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 comprising anthocyanins and/or anthocyanidins wherein
 (a) about 35% of the composition, by weight, is an anthocyanin or anthocyanidin,   (b) at least 15% of the anthocyanins and/or anthocyanidins, by weight, are sugar-free or sugar-containing delphinidins,   (c) the composition is formulated as an extract obtained from  Aristotelia chilensis  plant and   (d) the composition comprises the following content of anthocyanidins:
 6.38% of delphinidin-3-O-sambuboiside-5-O-glucoside, 
 13.64% of delphinidin-3,5-O-diglucoside, 
 3.36% of cyanidin 3-O-sambubioside-5-O-glucoside, 
 1.58% of cyanidin-3,5-O-diglucoside, 
 1.67% of delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside, 
 6.95% of delphinidin-3-O-glucoside, 
 0.79% of cyanidin-3-O-sambubioside and 
 1.05% of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside. 
   
     
     
         2 . The composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising an andrographolide, preferably, wherein the andrographolide constitutes, by weight, at least 10% of the composition, or wherein the andrographolide is an andrographolide, a deoxy-andrographolide, a neoandrographolide or a mixture thereof, or wherein the andrographolide is contained within an extract of a plant of the genus  Andrographis , or wherein the ratio of anthocyanin and/or anthocyanidin to andrographolide is from 1.0:0.5 (w:w) to 1.0:2.5 (w:w). 
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein (a) the anthocyanins and/or anthocyanidins comprises myrtillin, quercetin or cyanidin, or (b) the composition further comprises a composition rich in myrtillin, quercetin and/or cyanidin, preferably, the composition rich in myrtillin, quercetin and/or cyanidin comprises at least 15% of myrtillin, quercetin and/or cyanidin. 
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is formulated for oral consumption or oral administration. 
     
     
         5 . A method of maintaining immune function in a subject, wherein the subject has no overt condition known to compromise the immune system which comprises administering a composition as claimed in  claim 1  to a patient in need thereof in an amount and for a time sufficient to maintain immune function. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the subject is a human or the subject is an animal kept as a domestic pet or as livestock. 
     
     
         7 . A method of treating a patient who has a condition in which the immune system is undesirably suppressed, which comprises administering a composition as claimed in  claim 1  to a patient in need thereof in an amount and for a time sufficient to stimulate the patient's immune system, or the condition is cancer or an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. 
     
     
         8 . A method of treating inflammation in a subject, which comprises administering a composition as claimed in  claim 1  to a patient in need thereof in an amount and for a time sufficient to reduce or improve a sign or symptom of inflammation in the subject, or the inflammation is caused by a burn or other traumatic injury, a chemical irritant or toxin, an infection, or an autoimmune disease, preferably the infection is a bacterial or viral infection. 
     
     
         9 . A method of treating metabolic syndrome in a patient, which comprises administering a composition as claimed in  claim 1  to a patient in need thereof wherein the composition is administered in an amount and for a time sufficient to reduce or improve a sign or symptom of metabolic syndrome in the patient, or the metabolic syndrome is associated with diabetes. 
     
     
         10 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising (a) a first composition comprising a carrier and (b) 100 mg to 400 mg of a second composition wherein
 (1) about 35% of the composition, by weight, is an anthocyanin or anthocyanidin,   (2) at least 15% of the anthocyanins and/or anthocyanidins, by weight, are sugar-free or sugar-containing delphinidins,   (3) the composition is formulated as an extract obtained from  Aristotelia chilensis  plant and   (4) the composition comprises the following content of anthocyanidins:
 6.38% of delphinidin-3-O-sambuboiside-5-O-glucoside, 
 13.64% of delphinidin-3,5-O-diglucoside, 
 3.36% of cyanidin 3-O-sambubioside-5-O-glucoside, 
 1.58% of cyanidin-3,5-O-diglucoside, 
 1.67% of delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside, 
 6.95% of delphinidin-3-O-glucoside, 
 0.79% of cyanidin-3-O-sambubioside and 
 1.05% of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside. 
   
     
     
         11 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 10 , further comprising a third composition comprising an andrographolide, preferably about 30-40% of the third composition is an andrographolide. 
     
     
         12 . A pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 10 , further comprising (c) a third composition comprising caffeeoylquinic acid. 
     
     
         13 . A method of making a composition of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:
 (a) providing a plant of  Aristotelia chilensis  comprising anthocyanins and/or anthocyanidins;   (b) disrupting the integrity of the plant;   (c) extracting chemicals from the disrupted plant to produce an extraction liquid;   (d) concentrating the extraction liquid to produce an extraction mixture;   (e) alkalinizing the extraction mixture;   (f) separating at least one component in the extraction mixture from other components in the extraction mixture; and   (g) collecting and drying at least one of the separated components.