Inhibiting or inactivating the virulence of a live pathogen

Abstract

Methods of and compositions for producing and using plant-based materials are provided. The methods include using biopolymers or their synthetic equivalents combined with a stable source of reactive oxygen species that when applied to or combined with a separate source of oxido-reducing enzyme or catalyst will cause the formation of an activated biopolymer with increased protein binding affinity and microbial control activities.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of inhibiting or inactivating the virulence of a live pathogen, comprising contacting the pathogen with an aqueous composition comprising combination of a water soluble polyphenol and hydrogen peroxide, wherein the inhibiting or inactivating occurs without killing the live pathogen. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method includes ceasing the propagation of the live pathogen. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting includes treating a digestive system of a subject for intestinal pathogens. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pathogen is a bacteria. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises  camellia sinensis.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises  punica granatum  rind. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a combination of  camellia sinensis  leaf and  punica granatum  rind. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein composition has the polyphenol at a concentration ranging from 3.9 ug/ml to 500 ug/ml. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein composition is administered orally to a subject in an amount ranging from 20 ug to 250 ug. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting includes treating a digestive system of a subject for diarrhea. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting includes treating an infected tissue. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting includes accelerating wound healing. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising creating an aqueous formulation of the composition from a dry, stable form of the composition. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the dry, stable form of the compositions includes a dry source of hydrogen peroxide selected from the group consisting of sodium percarbonate, potassium percarbonate, a carbamide peroxide, and urea peroxide.