Disclosed and claimed are cocoa extracts, compounds, combinations thereof and compositions containing the same, such as polyphenols or procyanidins, methods for preparing such extracts, compounds and compositions, as well as uses for them, especially a polymeric compound of the formula A.sub.n, wherein A is a monomer of the formula: 1 wherein n is an integer from 2 to 18, such that there is at least one terminal monomeric unit A, and one or a plurality of additional monomeric units; R is 3-(.alpha.)-OH, 3-(.beta.)-OH, 3-(.alpha.)-O-sugar, or 3-(.beta.)-O-sugar; bonding between adjacent monomers takes place at positions 4, 6 or 8; a bond of an additional monomeric unit in position 4 has alpha or beta stereochemistry; X, Y and Z are selected from the group consisting of monomeric unit A, hydrogen, and a sugar, with the provisos that as to the at least one terminal monomeric unit, bonding of the additional monomeric unit thereto (the bonding of the additional monomeric unit adjacent to the terminal monomeric unit) is at position 4 and optionally Y=Z=hydrogen; the sugar is optionally substituted with a phenolic moiety, at any position on the sugar, for instance via an ester bond, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts or derivatives thereof (including oxidation products).