Patent ID: 7923041

Claim:
A method to obtain a botanical extract having PP2A methylation modifying activity, the method comprising steps of: contacting botanical raw material selected from the group consisting of coffea , gingko, garlic, bacopa , butcher's broom, flaxseed oil, ginseng, grape seed, St. John's wort, artichoke powder, tea leaf, tobacco, and cocoa, with a polar solvent to form an extract solution; and separating the extract solution into a plurality of fractions; assessing PP2A carboxyl methylation modifying activity in at least two fractions, so that those fractions containing PP2A carboxyl methylation modifying activity are identified; and obtaining as a botanical extract at least one fraction or combination of fractions that (1) is essentially free of caffeine, caffeic acid, and chlorogenic acid; and (2) contains the carboxyl methylation modifying activity at a concentration sufficient so that, when the extract is contacted with protein phosphatase 2A (“PP2A”) and an enzyme selected from the group consisting of PP2A-specific protein methyltransferase (“PPMT”), PP2A-specific protein methylesterase (“PPME”), and combination thereof, the extent of PP2A carboxyl methylation is altered as compared with that observed absent the extract.