Bioactive compositions from theacea plants and processes for their production and use

Abstract

The present invention relates to isolated bioactive compositions containing bioactive fractions derived from Theacea plants. The present invention also relates to bioactive topical formulations containing the bioactive compositions. The present invention further relates to methods of using the bioactive compositions of the present invention, including, for example, methods for inhibiting inflammatory activity in skin tissue of a mammal, for protecting skin tissue of a mammal from ultraviolet light-induced damage, and for normalizing skin disorders in skin tissue of a mammal. The present invention also relates to methods for isolating bioactive fractions derived from cell juice or a cell walls component a Theacea plant.

1 . A bioactive composition comprising:
 an isolated bioactive fraction derived from a  Theacea  plant, wherein said bioactive fraction is selected from the group consisting of a cell walls fraction, a cell walls fraction extract, a membrane fraction, a membrane fraction extract, a cytoplasm fraction, a cytoplasm fraction extract, a cell juice serum, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The bioactive composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said bioactive fraction is a cell walls fraction. 
     
     
         3 . The bioactive composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said bioactive fraction is a cell walls fraction extract. 
     
     
         4 . The bioactive composition according to  claim 3 , wherein said cell walls fraction extract has a total catechin content of between about 2.1 and about 4.5 milligrams per gram of dry matter. 
     
     
         5 . The bioactive composition according to  claim 3 , wherein said cell walls fraction extract has a catechin content profile comprising:
 between about 2.0 and about 3.0 milligrams of (+)-catechin per gram of dry matter of the cell walls fraction extract,   between about 0.005 and about 0.02 milligrams of (−)-epicatechin per gram of dry matter of the cell walls fraction extract,   between about 0.005 and about 0.02 milligrams of (−)-epigallocatechin gallate per gram of dry matter of the cell walls fraction extract, and   between about 0.003 and about 0.01 milligrams of (−)-epicatechin gallate per gram of dry matter of the cell walls fraction extract.   
     
     
         6 . The bioactive composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said bioactive fraction is a membrane fraction. 
     
     
         7 . The bioactive composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said bioactive fraction is a membrane fraction extract. 
     
     
         8 . The bioactive composition according to  claim 7 , wherein said membrane fraction extract has a total catechin content of between about 15.0 and about 30.5 milligrams per gram of dry matter. 
     
     
         9 . The bioactive composition according to  claim 7 , wherein said membrane fraction extract has a catechin content profile comprising:
 between about 1.7 and about 3.3 milligrams of (−)-epigallocatechin per gram of dry matter of the membrane fraction extract,   between about 6.1 and about 10.2 milligrams of (+)-catechin per gram of dry matter of the membrane fraction extract,   between about 0.3 and about 1.1 milligrams of (−)-epicatechin per gram of dry matter of the membrane fraction extract,   between about 6.2 and about 12.5 milligrams of (−)-epigallocatechin gallate per gram of dry matter of the membrane fraction extract,   between about 0.007 and about 0.03 milligrams of (−)-gallocatechin gallate per gram of dry matter of the membrane fraction extract, and   between about 1.3 and about 3.3 milligrams of (−)-epicatechin gallate per gram of dry matter of the membrane fraction extract.   
     
     
         10 . The bioactive composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said bioactive fraction is a cytoplasm fraction. 
     
     
         11 . The bioactive composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said bioactive fraction is a cytoplasm fraction extract. 
     
     
         12 . The bioactive composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said bioactive fraction is a cell juice serum. 
     
     
         13 . The bioactive composition according to  claim 12 , wherein said cell juice serum has a total catechin content of between about 8.0 and about 20.0 milligrams per gram of dry matter. 
     
     
         14 . The bioactive composition according to  claim 12 , wherein said cell juice serum has a catechin content profile comprising:
 between about 2.1 and about 4.4 milligrams of (−)-epigallocatechin per gram of dry matter of the cell juice serum,   between about 4.2 and about 8.6 milligrams of (+)-catechin per gram of dry matter of the cell juice serum,   between about 0.2 and about 2.0 milligrams of (−)-epicatechin per gram of dry matter of the cell juice serum,   between about 1.2 and about 3.2 milligrams of (−)-epigallocatechin gallate per gram of dry matter of the cell juice serum,   between about 0.01 and about 0.1 milligrams of (−)-gallocatechin gallate per gram of dry matter of the cell juice serum, and   between about 0.2 and about 1.3 milligrams of (−)-epicatechin gallate per gram of dry matter of the cell juice serum.   
     
     
         15 . The bioactive composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said  Theacea  plant is a  Camellia  plant or a  Eurya  plant. 
     
     
         16 . The bioactive composition according to  claim 15 , wherein said  Camellia  plant is selected from the group consisting of  Camellia sinensis, Camellia japonica, Camellia reticulate , and  Camellia sasanqua.    
     
     
         17 . The bioactive composition according to  claim 15 , wherein said  Eurya  plant is  Eurya sandwicensis.    
     
     
         18 . The bioactive composition according to  claim 1  further comprising a stabilizing agent. 
     
     
         19 . The bioactive composition according to  claim 18 , wherein said stabilizing agent is selected from the group consisting of an emulsifier, a preservative, an antioxidant, a polymer matrix, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         20 . A bioactive topical formulation suitable for topical application to a mammal, said bioactive topical formulation comprising:
 a topically effective amount of the bioactive composition according to  claim 1  and   a topically acceptable carrier.   
     
     
         21 . The bioactive topical formulation according to  claim 20 , wherein the topically acceptable carrier is selected from the group consisting of a hydrophilic cream base, a hydrophilic lotion base, a hydrophilic surfactant base, a hydrophilic gel base, a hydrophilic solution base, a hydrophobic cream base, a hydrophobic lotion base, a hydrophobic surfactant base, a hydrophobic gel base, and a hydrophobic solution base. 
     
     
         22 . The bioactive topical formulation according to  claim 20 , wherein the bioactive composition is present in an amount ranging from between about 0.001 percent and about 90 percent of the total weight of the bioactive topical formulation. 
     
     
         23 - 58 . (canceled) 
     
     
         59 . A beverage comprising at least one bioactive composition according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         60 . The beverage according to  claim 59 , wherein said beverage comprises the at least one bioactive composition dispersed in a liquid. 
     
     
         61 . The beverage according to  claim 60 , wherein said liquid is selected from the group consisting of water, green tea, oolong tea, black tea, white tea, flavored tea, soft drink, coffee, milk, shake, alcoholic drink, non-alcoholic drink, sports drink, fruit juice, vegetable juice, artificially sweetened juice, sparkling water, punch, cider, and nutritional supplement drink. 
     
     
         62 . The beverage according to  claim 59 , wherein said  Theacea  plant is a  Camellia  plant or a  Eurya  plant. 
     
     
         63 . The beverage according to  claim 62 , wherein said  Camellia  plant is selected from the group consisting of  Camellia sinensis, Camellia japonica, Camellia reticulate , and  Camellia sasanqua , and wherein said  Eurya  plant is  Eurya  sandwicensis. 
     
     
         64 . A therapeutic beverage comprising at least one bioactive composition according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         65 . The therapeutic beverage according to  claim 64 , wherein said beverage comprises the at least one bioactive composition dispersed in a liquid. 
     
     
         66 . The therapeutic beverage according to  claim 65 , wherein said liquid is selected from the group consisting of water, green tea, oolong tea, black tea, white tea, flavored tea, soft drink, coffee, milk, shake, alcoholic drink, non-alcoholic drink, sports drink, fruit juice, vegetable juice, artificially sweetened juice, sparkling water, punch, cider, and nutritional supplement drink. 
     
     
         67 . The therapeutic beverage according to  claim 64 , wherein said  Theacea  plant is a  Camellia  plant or a  Eurya  plant. 
     
     
         68 . The therapeutic beverage according to  claim 67 , wherein said  Camellia  plant is selected from the group consisting of  Camellia sinensis, Camellia japonica, Camellia reticulate , and  Camellia sasanqua , and wherein said  Eurya  plant is  Eurya sandwicensis.    
     
     
         69 . A nutriceutical product comprising at least one bioactive composition according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         70 . The nutriceutical product according to  claim 69 , wherein said  Theacea  plant is a  Camellia  plant or a  Eurya  plant. 
     
     
         71 . The nutriceutical product according to  claim 70 , wherein said  Camellia  plant is selected from the group consisting of  Camellia sinensis, Camellia japonica, Camellia reticulate , and  Camellia sasanqua , and wherein said  Eurya  plant is  Eurya sandwicensis.    
     
     
         72 . A functional food product comprising at least one bioactive composition according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         73 . The functional food product according to  claim 72 , wherein said  Theacea  plant is a  Camellia  plant or a  Eurya  plant. 
     
     
         74 . The functional food product according to  claim 73 , wherein said  Camellia  plant is selected from the group consisting of  Camellia sinensis, Camellia japonica, Camellia reticulate , and  Camellia sasanqua , and wherein said  Eurya  plant is  Eurya sandwicensis.    
     
     
         75 . A device for dispersing at least one bioactive composition from a  Theacea  plant into a liquid in order to prepare a beverage, said device comprising:
 a filtering pouch or bag comprising a semi-permeable membrane; and   at least one bioactive composition according to  claim 1  contained in the filtering pouch or bag.   
     
     
         76 . The device according to  claim 75 , wherein said liquid is selected from the group consisting of water, green tea, oolong tea, black tea, white tea, flavored tea, soft drink, coffee, milk, shake, alcoholic drink, non-alcoholic drink, sports drink, fruit juice, vegetable juice, artificially sweetened juice, sparkling water, punch, cider, and nutritional supplement drink. 
     
     
         77 . The device according to  claim 75 , wherein said beverage is a therapeutic beverage. 
     
     
         78 . The device according to  claim 75 , wherein said  Theacea  plant is a  Camellia  plant or a  Eurya  plant. 
     
     
         79 . The device according to  claim 78 , wherein said  Camellia  plant is selected from the group consisting of  Camellia sinensis, Camellia japonica, Camellia reticulate , and  Camellia sasanqua , and wherein said  Eurya  plant is  Eurya sandwicensis.    
     
     
         80 . A method of preparing a beverage, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a device according to  claim 75 ;   contacting the device with a liquid under conditions effective to disperse the at least one bioactive composition of the device into the liquid, thereby yielding a beverage comprising the at least one bioactive composition.   
     
     
         81 . The method according to  claim 80 , wherein said device is contacted with the liquid under conditions effective to cause the low molecular weight and reduced, non-oxidized components of the at least one bioactive composition to disperse in the liquid. 
     
     
         82 . The method according to  claim 80 , wherein said liquid is selected from the group consisting of water, green tea, oolong tea, black tea, white tea, flavored tea, soft drink, coffee, milk, shake, alcoholic drink, non-alcoholic drink, sports drink, fruit juice, vegetable juice, artificially sweetened juice, sparkling water, punch, cider, and nutritional supplement drink. 
     
     
         83 . The method according to  claim 80 , wherein said beverage is a therapeutic beverage. 
     
     
         84 . The method according to  claim 80 , wherein said  Theacea  plant is a  Camellia  plant or a  Eurya  plant. 
     
     
         85 . The method according to  claim 84 , wherein said  Camellia  plant is selected from the group consisting of  Camellia sinensis, Camellia japonica, Camellia reticulate , and  Camellia sasanqua , and wherein said  Eurya  plant is  Eurya sandwicensis.    
     
     
         86 . A formulation for systemic or topical administration of at least one bioactive composition from a  Theacea  plant, said formulation comprising:
 a solution, suspension, dispersion, paste, or dried powder comprising at least one bioactive composition according to  claim 1 .   
     
     
         87 . The formulation according to  claim 86 , wherein said  Theacea  plant is a  Camellia  plant or a  Eurya  plant. 
     
     
         88 . The formulation according to  claim 87 , wherein said  Camellia  plant is selected from the group consisting of  Camellia sinensis, Camellia japonica, Camellia reticulate , and  Camellia sasanqua , and wherein said  Eurya  plant is  Eurya sandwicensis.