Compositions enriched in phenolic compounds and methods for producing the same

Abstract

Provided are processes for the preparation of compositions enriched in phenolic compounds from a crude plant extract. One process includes a novel column purification step using a polymer resin that releasably adsorbs the phenolic compounds but does not retain polar non-phenolic compounds, wherein the resin comprises aromatic rings substituted with one or more electron-withdrawing groups. This invention also includes compositions enriched in phenolic compounds. This invention encompasses methods of using the phenolic-enriched compositions for treating warm-blooded animals, including humans, infected with paramyxovaridae such as respiratory syncytial virus, orthomyoxovaridae such as influenza A, B, and C, parainfluenza, Herpes viruses such as HSV-1 and HSV-2, and Flaviviruses such as West Nile Virus, and for treating inflammation such as caused by arthritis, stress and digestive disease. The compositions are also useful as meat additives to inhibit food-borne pathogens.

1 . A method for treating symptoms in a mammal caused by an infecting organism or agent comprising administering an effective amount of a composition enriched in phenolic compounds preparing according to a method comprising:
 a) providing a crude extract of one or more plant materials that contain phenolic compounds, said extract comprising proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins, and polar non-phenolic compounds;   b) filtering said crude extract;   c) contacting said filtered extract with a substituted polymer resin consisting essentially of aromatic rings substituted with one or more electron-withdrawing groups and operative to releasably absorb said phenols but not retain said polar non-phenolic compounds;   d) washing said resin with a wash eluent to elute said polar non-phenolic compounds;   e) eluting the resin with a first eluent and collecting a first fraction containing phenolic compounds;   f) eluting the resin with a second eluent and collecting a second fraction containing phenolic compounds; and   g) isolating the fraction from step e) or step f) or combining said fractions from steps e) and f) to obtain a composition enriched in phenolic compounds, wherein said composition has decreased levels of said polar non-phenolic compounds as compared to levels of polar non-phenolic compounds in the crude extract.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said organism is a virus selected from the group consisting of influenza virus type A, influenza virus type B, rhinovirus type 2, Herpes simplex virus 1, Herpes simplex virus 2, parainfluenza virus, West Nile virus, Varicella-zoster virus, Rhinovirus Type 2, Adenovirus Type I, and Punta Toro A virus. 
     
     
         3 . A method for treating symptoms in a mammal caused by a nonviral microbial infection comprising administering a composition enriched in phenolic compounds preparing according to a method comprising:
 a) providing a crude extract of one or more plant materials that contain phenolic compounds, said extract comprising proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins, and polar non-phenolic compounds;   b) filtering said crude extract;   c) contacting said filtered extract with a substituted polymer resin consisting essentially of aromatic rings substituted with one or more electron-withdrawing groups and operative to releasably absorb said phenols but not retain said polar non-phenolic compounds;   d) washing said resin with a wash eluent to elute said polar non-phenolic compounds;   e) eluting the resin with a first eluent and collecting a first fraction containing phenolic compounds;   f) eluting the resin with a second eluent and collecting a second fraction containing phenolic compounds; and   g) isolating the fraction from step e) or step f) or combining said fractions from steps e) and f) to obtain a composition enriched in phenolic compounds, wherein said composition has decreased levels of said polar non-phenolic compounds as compared to levels of polar non-phenolic compounds in the crude extract.   
     
     
         4 . A method suppressing the growth of pathogens in meat products, comprising adding to said meat product in an amount effective to suppress growth of said pathogens, a composition enriched in phenolic compounds preparing according to a method comprising:
 a) providing a crude extract of one or more plant materials that contain phenolic compounds, said extract comprising proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins, and polar non-phenolic compounds;   b) filtering said crude extract;   c) contacting said filtered extract with a substituted polymer resin consisting essentially of aromatic rings substituted with one or more electron-withdrawing groups and operative to releasably absorb said phenols but not retain said polar non-phenolic compounds;   d) washing said resin with a wash eluent to elute said polar non-phenolic compounds;   e) eluting the resin with a first eluent and collecting a first fraction containing phenolic compounds;   f) eluting the resin with a second eluent and collecting a second fraction containing phenolic compounds; and   g) isolating the fraction from step e) or step f) or combining said fractions from steps e) and f) to obtain a composition enriched in phenolic compounds, wherein said composition has decreased levels of said polar non-phenolic compounds as compared to levels of polar non-phenolic compounds in the crude extract.