Irradiation of ispaghula
AssigneeReckitt Benckiser Healthcare (UK) Limited
InventorsMichael Edward Havler, Peter William Dettmar, Glyn Owen Phillips, Saphwan Al-Assaf
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Abstract
Ispaghula (material from the plant Plantago ovata, useful as an agent in relieving constipation, is subjected to treatment with -radiation at a dose of up to 13 kGy, and preferably in the range 5-10 kGy. As well as effecting sterilisation of the ispaghula, this dose of irradiation has been shown to offer surprising rheological advantages.
Claims13
A method for the production of an ingestible composition comprising ispaghula, the method comprising the step of irradiating the ispaghula, such that the dose of radiation absorbed by the ispaghula is at least 4 kGy and no more than 13 kGy.
A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the radiation is γ-radiation.
A method as claimed in any claim, wherein the ispaghula within the ingestible composition comprises at least 95% wt separated ispaghula husks and substantially no ispaghula seed kernels.
A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the ispaghula is mixed with one or more co-ingredients to form a palatable composition for ingestion.
Ispaghula which has been treated by a method as claimed in any preceding claim.
A method substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to the accompanying examples.
Irradiated ispaghula substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to the accompanying examples.
An ingestible composition comprising ispaghula, irradiated substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to the accompanying examples.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.