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 An, wherein A is a monomer
of the formula:
##STR1##
- 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-()—OH, 3-()—OH, 3-()—O-sugar,
or 3-()—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).
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