Patent ID: 8198085

Claim:
A preserved cell preparation, comprising: lyophilized cells; and at least one polyphenol selected from the group consisting of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epicatechin gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin (EC), DL-Catechin (DL-C) and gallocatechin gallate (GCG), or mixtures thereof, the polyphenol being present in a concentration of from about 50 μM to about 4 mM, the preserved cell preparation being essentially free of one or more cryoprotecting agents selected from the group consisting of polyalcohols, DMSO and cryoprotecting proteins, and upon reconstitution of the preserved cell preparation, at least 60% of the lyophilized cells in the preserved cell preparation are viable and sufficient for use in cell therapy.