Antioxidant-enriched fruit extracts and uses thereof in the treatment and prevention of diabetes and obesity

Abstract

A method of treating or preventing diabetes or obesity that comprises administering an antioxidant-enriched composition produced by fermenting fruit extracts with the bacteria Serratia vaccinii . The antioxidant-enriched composition is capable of decreasing plasma glucose levels, increasing circulating adiponectin levels and decreasing hyperphagia in a subject.

1 .- 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A method of treating obesity in a subject comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an antioxidant-enriched composition comprising a berry extract that has been fermented with a culture of an isolated bacterial strain having all the identifying characteristics of the bacterium  Serratia vaccinii  deposited under International Depository Authority of Canada (IDAC) Accession Number 160103, wherein said antioxidant-enriched composition has anti-obesity activity. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the obesity is diabetes-related obesity. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the anti-obesity activity comprises improving glucose tolerance in the subject. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the anti-obesity activity comprises decreasing plasma glucose levels in the subject. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the anti-obesity activity comprises suppressing the appetite of the subject. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the anti-obesity activity comprises decreasing hyperphagia in the subject. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the anti-obesity activity comprises decreasing body weight in the subject. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the anti-obesity activity comprises decreasing body fat in the subject. 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the anti-obesity activity comprises decreasing abdominal fat in the subject. 
     
     
         42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein said berry extract is derived from berries of the genus  Vaccinium.    
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the berry extract is a blueberry extract. 
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the bacterial strain is the bacterium  Serratia vaccinii  deposited under Accession Number 160101 
     
     
         46 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the berry extract is fermented by a process comprising:
 (a) providing a sterile medium comprising the berry extract;   (b) inoculating said sterile medium with the bacterial strain to provide a bacterial culture;   (c) fermenting said bacterial culture to provide a fermented berry extract, and   (d) recovering said fermented berry extract.   
     
     
         47 . The method according to  claim 46 , wherein said bacterial culture is fermented at a temperature between about 8° C. and about 36° C. 
     
     
         48 . The method according to  claim 46 , wherein said bacterial culture is fermented under aerobic conditions. 
     
     
         49 . A method of preventing the development of obesity in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a prophylactically effective amount of an antioxidant-enriched composition comprising a berry extract that has been fermented with a culture of a bacterial strain having all the identifying characteristics of the bacterium  Serratia vaccinii  deposited under International Depository Authority of Canada (IDAC) Accession Number 160103, wherein said antioxidant-enriched composition has anti-obesity activity. 
     
     
         50 . The method according to  claim 49 , wherein the obesity is diabetes-related obesity. 
     
     
         51 . The method according to  claim 49 , wherein the anti-obesity activity comprises improving glucose tolerance in the subject. 
     
     
         52 . The method according to  claim 49 , wherein the anti-obesity activity comprises decreasing plasma glucose levels in the subject. 
     
     
         53 . The method according to  claim 49 , wherein the anti-obesity activity comprises decreasing hyperphagia in the subject. 
     
     
         54 . The method according to  claim 49 , wherein the anti-obesity activity comprises decreasing body weight in the subject. 
     
     
         55 . The method according to  claim 49 , wherein the anti-obesity activity comprises decreasing body fat in the subject. 
     
     
         56 . The method according to  claim 49 , wherein the anti-obesity activity comprises decreasing abdominal fat in the subject. 
     
     
         57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . The method according to  claim 49 , wherein said berry extract is derived from berries of the genus  Vaccinium.    
     
     
         59 . The method according to  claim 49 , wherein the berry extract is a blueberry extract. 
     
     
         60 . The method according to  claim 49 , wherein the bacterial strain is the bacterium  Serratia vaccinii  deposited under Accession Number 160103. 
     
     
         61 . The method according to  claim 49 , wherein the berry extract is fermented by a process comprising:
 (a) providing a sterile medium comprising the berry extract;   (b) inoculating said sterile medium with the bacterial strain to provide a bacterial culture;   (c) fermenting said bacterial culture to provide a fermented berry extract, and   (d) recovering said fermented berry extract.   
     
     
         62 . The method according to  claim 61 , wherein said bacterial culture is fermented at a temperature between about 8° C. and about 36° C. 
     
     
         63 . The method according to  claim 61 , wherein said bacterial culture is fermented under aerobic conditions. 
     
     
         64 .- 65 . (canceled)