Efficient method for producing compositions enriched in total phenols

Abstract

A product made by a process which results in compositions enriched in total phenols includes purification steps not involving the addition of bisulfite ions. The enriched compositions are characterized as containing monomeric, oligomeric and polymeric phenols, total phenol concentration >12% and exhibiting in vitro COX-2 inhibitory activity enhanced by a factor of at least 2.5 over a standard aspirin dose of 660 μg/mL.

1 . A product produced by a method of producing a composition enriched in total phenols prepared without the addition of bisulfite ions comprising the steps of: 
 extracting phenols without the addition of bisulfite ions, from fruits and berries selected from the group consisting of blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, cranberries, red currants, black currants, raspberries, and cherries, to produce a phenol-containing extract; and    purifying said phenol-containing extract to obtain a composition having an enriched total phenol concentration greater than 12% and in vitro COX-2 inhibitory activity enhanced by a factor of at least 2.5 over a standard aspirin dose of 660 μg/mL.    
     
     
         2 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the composition has an enriched total phenol concentration greater than 25%.  
     
     
         3 . A product produced by a method of producing a composition enriched in total phenols prepared from plant material comprising the steps of: 
 extracting phenols from the group consisting of blueberries and cranberries, without the addition of bisulfite ions, to produce a phenol-containing extract; and    purifying said phenol-containing extract to obtain a composition having an enriched total phenol concentration >12% and exhibiting in vitro COX-2 inhibitory activity enhanced by a factor of at least 2.5 over a standard aspirin dose of 660 μg/mL.    
     
     
         4 . The product of  claim 3 , wherein the enriched total phenol concentration is greater than 25%.  
     
     
         5 . A product produced by a method of producing a composition enriched in total phenols prepared without the addition of bisulfite ions comprising the steps of; 
 extracting phenols from the group consisting of blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, cranberries, raspberries, plums, red currants, black currants and cherries, without the addition of bisulfite ions, to produce a phenol-containing extract; and    purifying said phenol-containing extract to obtain a composition having an enriched total phenol concentration greater than 12.5% and exhibiting in vitro antiviral activity against a virus which is more potent than an ED 50  value of 100 μg/ML.    
     
     
         6 . The product of  claim 5 , wherein the enriched total phenol concentration is greater than 25%.