Jucara and Açai fruit-based compositions
The present invention relates to stable, palatable, freeze-dried, fruit-based compositions. Specifically, the inventions relates to compositions of Açai fruit and Jucara fruit with high antioxidant capability and cyclooxygenase-inhibitory activity, and their uses. The invention further provides for methods of making stable, palatable, freeze-dried, fruit-based compositions from Açai fruit and Jucara fruit.
1. A composition comprise freeze-dried Euterpe oleracea (Açai) fruit pulp powder, the composition comprising:
(a) freeze-dried Euterpe oleracea (Açai) fruit pulp powder having a total anthocyanin concentration greater than about 1 milligram per gram total weight;
(b) freeze-dried Euterpe oleracea (Açai) fruit pulp powder having an ORAC FL value greater than about 350 micromole TE per gram total weight; and
(c) freeze-dried Euterpe oleracea (Açai) fruit pulp powder having a residual water content less than about 3 weight percent of the total weight;
whereby the freeze-dried Açai fruit pulp powder is prepared by hulling the Açai fruits to isolate Açai fruit pulp from the Açai fruits, freezing the Açai fruit pulp to a temperature less than about 0 degrees C.; and freeze-drying the Açai fruit pulp under conditions to yield a freeze-dried Açai fruit pulp powder.
2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises freeze-dried Jucara powder.
3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the anthocyanin concentration of the composition is from about 1 milligram per gram to about 100 milligrams per gram total weight of the composition.
4. The composition of claim 2 , wherein the anthocyanin concentration of the composition is from about 1 milligram per gram to about 100 milligrams per gram total weight of the composition.
5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
6. A composition comprising freeze-dried Açai fruit pulp, the composition comprising:
(a) freeze-dried Açai fruit pulp having a cyclooxygenase inhibition value greater than about 15 Aspirin® mg equivalent per gram total weight; and
(b) freeze-dried Euterpe oleracea (Açai) fruit pulp having a total anthocyanin concentration greater than about 1 milligram per gram total weight;
(c) freeze-dried Euterpe oleracea (Açai) fruit pulp having an ORAC FL value greater than about 350 micromole TE per gram total weight; and
whereby the freeze-dried Açai fruit pulp is prepared by hulling the Açai fruits to isolate Açai fruit pulp from the Açai fruits, freezing the Açai fruit pulp to a temperature less than 0 degrees C. and freeze-drying the Açai fruit pulp.
7. The composition of claim 6 , wherein the composition further comprises freeze-dried Jucara fruit.
8. The composition of claim 6 , wherein the anthocyanin concentration of the composition is from about 1 milligram per gram to about 100 milligrams per gram total weight of the composition.
9. The composition of claim 7 , wherein the anthocyanin concentration of the composition is from about 1 milligram per gram to about 100 milligrams per gram total weight of the composition.
10. The composition of claim 6 , wherein the composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
11. A method of 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 a composition comprising freeze-dried Euterpe oleracea (Açai) fruit pulp powder comprising a total anthocyanin concentration greater than about 1 milligram per gram total weight, an ORAC FL value greater than about 350 micromole TE per gram total weight.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the freeze-dried Açai fruit pulp powder is prepared by hulling the Açai fruits to isolate Açai fruit pulp from the Açai fruits, freezing the Açai fruit pulp to a temperature less than about 0 degrees C.;
and freeze-drying the Açai fruit pulp under conditions to yield a freeze-dried Açai fruit pulp powder, wherein the composition quenches free radicals and reduces the damage induced by pathological free radicals.
13. 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.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the composition further comprises freeze-dried Jucara fruit.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the anthocyanin concentration of the composition is from about 1 milligram per gram to about 100 milligram per gram total weight of the composition.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the anthocyanin concentration of the composition is from about 1 milligram per gram to about 100 milligrams per gram total weight of the composition.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the composition contains a residual water content less than about 3 weight percent of the total weight of the composition.