Vaccinium species compositions

Abstract

This invention relates to novel compositions comprising as an active ingredient one or more berries, leaves, roots, and/or root barks obtained from one or more plant species of the genus Vaccinium , wherein said plant(s) is/are grown under the following conditions: (a). Subject to one or more uninterrupted photoperiod(s) of at least about 18 hours to 24 hours per day for about 60 days during flowering and fruit setting; and; (b). Subject to one or more uninterrupted photoperiod(s) of at least about 15 hours per day for about 30 days during fruit ripening and maturity. More particularly, said plant(s) is/are optionally grown at least 7 days past maturity. Further, the compositions of the inventive subject matter optionally may include an additional element comprising an oil from Oncorhynchus species. Further, said compositions may be employed to treat a variety of diseases, disorders, and conditions, as described herein.

1 . A method for treating or managing a disorder in an animal, which comprises administering to said animal an effective amount of a composition comprising one or more berries, obtained from one or more plant species of the genus  Vaccinium,    wherein said one or more plant species, harvested at least 7 days past peak fruit ripeness, have grown under the following conditions:
 i. subject to one or more uninterrupted photoperiods of at least about 18 hours to 24 hours per day for about 60 days during flowering and fruit setting; and 
 ii. subject to one or more uninterrupted photoperiods of at least about 15 hours per day for about 30 days during fruit ripening and maturity; 
   wherein said disorder is a urinary tract infection, tuberculosis, heart disease, diarrhea, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, or vascular dementia; wherein said composition comprises, at least in part, a metabolite produced by one or more stress-related phenylpropanoid pathways; and wherein said administering is accomplished orally, parenterally, by inhalation spray, rectally, nasally, buccally, vaginally, or via an implanted reservoir.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more plants species is selected from the group consisting of  V. alaskensis, V. axillare, V. caespitosum, V. caespitosum  var.  paludicola, V. membranaceum, V. parvifolium, V. ovalifolium, V. oxycoccus, V. shikokianum, V. uliginosum  subsp.  alpinum, V. uliginosum  var.  salicinum, V. uliginosum  subsp.  microphyllum, V. vitis - idaea  subsp.  minus , and  V. vitis - idaea  subsp.  vitis - idaea.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises leaves, roots, or root barks obtained from said one or more plant species of the genus  Vaccinium.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said composition further comprises leaves, roots, or root barks obtained from said one or more plant species. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises an oil from  Oncorhynchus  species. 
     
     
         6 . A composition comprising one or more berries, obtained from one or more plant species of the genus  Vaccinium;    wherein said one or more plants have grown under the following conditions:
 i. subject to one or more uninterrupted photoperiods of at least about 18 hours to 24 hours per day for about 60 days during flowering and fruit setting; and 
 ii. subject to one or more uninterrupted photoperiods of at least about 15 hours per day for about 30 days during fruit ripening and maturity; 
   and wherein said berries are incorporated into said composition as a dried material.   
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6 , further comprising leaves, roots, or root barks obtained from said one or more plant species of the genus  Vaccinium , and wherein said berries, leaves, roots or root barks are incorporated into said composition as a dried material. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein said one or more plants species is selected from the group consisting of  V. alaskensis, V. axillare, V. caespitosum, V. caespitosum  var.  paludicola, V. membranaceum, V. parvifolium, V. ovalifolium, V. oxycoccus, V. shikokianum, V. uliginosum  subsp.  alpinum, V. uliginosum  var.  salicinum, V. uliginosum  subsp.  microphyllum, V. vitis - idaea  subsp.  minus , and  V. vitis - idaea  subsp.  vitis - idaea    
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8 , further comprising leaves, roots, or root barks obtained from said one or more plant species, and wherein said berries, leaves, roots or root barks are incorporated into said composition as a dried material. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein said conditions additionally comprise the step of exposing said one or more plant species to one or more freeze cycles during growth and/or post-harvest. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 6 , further comprising an oil from  Oncorhynchus  species. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein said composition does not require an additional antioxidant element for effectiveness. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 6 , additionally comprising a physiologically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein said physiologically acceptable carrier is selected from the group consisting of a softgel capsule and a two-piece capsule. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 14 , wherein said physiologically acceptable carrier comprises one or more liquids selected from the group consisting of water, fruit juice, milk, and/or one or more milk derivatives. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein said composition comprises, at least in part, a metabolite produced by one or more stress-related phenylpropanoid pathways. 
     
     
         17 . A product produced by the process comprising the steps of
 (a) harvesting, after at least 7 days past peak fruit ripeness, berries from one or more plant species of the genus  Vaccinium  which have grown under the following conditions:
 (i) subject to one or more uninterrupted photoperiods of at least about 18 hours to 24 hours per day for about 60 days during flowering and fruit setting, and 
 (ii) subject to one or more uninterrupted photoperiods of at least about 15 hours per day for about 30 days during fruit ripening and maturity; and 
   (b) drying said berries.   
     
     
         18 . The product of  claim 17 , wherein said berries are dried via a refractance window drying process. 
     
     
         19 . The product of  claim 17 , further comprising an oil from  Oncorhynchus  species. 
     
     
         20 . The product of  claim 17 , wherein said process further comprises in step (a) harvesting leaves, roots, and/or root barks from said one or more plant species, and further comprises in step (b) drying said leaves, roots, and/or root barks. 
     
     
         21 . The product of  claim 20 , wherein said process further comprises the step of extracting the dried berries, leaves, roots, and/or root barks with a suitable solvent to concentrate components. 
     
     
         22 . The product of  claim 17 , wherein the harvesting step of said process additionally comprises exposing said one or more plants to one or more freeze cycles during growth and/or post-harvest. 
     
     
         23 . The product of  claim 17 , wherein said one or more plants species is selected from the group consisting of  V. alaskensis, V. axillare, V. caespitosum, V. caespitosum  var.  paludicola, V. membranaceum, V. parvifolium, V. ovalifolium, V. oxycoccus, V. shikokianum, V. uliginosum  subsp.  alpinum, V. uliginosum  var.  salicinum, V. uliginosum  subsp.  microphyllum, V. vitis - idaea  subsp.  minus , and  V. vitis - idaea  subsp.  vitis - idaea.    
     
     
         24 . A therapeutic or nutritional composition comprising berries obtained from one or more plants selected from the group consisting of  V. alaskensis, V. axillare, V. caespitosum, V. caespitosum  var.  paludicola, V. membranaceum, V. parvifolium, V. ovalifolium, V. oxycoccus, V. shikokianum, V. uliginosum  subsp.  alpinum, V. uliginosum  var.  salicinum, V. uliginosum  subsp.  microphyllum, V. vitis - idaea  subsp.  minus , and  V. vitis - idaea  subsp.  vitis - idaea , wherein said one or more plants are processed according to the following steps:
 (a) exposing said one or more plants to one or more uninterrupted photoperiods of at least about 18 hours to 24 hours per day for about 60 days during flowering and fruit setting;   (b) exposing said one or more plants to one or more uninterrupted photoperiods of at least about 15 hours per day for about 30 days during fruit ripening and maturity;   (c) harvesting berries, leaves, roots, and/or root barks from said one or more plants at least about 7 days past peak fruit ripeness; plant;   (d) drying said berries, leaves, roots, and/or root barks from said one or more plants; and   (e) formulating the dried berries, leaves, roots, and/or root barks into a therapeutic or nutritional composition having about 0.1 mg to about 100 mg per kilogram body weight of active ingredients.   
     
     
         25 . The therapeutic or nutritional composition of  claim 24 , further comprising an oil from  Oncorhynchus  species.