Robert E. Dalton
General Contractor in Lewisville, NC

2006027, Dec 14, 2006

May 30, 2006

11/442794

Robert Dalton - Lewisville NC, US

A01D 46/00

056330000

Methods are disclosed for processing organic plant matter into dry powder, oil and juice products for use alone or in combination with other constituents as a food additive, nutriment, dietary supplement, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical or a component of a cosmetic product having a high concentration of polyphenolic compounds, including the naturally occurring antioxidant resveratrol. In a particular embodiment, Muscadine grapes and rice hulls are mixed together in a predetermined ratio and subsequently pressed to extract the bulk of the grape juice from the Muscadine grapes, resulting in a residue consisting essentially of Muscadine grape marc and rice hulls. An active enzyme may be introduced into the mixture to soften the grape skins and thereby facilitate break down of the mixture into the residue. The residue is then pressed again, dried at low heat and high air flow, and the grape seeds separated from the remaining residue. The remaining residue is then ground, fragmented or powdered to produce the dry powder product. The separated grape seeds may be further processed to extract grape seed oil and produce a sludge consisting primarily of crushed grape seeds, which can be further processed by powdering to form a grape seed powder having a high concentration of polyphenolic compounds, including resveratrol. The residue is stored at a temperature only slightly above 32° F. (0° C.) and less than about 60° F. (15° C.) to both preserve and promote the continued metabolic synthesis of polyphenolic compounds, including resveratrol.