Claims
- 1. A method of increasing the chemoprotective amount of at least one Phase II enzyme in a mammal, the method comprising administering an effective quantity of an extract comprising a betalain.
- 2. A method of claim 1, wherein the Phase II enzyme that is increased comprises quinone reductase.
- 3. A method of claim 1, wherein the betalain is administered as an extract of the betalain.
- 4. A method of claim 3, wherein the betalain is administered as an aqueous extract of the betalain.
- 5. A method of claim 3, wherein the betalain is administered as an aqueous ethanol extract of the betalain.
- 6. A method of claim 1, wherein the betalain is administered as a fraction that has been isolated by chromatography.
- 7. A method of extracting a betalain from a source of the betalain, the method comprising:
(a) freeze-drying the source containing the betalain; (b) grinding the freeze-dried source; and (c) extracting the betalain from the ground source with a solvent.
- 8. A method of claim 7, wherein the betalain is extracted with a water-containing solvent.
- 9. A method of claim 8, wherein the betalain is extracted with water.
- 10. A method of claim 9, wherein the betalain is extracted with water at about 100° C.
- 11. A method of claim 8, wherein the betalain is extracted with aqueous ethanol.
- 12. A method of claim 11, wherein the betalain is extracted with aqueous ethanol at 5% water and 95% ethanol (volume/volume).
- 13. A method of claim 7, wherein the betalain is extracted from a plant.
- 14. A method of claim 8, wherein the betalain is extracted from a fungus.
- 15. A method of claim 7, further comprising isolating the betalain extract into components.
- 16. A method of claim 15, wherein chromatography is used to isolate the betalain components.
- 17. A nutritional supplement comprising at least 0.3% of a betalain.
- 18. A nutritional supplement of claim 17, wherein the nutritional supplement comprises at least about 0.4% of the betalain.
- 19. A nutritional supplement of claim 18, wherein the nutritional supplement comprises at least about 0.8% of the betalain.
- 20. A nutritional supplement comprising a betalain prepared in accordance with claim 7.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/300,509, filed Jun. 22, 2001, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.
REFERENCE TO GOVERNMENT GRANT
[0002] This invention was made with United States government support awarded by the USDA, Grant No. 97-36200-5189. The United States has certain rights in this invention.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60300509 |
Jun 2001 |
US |