Isolation of lutein from alfalfa
OwnerMark Hoffman, David Baugh +2inventors
InventorsMark Hoffman, David Baugh, Michael Ahern, David Walsh
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Abstract
The present invention provides a process for an industrial scale extraction and purification of xanthophylls (e.g., lutein and zeaxanthin) from plant material (e.g., alfalfa or other leafy green crops having high levels of chlorophyll). The process involves harvesting lutein rich alfalfa, extracting an oleoresin from the alfalfa leaves, saponifying the oleoresin, extracting and extracting lutein using a series of solvent extractions specific for oleoresin obtained from alfalfa or other leafy green plants.
Claims96
A method of obtaining a natural product from green plant oleoresin, the method comprising:
- (a) saponifying green plant oleoresin to provide a saponified resin;
- (b) contacting the saponified resin with a first volatile organic solvent to provide a suspension;
- (c) removing the solids from the suspension to provide a solution;
- (d) condensing the solution to provide a first oil;
- and
- (e) contacting the first oil with a second volatile organic solvent to solidify the natural product.
A method of obtaining a natural product from a green plant, the method comprising:
- (a) macerating the green plant to provide plant matter and juice;
- (b) separating the plant matter from the juice;
- (c) heating the juice to coagulate chloroplastic proteins into a green curd;
- (d) separating the green curd from the juice;
- (e) optionally drying the green curd;
- (f) extracting a green plant oleoresin from the green curd employing a first volatile organic solvent;
- (g) saponifying the green plant oleoresin to provide a saponified resin;
- (h) contacting the saponified resin with a second volatile organic solvent to provide a suspension;
- (i) removing the solids from the suspension to provide a solution;
- (j) condensing the solution to provide a first oil;
- (k) contacting the first oil with a third volatile organic solvent to solidify the natural product;
- (l) separating the natural product from the third volatile organic solvent;
- (m) optionally washing the natural product with water;
- and
- (n) optionally drying the washed natural product.
A natural product obtained by the process comprising:
- (a) saponifying green plant oleoresin to provide a saponified resin;
- (b) contacting the saponified resin with a first volatile organic solvent to provide a suspension;
- (c) removing the solids from the suspension to provide a solution;
- (d) condensing the solution to provide a first oil;
- and
- (e) contacting the first oil with a second volatile organic solvent to solidify the natural product.
A natural product obtained by the process comprising:
- (a) macerating green plants to provide plant matter and juice;
- (b) separating the plant matter from the juice;
- (c) heating the juice to coagulate chloroplastic proteins into a green curd;
- (d) separating the green curd from the juice;
- (e) optionally drying the green curd;
- (f) extracting a green plant oleoresin from the green curd employing a first volatile organic solvent;
- (g) saponifying the green plant oleoresin to provide a saponified resin;
- (h) contacting the saponified resin with a second volatile organic solvent to provide a suspension;
- (i) removing the solids from the suspension to provide a solution;
- (j) condensing the solution to provide a first oil;
- (k) contacting the first oil with a third volatile organic solvent to solidify the natural product;
- (l) separating the natural product from the third volatile organic solvent;
- (m) optionally washing the natural product with water;
- and
- (n) optionally drying the washed natural product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.