Compositions That Include Anthocyanidins and Methods of Use

Abstract

The compositions described herein and featured in the present invention include those that comprise anthocyanidin combinations rich in delphinidins, including delphinidins such as the ones found in berries. The compositions can optionally include either compositions that comprise andrographolides, such as the ones found in a plant of the genus Andrographis , or compositions that comprise combinations of myrtillin, quercetin, or caffeoyl quinic derivatives and proanthocyanidins, such as the ones found in the herba of a plant of the genus Vaccinium.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A composition of matter comprising at least 5% by weight based on the total weight of the composition, of delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside-5-O-glucoside. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of matter according to  claim 1  comprising at least about 10% by weight based on the total weight of the composition, of delphinidin-3,5-O-diglucoside. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of matter according to  claim 2  comprising at least about 35% by weight based on the total weight of the composition, of delphinidin-3,5-O-diglucoside. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of matter according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least 3% by weight based on the total weight of the composition, of delphinidin-3,5-O-diglucoside. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of matter according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least 1% by weight by weight based on the total weight of the composition, of cyanidin-3,5-O-diglucoside. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of matter according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least 1% by weight based on the total weight of the composition, of delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of matter according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least 5% by weight based on the total weight of the composition of delphinidin-3-O-glucoside. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of matter according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least 0.5% by weight based on the total weight of the composition of cyanidin-3-O-sambubioside. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of matter according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least 1% by weight based on the total weight of the composition of cyaniding-3-O-glucoside. 
     
     
         10 . A composition of matter comprising at least 35% by weight of anthocyanidin selected from the group consisting of: delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside-5-O-glucoside, delphinidin-3,5-O-diglucoside, cyaniding-3-O-samb-5-O-glucoside, cyanidin-3,5-O-diglucoside, delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside, delphinidin-3-O-glucoside, cyanidin-3-O-sambubioside, cyaniding-3-O-glucoside and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A finished human oral dosage form selected from the group consisting of: capsule, tablet and conventional food comprising the composition of matter according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . The finished human oral dosage form of  claim 11 , said dosage form providing the claimed compound in a dosage adequate to increase in a human the level of a native compound selected from the group consisting of: interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma. 
     
     
         13 . A method of treatment for maintaining immune function in a human, comprising: administering to a human the finished dosage form of  claim 11 , said dosage form providing the composition of matter according to  claim 1  in an amount effective for maintaining immune function in a human. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising diagnosing in said human a condition in which the immune system is undesirably suppressed, wherein said amount effective for maintaining immune function in said human is an amount effective to treat immune system suppression in said human. 
     
     
         15 . The method of treatment according to  claim 14 , wherein the condition in which the immune system is undesirably suppressed comprises a condition selected from the group consisting of: cancer, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and infection. 
     
     
         16 . A method of treatment for reducing or alleviating inflammation in a human, comprising: diagnosing in a human inflammation, and administering to said human the composition of matter of  claim 1  in an amount effective to reduce or alleviate inflammation in said human. 
     
     
         17 . A method for treating a human diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, obesity, diabetes or hyperglycemia, comprising: diagnosing in a human a condition selected from the group consisting of: metabolic syndrome, obesity, diabetes and hyperglycemia; and administering to said human the composition of matter of  claim 1  in an amount effective to treat said condition in said human. 
     
     
         18 . The method of treatment according to  claim 17 , wherein said condition comprises hyperglycemia. 
     
     
         19 . A method comprising: (a) diagnosing in a human a condition characterized by depressed levels of a native compound selected from the group consisting of: interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma; and (b) administering to said human the compound of  claim 1  in an amount sufficient to increase the level of said native compound. 
     
     
         20 . A method comprising: administering to a human the compound of  claim 1  in an amount sufficient to increase the detectable level in said human of a native compound selected from the group consisting of: interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said native compound consists essentially of interleukin-2. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said native compound consists essentially of interferon-gamma. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising the antecedent step of diagnosing in said human a condition selected from the group consisting of: melanoma, renal cell cancer, viral infection, chronic granulomatous disease, osteopetrosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, Freidrich's ataxia and atopic dermatitis. 
     
     
         24 . A composition of matter comprising a first compound selected from the group consisting of: anthocyanin and anthocyanidin, and a second compound selected from the group consisting of: andrographolide and caffeeoylquinic acid. 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 24 , wherein the second compound comprises andrographolide. 
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 24 , wherein the second compound comprises caffeeoylquinic acid. 
     
     
         27 . A method comprising administering to a human the composition of  claim 1  in an amount and for a duration effective to reduce the blood sugar level in the human. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising the antecedent step of diagnosing in the human a condition selected from the group consisting of: diabetes and pre-diabetes. 
     
     
         29 . An oral dosage form comprising at least one active agent selected from the group consisting of: delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside-5-O-glucoside, delphinidin-3,5-O-diglucoside, cyaniding-3-O-samb-5-O-glucoside, cyanidin-3,5-O-diglucoside, delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside, delphinidin-3-O-glucoside, cyanidin-3-O-sambubioside, cyaniding-3-O-glucoside. 
     
     
         30 . The oral dosage form of  claim 29 , wherein the active agent consists essentially of at least one active agent selected from the group consisting of: delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside-5-O-glucoside, delphinidin-3,5-O-diglucoside, cyaniding-3-O-samb-5-O-glucoside, cyanidin-3,5-O-diglucoside, delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside, delphinidin-3-O-glucoside, cyanidin-3-O-sambubioside, cyaniding-3-O-glucoside. 
     
     
         31 . The oral dosage form of  claim 30 , wherein the active agent consists essentially of one active agent selected from the group consisting of: delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside-5-O-glucoside, delphinidin-3,5-O-diglucoside, cyaniding-3-O-samb-5-O-glucoside, cyanidin-3,5-O-diglucoside, delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside, delphinidin-3-O-glucoside, cyanidin-3-O-sambubioside, cyaniding-3-O-glucoside. 
     
     
         32 . The oral dosage form of  claim 29 , wherein said active agent comprises at least about 5% of the total weight of the oral dosage form.