Phlorotannins with anti-viral properties, in particular those with a molecular mass of from about 1000 g/mol to about 3000 g/mol, are described. The phlorotannins may be obtained or obtainable as an extract from seaweed, and may be used in compositions or extracts as anti-viral agents. Methods for producing the extracts and their use for treating or preventing viral infections and for reducing or controlling a virus on a surface using the phlorotannins are also described.

A compound, represented by formula (I):

##STR00001##

wherein R, R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.4 are independently of one another a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1-C.sub.6 linear or branched alkyl, or a C.sub.1-C.sub.6 linear or branched alkenyl, or a C.sub.1-C.sub.6 linear or branched alkynyl; R.sub.3 is a hydrogen atom, OR.sub.4 or a C.sub.1-C.sub.6 linear or branched alkyl, or a C.sub.1-C.sub.6 linear or branched alkenyl, or a C.sub.1-C.sub.6 linear or branched alkynyl; and n=4 to 11; its functions and isolation process thereof.

The present invention provides a process for preparing an herbal extract such that selective isolation of phytochemicals and resins in specific concentrations is obtained in the final herbal extract and compositions comprising the same. Further, the present invention provides a process for preparing an herbal extract comprising curcuminoids and resins, such that the extract is having high solubility/dispersibility, good bioavailability and efficient sustained release.

The present invention relates to Coix seed oil extracted from Semen Coicis, pharmaceutical preparations thereof, and the use thereof in the treatment of tumors. Specifically, the Coix seed oil contains 5 diglyceride and 11 triglyceride ingredients in the following mass percentages: 1,3-diolein 0.40-0.58%, 1-linolein-3-olein 0.91-1.31%, 1,2-diolein 0.24-0.35%, 1-olein-2-linolein 0.66-0.95%, 1,2-dilinolein 0.33-0.47%, trilinolein 4.87-6.99%, 1-olein-2,3-dilinolein 13.00-18.69%, 1-palmitin-2,3-dilinolein 5.25-7.54%, 1,3-diolein-2-linolein 13.23-19.02%, 1-palmitin-2-linolein-3-olein 10.26-14.75%, 1,3-dipalmitin-2-linolein 2.28-3.28%, triolein 14.44-20.76%, 1-palmitin-2,3-diolein 8.06-11.58%, 1-olein-2-linolein-3-stearin 1.37-1.97%, 1,3-dipalmitin-2-olein 1.52-2.19% and 1,2-diolein-3-stearin 1.29-1.86%.

The present invention relates to inventive novel industrialized method for preparing purified extract containing more abundant active ingredients such as catalpol derivatives from the extract of Pseudolysimachion rotundum var subintegrum than that prepared by the conventional preparation method disclosed in the prior art and the therapeutics or functional health food comprising the purified extract for treating and preventing inflammatory, allergic or asthmatic disease. The purified extract showed more potent anti-inflammatory, anti-allergy and anti-asthma activity than that prepared by the conventional preparation method disclosed in the prior art through various in vivo tests such as inhibition test on the reproduction of eosinophil, the release of immunoglobulin and inflammatory chemokines in plasma and bronchoalveolar fluid as well as the suppression of airway hyperresponsiveness and goblet cell hyperplasia in a OVA-sensitized/challenged mouse model.

The invention relates to a composition of matter extracted from the plant Tribulus terrestris, having less than 400 g per kilogram of dry matter pyrrolizidine alkaloids and at least 40% furostanol saponins and a Tribulus terrestris extract having at least 10% furostanol saponins and pyrilizidine alkaloids, having concentration of less than 80 g per liter extract. The invention is further directed to a method for the purification of pyrrolizidine alkaloids from Tribulus terrestris plant extract by salting out the saponins from the extract with a first salt solution until a precipitate forms, washing the precipitate with a second salt solution and is then dissolving the precipitate in water, removing the remaining amount of salt from the obtained aqueous solution by extraction with alcohol, washing with water, and evaporating the residual alcohol to obtain a final aqueous extract of the biologically active plant product, which can be dried.

A use of Auricularia auricula total polysaccharide or monomeric polysaccharide in preparation of a PD-L1 inhibitor is provided. The Auricularia auricula total polysaccharide or monomeric polysaccharide both contain acetyl active groups. The Auricularia auricula total polysaccharide or monomeric polysaccharide containing acetyl active groups can effectively inhibit the expression of PD-L1 protein in tumor cells, inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells, and can be used as a natural PD-L1 inhibitor for the treatment of various tumors with high expression of PD-L1, such as lung cancer and colon cancer. Compared with the existing PD-L1 inhibitors, the use of Auricularia auricula total polysaccharide or monomeric polysaccharide as a PD-L1 inhibitor has the advantages of non-toxic side effects, low price, and wide adaptation to patient groups.

A system and method of producing a blended extract of cannabinoids and terpenes, which extracts terpenes using supercritical CO2, and extracts a cannabinoid concentrate from the residual material using a cold ethanol flush followed by distillation; the CO2-extracted terpenes are then added back to the cannabinoid concentrate in a final blending step. Blending terpenes at the end of extraction may enhance the flavor and effectiveness of the cannabinoid concentrate. By separately extracting terpenes and cannabinoids, optimal processes and parameters may be used for each step. Blending may combine terpenes and cannabinoids in any desired ratio; for example, a terpene-to-cannabinoid ratio of approximately 1:10 may be used. The ethanol used in the cold ethanol extraction of cannabinoids may be recovered and reused for subsequent batches. Cannabinoid concentrates may be redistilled multiple times to enhance their concentration, followed by terpene blending.

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating voiding dysfunction and a health functional food for preventing or improving of voiding dysfunction, comprising extract of Piper Longum L. as an active ingredient. The extract of Piper Longum L. according to the present invention is not only harmless, but also has outstanding effects of preventing, treating and improving voiding dysfunction by being involved in various mechanisms related to voiding dysfunction simultaneously so that it may increase a micturition interval, decrease a micturition pressure, increase a bladder capacity, inhibit detrusor contraction and induce relaxation of detrusor.

Phytoecdysones to avoid weight gain in obese mammals previously having undergone a hypocaloric weight-loss diet. The phytoecdysones are added to a food composition. The phytoecdysones can be from plants, such as quinoa.