DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and sequences of steps for constructing and operating the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments and that they are also intended to be encompassed within the scope of the invention.

[0015] Referring now to FIG. 1 , there is depicted a flow chart illustrating a process 10 for producing an extract of Loranthus that is useful as a safe and effective antihistamine, which has substantially fewer side effects than conventional antihistamines and further, is derived from all-natural plant products.

[0016] In the initial step 20 , raw materials, namely, harvested Loranthus plants are provided. Although a wide variety of species of Loranthus are known, for purposes of practicing the present invention only those species of Loranthus should be utilized that are known to possess high concentrations of the flavinoids quercetin and avicularin. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, Loranthus chinesis and Loranthus parasiticus (l.) Merr plants are utilized. Such plants are well-known and are extensively planted in southern China. Such plants are typically characterized by short growing stems that are from 1-2 mm and have a diameter of typically between 0.2 to 0.8 mm. Such plants may further be characterized by leaves having a taupe to mahogany-type color. Prior to use, the materials are preferably dehydrated or otherwise dried.

[0017] Such raw materials 20 are then crushed in step 30 into particles that are preferably capable of passing through a 40-mesh US Series sieve. As is well-known, such mesh size is known in the art and are defined by the number of openings per unit area.

[0018] Once sufficiently crushed, an ethanol extraction 40 is performed whereby the crushed raw materials are mixed with a solution of approximately 95% ethanol such that the ratio of ethanol solution to crushed products is approximately 5:1 by weight. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the ethanol solution will comprise food-grade ethanol, which is commercially available from a variety of manufacturers. The admixture of ethanol with crushed raw material is heated and allowed to reflux for approximately one to two hours at a temperature not to exceed 80NC. Preferably, such ethanol extraction is performed at approximately 78-80NC. To conduct such step, the same may be utilized in a conventional stainless steel extraction pot with reflux system. As an optional additional step, the ethanol extraction 40 may include adding additional amounts of ethanol (i.e. 95% ethanol solution) in amounts up to the original amount added, namely, approximately five times the weight of the crushed Loranthus and the resultant admixture again heated up to 80NC for up to an additional two hours.

[0019] The resultant ethanol admixture is then allowed to cool and then concentrated in step 50 by filtering off any residue present in the admixture. To that end, the residue may be removed via conventional filtering techniques, such as skimming and the like, and is conducted until the solution possesses a density up to 0.9 gm/cm3 and preferably between 0.8 gm/cm3 to 0.9 gm/cm3. The removed residue may be discarded. The concentrated solution, on the other hand, is steam heated to enable the same to undergo a rough cream extraction, in next step 50 . To that end, the concentrated solution is heated and steamed, preferably via the use of a jacketed kettle, until the solution transforms into a creamy residue. In this respect, such procedure may be performed via conventional ethanol extraction processes known in the art.

[0020] Once the cream has been generated through the steam heating, the same is removed and further processed via next step 60 . As an alternative, the cream extracted via step 50 may be dried via conventional drying techniques, for example vacuum drying, such that the same transitions into a powder which may be stored and processed further at a later time as per the cream extracted through the rough cream extraction 50 discussed below.

[0021] In either case, whether it be the cream directly extracted from the rough cream extraction 50 or the powdered form derived therefrom, the same is dissolved with distilled water via step 60 . In such step, distilled water is mixed with the cream extract or powdered form thereof such that a solution or admixture is produced which is approximately 15-20% by weight cream extract (or powder thereof) and 80-85% by weight distilled water. Once produced, the same is filtered via step 70 . To that end, the solution/admixture is preferably passed through a filtration membrane, which preferably comprises a 100 screen mesh, with the filtrate being collected thereafter. Any residue not passing such screen mesh is discarded.

[0022] Such filtrate is then purified in step 80 by passing the same through a chromatography column in order to separate and isolate the sought after extract. To achieve such result, conventional chromatographic techniques may be utilized. According to a preferred embodiment, conventional chromatographic columns using XAD®-2 type media or resin may be utilized. As is well-known in the art, XAD®- 2 resin produced by Rohm and Haas, of Philadelphia, Pa. is widely known and commercially available. It should be recognized, too, that any equivalent of such resin, such as Ultra-Clean™ resin produced by Restek Corporation of Bellefonte, Pa. may be utilized. Such columns with resin utilized therewith are prepared as per conventional techniques with the filtrate produced in step 70 being administered thereto as per conventional chromatographic column separation practices.

[0023] In this respect, the filtrate is administered through the top of the prepared column, followed by the passing of distilled water through the column in an amount of approximately 3 times the amount of the filtrate introduced therewithin. For example, to the extent that one liter of filtrate is administered to the column, three liters of distilled water will be passed through the column thereafter. Such distilled water is discarded once it has been passed through the chromatography column.

[0024] Following the distilled water wash of the column, the column is eluted with an approximately 50% ethanol solution of food-grade quality. Preferably, such solution is passed through the column in a volume ranging between approximately 3-5 times the volume of the chromatography column with the eluate being collected as the same is passed through the column. Once the eluate has been collected, the chromatographic column may then be rinsed with 95% ethanol solution followed by distilled water and utilized for future applications.

[0025] With respect to the ethanol eluate, the same is distilled and concentrated until a further creamy residue is isolated, as per step 110 . Prior to concentrating, an optional test procedure 100 may be performed whereby the purified extract is compared against extract samples of known purity. In one preferred test, the extract is tested via thin layer chromatography wherein a portion of the extract purified in step 80 is mixed with a developing agent comprising a mix solution of chloroform, methanol and water being mixed in a ration of approximately 3:1:0.2 by weight. Preferably, such developing agent is mixed with the sample and allowed to stand for 12 hours until a bottom layer of solvent is formed. Such a bottom layer of solvent may be tested against known standards utilizing known thin layer chromatography techniques to insure sample purity and concentration.

[0026] Whether or not the same is tested for purity, the creamy residue produced in step 11 is then vacuum dried, via drying step 120 , and thereafter crushed in step 130 to thus generate a powder of extraction, which is obtained in step 140 . Such extraction powder may then be packaged in step 150 as per any of a variety of conventional pharmaceutical packaging techniques.

[0027] Along these lines, it is contemplated that such extraction powder may be mixed with a variety of pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and inert ingredients, such as cellulose and the like, for shipping and distribution. Additionally, such powdered form of the extract is believed to be capable of being integrated into food products, such fruit and grain based snack foods, beverages, such as fortified fruit drinks, confectioneries, candy, and the like to thus provide alternative methods of administrating such product. To the extent such extraction remains in its raw form, however, it is believed that the same should be stored away from heat sources, and also should be kept in low-humidity containers is so far as such extraction powder has been shown to readily dissolve in water. Accordingly, conventional packaging practices should be followed with respect to the storage and handling of such extraction powder.

[0028] As an illustration, two (2) non-restrictive examples of methods of practicing the extraction process of the present invention are given below.

EXAMPLE ONE

[0029] Approximately 5000 grams of Loranthus parasiticus (l.) Merr was crushed and placed in an extraction pot with 15 liters of a 95% ethanol solution and heated until such temperature reached 78° C. and thereafter allowed to reflux for approximately 1.5 hours. Plant residue was removed by filtration and the resultant mixture was combined with an additional ten liters of 95% ethanol solution. The resultant admixture was then heated to approximately 80° C. and allowed to reflux for approximately one hour. The ethanol solution was filtered again such that the concentrate possessed a solution density of 0.8 grams per cubic centimeter was attained.

[0030] Such filtrate was then mixed with distilled water such that a solution was produced of approximately 20% by weight of the filtrate and 80% by weight of distilled water. Such solution was filtered and passed through a chromatography column utilizing the equivalent of XAD®-2 resin. The column was washed with five liters of distilled water and eluted thereafter with 50% ethanol. The resultant extract was collected and concentrated, via distillation, until the same became a cream isolate, which was dried further into powdered form. Such procedure generated approximately 150 grams of the Loranthus parasiticus (l.) Merr extract.

EXAMPLE TWO

[0031] Approximately 10 kg of Loranthus parasiticus (l.) Merr was crushed and placed in an extraction pot with 25 liters of 95% ethanol solution and heated to approximately 80Nc and allowed to reflux for approximately two hours. The reflux solution was filtered and mixed with an additional 25 liters of 95% ethanol solution, which was then refluxed further at approximately 80Nc for approximately two hours. The resultant admixture was filtered such that the concentrate possessed a density of 0.9 grams per cubic centimeter.

[0032] The filtrate was then mixed with distilled water such that a solution was produced whereby the same was approximately 15% by weight filtrate and 85% by weight distilled water. Such solution was then passed through a chromatography column utilizing a chromatographic resin equivalent to XAD®-2 followed by the administration of 10 liters of distilled water, which was passed through the chromatography column and discarded. The column was then eluted with a 50% ethanol solution, with the eluate collected and concentrated until the Loranthus parasiticus (l.) Merr cream extract was isolated. The same was then vacuum dried into powder form. Via such procedure, approximately 220 grams of the Loranthus parasiticus (l.) Merr extraction was derived.

[0033] Irrespective of the form by which the final extract produced by the foregoing process takes and is administered, the same exhibits superior properties as an antihistamine. For human subjects, it is believed that administering the powder extract derived from the process of the present invention in an amount of up to 300 mg in a single oral dose will be sufficient to treat most allergies and allergic reactions. In a preferred embodiment, a single oral dosage of approximately 100 to 300 mg in one daily oral dose it is believed sufficient to treat most allergic or hypersensitivity reactions in human subjects.

[0034] As discussed above, such oral dose may be administered via of a variety of formulations known in the art, including tablets, capsules, suspensions, or by the addition of such extract as part of a food product or beverage, such as fruit-based in grain-based snack foods, such as cereal bars and the like, fortified fruit beverages, and other fortified foods, candy and confectionaries. Advantageously, the extract of the present invention has been shown to produce little, if any, side effects typically associated with antihistamines, and further, exclusively comprises a plant derivative which omits any type of raw chemical processing as do virtually all type of antihistamines currently available.

[0035] With respect to the mode of action, it is currently believed that the Loranthus extract derived through the methods of the present invention contain high concentrations of flavonoids, and in particular quercetin and avicularin, which are believed to possess potent antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties. It is further believed that such compositions possess antioxident properties as well, and may further provide substantial therapeutic benefit in that regard. Accordingly, the process of the present invention and composition produced thereby are believed to possess substantial benefits and therapeutic properties that are readily suited to enhance health and wellness.

[0036] As will be appreciated, additional modifications and improvements of the present invention may also be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, the particular combination of parts and steps described and illustrated herein is intended to represent only certain embodiments of the present invention, and is not intended to serve as limitations of alternative devices and methods within the spirit and scope of the invention.