Compositions

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of a fruit extract and optionally other specific nutrients for preventing, reducing or minimising exercise-induced systemic inflammation and/or for promoting recovery from intense exercise. The invention also relates to compositions comprising such fruit extracts.

1 . A water-soluble extract of fruit of the Solanaceae family with activity for inhibiting platelet aggregation for use in treating, reducing, minimising or preventing exercise-induced systemic inflammation in a subject. 
     
     
         2 . The water-soluble fruit extract for use according to  claim 1  wherein recovery from exercise is improved in a subject. 
     
     
         3 . The water-soluble fruit extract for use according to  claim 1  comprising an active fraction of a tomato extract, the fraction containing a substantially heat stable colourless water soluble compound or compounds that have activity for preventing platelet aggregation and having a molecular weight of less than 1000 daltons. 
     
     
         4 . The water-soluble tomato extract for use according to  claim 1  that:
 (a) is substantially heat stable; 
 (b) is colourless or straw-coloured; 
 (c) is water soluble; 
 (d) comprises components having a molecular weight of less than 1000 daltons; and 
 (e) contains one or more compounds which inhibit platelet aggregation selected from:
 (i) glycosylated phenolic acid or a phenolic ester, or derivatives thereof; 
 (ii) a glycosylated flavonoid; and 
 (iii) a nucleoside. 
 
 
     
     
         5 . The water-soluble fruit extract for use according to  claim 4  comprising each of: a glycosylated phenolic acid or a phenolic ester, or derivatives thereof; a glycosylated flavonoid; and a nucleoside. 
     
     
         6 . The water-soluble fruit extract for use according to  claim 1 , comprising a glycosylated phenolic acid or a phenolic ester which is a glycosylated cinnamic acid or derivative thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The water-soluble fruit extract for use according to  claim 6  wherein the glycosylated cinnamic acid or derivative thereof is selected from the group consisting of Caffeoyl-4-O-quinic acid, Caffeoyl-4-O-glucoside, Coumaroyl-4-O-glycoside (glue/gal) and Coumaroyl-4-O-glycoside (disaccharide). 
     
     
         8 . The water-soluble fruit extract for use according to  claim 1  comprising one or more glycosylated phenolic acids or a phenolic esters selected from: Caffeic acid glucoside; p-Coumaric acid hexose/dihydrokaempferol hexose; Ferulic acid glycoside; and a p-Coumaric acid derivative. 
     
     
         9 . The water-soluble fruit extract for use according to  claim 1 , comprising a glycosylated flavonoid selected from Quercetin-3-O-glucoside and/or Rutin. 
     
     
         10 . The water-soluble fruit extract for use according to  claim 1 , comprising one or more nucleosides selected from the group consisting of AMP, Uridine, Adenosine, Guanosine and GMP. 
     
     
         11 . The water-soluble fruit extract for use according to  claim 1  for promoting recovery from exercise conducted at an intensity corresponding to greater than approximately 60% VO 2 max. 
     
     
         12 . A water-soluble extract of fruit of the Solanaceae family as defined in  claim 3  for use in promoting recovery from exercise in a subject. 
     
     
         13 . A composition comprising:
 (a) a water-soluble extract of fruit of the Solanaceae family with activity for inhibiting platelet aggregation, wherein the extract comprises:
 (i) components having a molecular weight of less than 1000; and 
 (ii) one or more of a nucleoside; a glycosylated phenolic acid or a phenolic ester, or derivative thereof; or a glycosylated flavonoid with platelet aggregation inhibiting activity; and 
   (b) a source of dietary nitrate or a precursor of endogenous nitric oxide.   
     
     
         14 . The composition according to  claim 13  wherein the extract (a):
 (i) comprises an active fraction of a tomato extract, the fraction containing a substantially heat stable colourless water soluble compound or compounds that have activity for preventing platelet aggregation and having a molecular weight of less than 1000 daltons; 
 (ii) is substantially heat stable; is colourless or straw-coloured; is water soluble; comprises components having a molecular weight of less than 1000 daltons; and contains one or more compounds which inhibit platelet aggregation selected from: (x) glycosylated phenolic acid or a phenolic ester, or derivatives thereof; (y) a glycosylated flavonoid; and (z) a nucleoside; 
 (iii) comprises each of: a glycosylated phenolic acid or a phenolic ester, or derivatives thereof; a glycosylated flavonoid; and a nucleoside; 
 (iv) comprises a glycosylated phenolic acid or a phenolic ester which is a glycosylated cinnamic acid or derivative thereof, and optionally, wherein the glycosylated cinnamic acid or derivative thereof is selected from the group consisting of Caffeoyl-4-O-quinic acid, Caffeoyl-4-O-glucoside, Coumaroyl-4-O-glycoside (glue/gal) and Coumaroyl-4-O-glycoside (disaccharide); 
 (v) comprises one or more glycosylated phenolic acids or a phenolic esters selected from: Caffeic acid glucoside; p-Coumaric acid hexose/dihydrokaempferol hexose; Ferulic acid glycoside; and a p-Coumaric acid derivative; 
 (vi) comprises a glycosylated flavonoid selected from Quercetin-3-O-glucoside and/or Rutin; 
 (vii) comprises one or more nucleosides selected from the group consisting of AMP, Uridine, Adenosine, Guanosine and GMP; and/or 
 (vii) is adapted to promote recovery from exercise conducted at an intensity corresponding to greater than approximately 60% VO 2 max. 
 
     
     
         15 . The composition according to  claim 13  wherein the source of dietary nitrate (b) is selected from a water-soluble extract from swiss chard, rocket, spinach, rhubarb, strawberry and lettuce. 
     
     
         16 . The composition according to  claim 13  wherein the precursor of endogenous nitric oxide is citrulline, glutamine or arginine 
     
     
         17 . The composition according to  claim 13  comprising Folic acid or a metabolite thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The composition according to  claim 17  comprising a metabolite of folic acid which is 5-methoxytetahydrofolate or tetrahydrofolate. 
     
     
         19 . A composition according to  claim 13  in the form of a nutraceutical product, drink, food substance or food supplement. 
     
     
         20 . A composition according to  claim 13  formulated as a gel, powder, food bar or dispersable tablet. 
     
     
         21 . A dosage form comprising the composition or extract as defined by  claim 13  comprising between 25 mg and 250 mg of nitrate. 
     
     
         22 . The dosage form according to  claim 21  comprising between 10 μg and 500 μg of folic acid. 
     
     
         23 . The water soluble extract for use according to  claim 1  in the form of a nutraceutical product, drink, food substance or food supplement. 
     
     
         24 . The water soluble extract for use according to  claim 1  formulated as a gel, powder, food bar or dispersable tablet. 
     
     
         25 . A method of treating, reducing, minimising or preventing exercise-induced systemic inflammation in a subject in need thereof, comprising
 providing a composition comprising a water-soluble extract of fruit of the Solanaceae family with activity for inhibiting platelet aggregation; and   administering the composition to the subject to treat, reduce, minimise or prevent the exercise-induced systemic inflammation.