Botanical Antioxidants

Abstract

A botanical extract that exhibits antioxidant activity, wherein the botanical extract is at least an extract from the leaf of a plant from the genus Vaccinium.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A composition comprising:
 a botanical extract of the leaf of  Vaccinium macrocarpon,      wherein the botanical extract is present in the composition in an amount of about 40.0 μg/mL to about 150.0 μg/mL,   wherein the botanical extract is free of anthocyanins, and   wherein the botanical extract has a flavonoid content of at least about twenty times greater than that of an extract of the fruit of  Vaccinum macrocarpon,      wherein the composition inhibits oxidation-induced DNA damage in a subject.   
     
     
         2 . The composition according to  claim 1  further comprising a carrier. 
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition inhibits γ-H2AX activity. 
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is a dietary supplement. 
     
     
         5 . The composition according to  claim 2 , wherein the dietary supplement is in solid dosage form.