JUCARA AND ACAI FRUIT-BASED DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS

1 . A dietary supplement composition, comprising freeze-dried Euterpe edulis (Jucara) fruit pulp, wherein the composition:

(a) comprises a total anthocyanin concentration greater than about 1 milligram per gram total weight;

(b) has an ORAC FL value greater than about 350 micromole TE per gram total weight; and

(c) has a residual water content less than about 3 weight percent of the total weight.

2 . A dietary supplement composition, comprising freeze-dried Jucara fruit pulp, wherein the composition:

(a) has a cyclooxygenase inhibition value greater than about 15 Aspirin® mg equivalent per gram total weight; and

(b) has a residual water content less than about 3 weight percent of the total weight.

3 . The composition of claim 1 wherein the dietary supplement composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

4 . The composition of claim 2 wherein the dietary supplement composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

5 . A method of producing a stable and palatable Jucara-based dietary supplement composition, the method comprising the steps of

(a) harvesting Jucara fruits;

(b) weighing the Jucara fruits;

(c) cleaning the Jucara fruits with water;

(d) washing the Jucara fruits with water at a temperature of about 75 degrees C. to 100 degrees C. for a period of time of about 5 seconds to 10 minutes;

(e) hulling the Jucara fruits to isolate a Jucara fruit pulp from the Jucara fruits;

(f) freezing the Jucara fruit pulp to a temperature less than about −5 degrees C.; and

(g) freeze-drying the Jucara fruit pulp under conditions to yield a granular, freeze-dried Jucara fruit pulp powder with a residual water content of less than 3 weight percent;

wherein the freeze-dried Jucara fruit pulp powder is more stable and palatable than an Jucara pulp preparation.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the cleaning step consists of cleaning the Jucara fruits with hygienic water at 0.1% (v/v).

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the washing step consists of washing the Jucara fruits in water at a temperature of about 80 degrees C. for a period of time of about 10 seconds.

8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the hulling step consists of mechanically hulling the Jucara fruits for a time period of between about 2 minutes to 5 about minutes and the hulling step is carried out using about 1 liter of water per 2 kg of Jucara fruits.

9 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the Jucara-based dietary supplement composition has an ORAC FL value of greater than about 350 micromole TE per gram total weight.

10 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the Jucara-based dietary supplement composition has a cyclooxygenase inhibition value greater than about 15 Aspirin® mg equivalent per gram total weight.

11 . A method of preventing or treating a disease or an injury induced by pathological free radical reactions in a mammal, the method comprising administering to the mammal an effective amount of the Jucara-based dietary supplement composition comprising:

(a) a total anthocyanin concentration greater than about 1 milligram per gram total weight;

(b) an ORAC FL value greater than about 350 micromole TE per gram total weight; and

(c) a residual water content less than about 3 weight percent of the total weight, wherein the composition quenches free radicals and reduces the damage induced by pathological free radicals; or an effective amount of the Jucara-based dietary supplement composition comprising:

(a) a cyclooxygenase inhibition value greater than about 15 Aspirin® mg equivalent per gram total weight; and

(b) a residual water content less than about 3 weight percent of the total weight;

wherein the composition quenches free radicals and reduces the damage induced by pathological free radicals.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the disease or injury is selected from the group consisting of: cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, vascular disease, arthritis, ulcer, acute respiratory distress syndrome, ischemia-reperfusion injury, neurodegenerative disorders, autism, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, gastrointestinal disease, tissue injury induced by inflammation, and tissue injury induced by an environmental toxin.

13 . A method for alleviating the deleterious effects of pathological free radical reactions in a mammal afflicted with a disease or an injury induced by pathological free radical reactions in a mammal, the method comprising administering to the mammal an effective amount of the Jucara-based dietary supplement composition comprising:

(a) a total anthocyanin concentration greater than about 1 milligram per gram total weight;

(b) an ORAC FL value greater than about 350 micromole TE per gram total weight; and

(c) a residual water content less than about 3 weight percent of the total weight, wherein the composition quenches free radicals and reduces the damage induced by pathological free radicals; or an effective amount of the Jucara-based dietary supplement composition comprising:

(a) a cyclooxygenase inhibition value greater than about 15 Aspirin® mg equivalent per gram total weight; and

(b) a residual water content less than about 3 weight percent of the total weight;

wherein the composition quenches free radicals and reduces the damage induced by pathological free radicals.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the disease or injury is selected from the group consisting of: cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, vascular disease, arthritis, ulcer, acute respiratory distress syndrome, ischemia-reperfusion injury, neurodegenerative disorders, autism, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, gastrointestinal disease, tissue injury induced by inflammation, and tissue injury induced by an environmental toxin.