Abstract: Foods and pharmaceuticals which contain cocoa and/or nut procyanidin(s) in combination with L-arginine are effective to induce a physiological increase in nitric oxide production in a mammal having ingested the product. A preferred food product is a confection, particularly a dark or milk chocolate containing nuts. The procyanidins may be natural or synthetic and may be provided by food ingredients such as chocolate liquor and/or cocoa solids prepared from underfermented beans and nut skins. The L-arginine may be natural or synthetic and may be provided by food ingredients such as nut meats, nut pastes, and/or nut flours, seeds, seed pastes, and/or seed flours, or gelatin. The beneficial health effects may include, for example, reduced blood pressure, resistance to cardiovascular disease, and anticancer activity.

Abstract: Foods and pharmaceuticals which contain cocoa and/or nut procyanidin(s) in combination with L-arginine are effective to induce a physiological increase in nitric oxide production in a mammal having ingested the product. A preferred food product is a confection, particularly a dark or milk chocolate containing nuts. The procyanidins may be natural or synthetic and may be provided by food ingredients such as chocolate liquor and/or cocoa solids prepared from underfermented beans and nut skins. The L-arginine may be natural or synthetic and may be provided by food ingredients such as nut meats, nut pastes, and/or nut flours, seeds, seed pastes, and/or seed flours, or gelatin. The beneficial health effects may include, for example, reduced blood pressure, resistance to cardiovascular disease, and anticancer activity.

Abstract: Cocoa components having enhanced levels of cocoa polyphenols, processes for producing the cocoa components while conserving a significant amount of the cocoa polyphenols, compositions containing the cocoa components or the cocoa polyphenols, and methods of using the cocoa components or the cocoa polyphenols for improving the health of a mammal are described. The cocoa components include partially and fully defatted cocoa solids, cocoa nibs and fractions derived therefrom, cocoa polyphenol extracts, cocoa butter, chocolate liquors, and mixtures thereof. The invention provides processes for extracting fat from cocoa beans and for otherwise processing cocoa beans to yield a cocoa component having conserved concentrations of polyphenols relative to the starting materials.

Abstract: Foods and pharmaceuticals which contain cocoa and/or nut procyanidin(s) in combination with L-arginine are effective to induce a physiological increase in nitric oxide production in a mammal having ingested the product. A preferred food product is a confection, particularly a dark or milk chocolate containing nuts. The procyanidins may be natural or synthetic and may be provided by food ingredients such as chocolate liquor and/or cocoa solids prepared from underfermented beans and nut skins. The L-arginine may be natural or synthetic and may be provided by food ingredients such as nut meats, nut pastes, and/or nut flours, seeds, seed pastes, and/or seed flours, or gelatin. The beneficial health effects may include, for example, reduced blood pressure, resistance to cardiovascular disease, and anticancer activity.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of periodontal disease comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a polymeric compound of formula An. Also disclosed and claimed is an article of manufacture comprising the above compounds packaged within a container with instructions for use, and methods of making thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating or preventing a nitric oxide (NO)-responsive disease or disorder by administering to a subject in need thereof a composition, including foods such as confectionary and pet foods, comprising nut skins and/or a procyanidin-containing nut skins extract. Said composition may further comprise cocoa polyphenol(s) and/or L-arginine.

Abstract: The invention relates to products, including foods such as confectionary and pet foods, comprising nut skins. Exemplary nut skins are peanut and almond skins. The products may also contain cocoa polyphenol and/or L-arginine, and are useful for inducing vasodilation.

Abstract: The invention relates to products, including foods such as confectionary and pet foods, comprising nut skins or polyphenol-containing nut skin extracts. Exemplary nut skins are peanut and almond skins. The products may also contain cocoa polyphenol and/or L-arginine, and are useful for inducing vasodilation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating or preventing a nitric oxide (NO)-responsive disease or disorder by administering to a subject in need thereof a composition, including foods such as confectionary and pet foods, comprising nut skins and/or a procyanidin-containing nut skins extract. Said composition may further comprise cocoa polyphenol(s) and/or L-arginine.

Abstract: Cocoa components having enhanced levels of cocoa polyphenols, processes for producing the cocoa components while conserving a significant amount of the cocoa polyphenols, compositions containing the cocoa components or the cocoa polyphenols, and methods of using the cocoa components or the cocoa polyphenols for improving the health of a mammal are described. The cocoa components include partially and fully defatted cocoa solids, cocoa nibs and fractions derived therefrom, cocoa polyphenol extracts, cocoa butter, chocolate liquors, and mixtures thereof. The invention provides processes for extracting fat from cocoa beans and for otherwise processing cocoa beans to yield a cocoa component having conserved concentrations of polyphenols relative to the starting materials.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are flavanols, e.g. epicatechin, compositions such as pharmaceutical compositions containing an effective amount of flavanols, e.g. epicatechin, and methods of treatment or prevention of hypertension using the same.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of improving renal function comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a composition comprising the inventive compounds. Also disclosed is a method of improving renal function where the subject is at risk of or suffering from renal failure.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are cocoa extracts such as polyphenols or procyanidins, methods for preparing such extracts, as well as uses for them, especially as antineoplastic agents and antioxidants. Disclosed and claimed are antineoplastic compositions containing cocoa polyphenols or procyanidins and methods for treating patients employing the compositions. Additionally disclosed and claimed is a kit for treating a patient in need of treatment with an antineoplastic agent containing cocoa polyphenols or procyanidins as well as a lyophilized antineoplastic composition containing cocoa polyphenols or procyanidins. Further, disclosed and claimed is the use of the invention in antioxidant, preservative and topoisomerase-inhibiting compositions and methods.

Abstract: This invention relates to compositions comprising epicatechin and method of use of such compositions for inducing vasodilation of blood vessels in humans and veterinary animals.

Abstract: This invention relates to an article of manufacture comprising a polymeric compound of formula An and an additional NO-modulating agent and method of use thereof. Also disclosed and claimed is a method of making an article of manufacture comprising of the polymeric compound of formula An.

Abstract: Cocoa components having enhanced levels of cocoa polyphenols, processes for producing the cocoa components while conserving a significant amount of the cocoa polyphenols, compositions containing the cocoa components or the cocoa polyphenols, and methods of using the cocoa components or the cocoa polyphenols for improving the health of a mammal are described. The cocoa components include partially and fully defatted cocoa solids, cocoa nibs and fractions derived therefrom, cocoa polyphenol extracts, cocoa butter, chocolate liquors, and mixtures thereof. The invention provides processes for extracting fat from cocoa beans and for otherwise processing cocoa beans to yield a cocoa component having conserved concentrations of polyphenols relative to the starting materials.

Abstract: Processes for preparing racemic mixtures of 5,7,3?,4?-tetra-O-benzyl-(±)-catechin and (±)-epicatechin involves (i) condensing 2-hydroxy-4,6-bis(benzyloxy)-acetophenone and 3,4-bis(benzyloxy)benzaldehyde, cyclizing the resulting compound, oxidizing the resulting compound; (ii) dihydroxylating (E)-3-(3?,4?-bis(benzyloxy)phenyl)prop-2-ene-1-ol and reducing the 1,2-diol; or (iii) coupling 3,5-bis(benzyloxy)phenol with (E)-3,5-bis(benzyloxy)-2-(3?,4?-bis(benzyloxy)phenyl)allyl)phenol and cyclizing the resulting chalcone. A process for preparing the benzylated epimers of catechin and epicatechin involves seven steps. 3,4-Bis(benzyloxy)benzaldehyde is coupled with 2-hydroxy-4,6-benzyloxy-acetophenone to form a chalcone. The chalcone is selectively reduced to an alkene. The phenolic group of the alkene is protected. The protected alkene is asymetrically dihydroxylated. The resulting compound is deprotected, cyclized, and finally hydrolyzed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of periodontal disease comprising administering to a subject in need thereof epicatechin and/or catechin and/or a polymeric compound of formula An. Also disclosed and claimed is an article of manufacture comprising the above compounds packaged within a container with instructions for use thereof.

Abstract: Various processes are disclosed for preparing protected epicatechin oligomers having (4?,8)-interflavan linkages. In one process, a tetra-O-protected epicatechin monomer or oligomer is coupled with a protected, C-4 activated epicatechin monomer in the presence of an acidic clay such as a mortmorillonite clay. In another process, a 5,7,3?,4?-benzyl protected or a 3 -acetyl-, 5,7,3?,4?-benzyl protected epicatechin or catechin monomer or oligomer is reacted with 3 -O-acetyl-4-[(2-benzothiazolyl)thio]-5,7,3?,4?-tetra-O-benzylepicatechin in the presence of silver tetrafluoroborate. In another process, two 5,7,3?,4?-benzyl protected epicatechin monomers activated with 2-(benzothiazolyl)thio groups at the C-4 positions are cross-coupled in the presence of silver tetrofluoroborate. A process is also disclosed for reacting an unprotected epicatechin or catechin monomer with 4-(benzylthio) epicatechin or catechin.

Abstract: This invention relates to compositions comprising epicatechin and method of use of such compositions for inducing vasodilation of blood vessels in humans and veterinary animals.