Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity of switchgrass-derived extractives

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016175376-A1
Application number	US-201615055784-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 29, 2016
Priority date	Nov 13, 2012
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Switchgrass is an increasingly important biofuel crop, but knowledge of switchgrass fungal pathogens is not extensive. The purpose of this research was to identify the fungal pathogens that decrease crop yield of switchgrass grown in Tennessee and to investigate a potential sustainable disease management strategy from a value-added by-product of the switchgrass biofuel conversion process. The specific objectives were 1) to identify and characterize prevalent fungal pathogens of switchgrass in Tennessee, 2) assess switchgrass seed produced in the United States for seedborne fungal pathogens, and 3) evaluate switchgrass extractives for antimicrobial activity against plant pathogens.

First claim

1 . (canceled)

2 . A composition comprising a solvent soluble extract of switchgrass.

3 . A method for processing Panicum virgatum L. (switchgrass) biomass, the method comprising:
a) obtaining a switchgrass biomass, b) treating the switchgrass biomass with a solvent and separating the solvent-soluble extractives portion of the switchgrass biomass from the cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic portion of the switchgrass biomass, and c) optionally, producing a biofuel from the cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic portion of the switchgrass biomass.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein said method comprises producing a biofuel from the cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic portion of the switchgrass biomass.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the solvent extraction process is a single solvent extraction process.

6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the solvent is a polar solvent.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the polar solvent is ethanol.

8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the solvent soluble extractives portion comprises fatty acids, fatty alcohols, glycerol, alkanes and sterols.

9 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the solvent is water.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the solvent soluble extractives portion comprises antioxidants selected from α-tocopherol, policosanol, or a combination thereof.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the solvent extractives portion further comprises phenolic compounds selected from p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, sinapic acid, or a combination thereof.

12 . A method of preventing or treating an infection by an infectious agent in a plant, the method comprising administering an effective amount of a solvent soluble switchgrass extract according to claim 2 to the plant.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the plant is a tomato plant.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the infectious agent is a bacterium.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the bacterium is selected from Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis, Xanthomonas perforans, Pseudomonas syringae pv. Tomato or Pseudomonas mediterranea.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the infectious agent is a fungus.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the fungus is Fusarium spp.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the fungus is Fusarium oxysporum.

19 . A method of preventing spoilage of a food product or inhibiting a food-borne pathogen in a food product, the method comprising administering an effective amount of a solvent soluble switchgrass extract according to claim 2 to the food product.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the food-borne pathogen is Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella enteritidis or Staphylococcus aureus.

21 . A method of treating inflammation in a subject, the method comprising administering an effective amount of a solvent soluble switchgrass extract according to claim 2 to a subject.

22 . A method of treating obesity in a subject, the method comprising administering an effective amount of the solvent-soluble switchgrass extract according to claim 2 to a subject.

Assignees

• Univ Tennessee Res Foundation

Inventors

• Labbe Nicole
• Ownley Bonnie H
• Gwinn Kimberly D
• Moustaid-Moussa Naima
• D Souza Doris H

Classifications

• A61K31/192

  having aromatic groups, e.g. sulindac, 2-aryl-propionic acids, ethacrynic acid  {(cannabinoids A61K31/658)} · CPC title

• A01N65/44

  Poaceae or Gramineae [Grass family], e.g. bamboo, lemon grass or citronella grass · CPC title

• C10L2290/26

  Composting, fermenting or anaerobic digestion fuel components or materials from which fuels are prepared · CPC title

• C10L1/02

  essentially based on components consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen only · CPC title

• C10L2200/0469

  Renewables or materials of biological origin · CPC title