Cocoa Extracts

Abstract

Disclosed and claimed are cocoa extracts such as polyphenols or procyanidins, methods for preparing such extracts, as well as uses for them, especially as antineoplastic agents and antioxidants. Disclosed and claimed are antineoplastic compositions containing cocoa polyphenols or procyanidins and methods for treating patients employing the compositions. Additionally disclosed and claimed is a kit for treating a patient in need of treatment with an antineoplastic agent containing cocoa polyphenols or procyanidins as well as a lyophilized antineoplastic composition containing cocoa polyphenols or procyanidins. Further, disclosed and claimed is the use of the invention in antioxidant, preservative and topiosomerase-inhibiting compositions and methods.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A cocoa extract consisting essentially of cocoa flavanols and cocoa procyanidin dimers through undecamers. 
     
     
         28 . The extract of  claim 27 , wherein the cocoa flavanols are (−)-epicatechin and (+)-catechin. 
     
     
         29 . The extract of  claim 27 , wherein the cocoa procyanidin dimers are procyanidins B-2, B-5, and A-2. 
     
     
         30 . The extract of  claim 27 , wherein the cocoa procyanidin trimer is procyanidin C-1. 
     
     
         31 . The extract of  claim 27 , wherein the flavanols are (−)-epicatechin and (+)-catechin; wherein the cocoa procyanidin dimers are procyanidins B-2, B-5, and A-2; and wherein the cocoa procyanidin trimer is procyanidin C-1. 
     
     
         32 . The extract of  claim 27 , which is prepared from unfermented cocoa beans of the  Theobroma cacao  genotype. 
     
     
         33 . The extract of  claim 32 , wherein the horticultural race is selected from the group consisting of Trinitario, Forastero, and Criollo. 
     
     
         34 . The extract of  claim 33 , wherein the Trinitario cocoa beans are from Malaysia or Brazil. 
     
     
         35 . The extract of  claim 33 , wherein the Forastero cocoa beans are from Malaysia or Brazil. 
     
     
         36 . The extract of  claim 33 , wherein the Criollo cocoa beans are from Malaysia or Brazil. 
     
     
         37 . The extract of  claim 27 , which is partially purified by gel permeation chromatography to separate xanthine alkaloids. 
     
     
         38 . The extract of  claim 27 , which is partially purified by semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). 
     
     
         39 . The extract of  claim 37 , which is partially purified by semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). 
     
     
         40 . The extract of  claim 38 , wherein the semi-preparative HPLC is reverse phase HPLC. 
     
     
         41 . The extract of  claim 38 , wherein the semi-preparative HPLC is normal phase HPLC.