kg body weight, and said standardized amount of Echinacea polysaccharides is 20 mg/Kg body weight.  
     
     
         77 . The method of any one of claims  73 ,  74 ,  75  or  76  wherein said method enhances macrophage phagocytic activity.  
     
     
         78 . The method of, any one of claims  73 ,  74 ,  75  or  76  wherein said method enhances nitric oxide production by macrophages.  
     
     
         79 . The method of any one of claims  73 ,  74 ,  75  or  76  wherein said method enhances TNF-α production by macrophages.  
     
     
         80 . The method of any one of claims  73 ,  74 ,  75  or  76  wherein said method enhances IFN-γ production by splenocytes.  
     
     
         81 . The method of any one of claims  73 ,  74 ,  75  or  76  wherein said method enhances TNF-α production by splenocytes.  
     
     
         82 . A method for enhancing immune system activity in a mammal comprising administering to said mammal an effective daily dosage of an Echinacea extract selected from the group consisting of Echinacea alkylamides and Echinacea polysaccharides.  
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 82  comprising administering to said mammal an effective daily dosage of Echinacea alkylamides, wherein said dosage is from 0.5 μg/Kg body weight to 200 μ/Kg body weight.  
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 82  comprising administering to said mammal an effective daily dosage of Echinacea alkylamides, wherein said dosage is from 12 μg/Kg body weight to 100 μg/Kg body weight.  
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 82  comprising administering to said mammal an effective daily dosage of Echinacea alkylamides, wherein said dosage is 80 μg/Kg body weight.  
     
     
         86 . The method of any one of claims  82 ,  83 ,  84  or  85  wherein said method enhances macrophage phagocytic activity.  
     
     
         87 . The method of any one of claims  82 ,  83 ,  84  or  85  wherein said method enhances nitric oxide production by macrophages.  
     
     
         88 . The method of any one of claims  82 ,  83 ,  84  or  85  wherein said method enhances TNF-α production by macrophages.  
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 82  comprising administering to said mammal an effective daily dosage of Echinacea polysaccharides, wherein said dosage is from 125 μg/Kg body weight to 50 mg/Kg body weight.  
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 82  comprising administering to said mammal an effective daily dosage of Echinacea polysaccharides, wherein said dosage is from 3 mg/Kg body weight to 30 mg/Kg body weight.  
     
     
         91 . The method of any one of claims  89  and  90  wherein said method enhances TNF-α production by macrophages.