High purity beta-carotene
AssigneeNatural Carotene Corporation
InventorW. Geoffrey Haigh
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Abstract
Compositions of high-purity natural beta-carotene and of the 9-cis isomer of beta-carotene are provided, as are methods for the production of these compositions from plant matter, conveniently algae such as Dunaliella species. Typically, the compositions contain at least about 5% 9-cis beta-carotene and less than or equal to 40% of all-trans-beta-carotene, and in some cases may contain 75% 9-cis beta-carotene or higher. The compositions are suitable for administration to humans or other animals, particularly for oral delivery, in a variety of formulations and dosages as pharmaceutical agents or as dietary supplements.
Claims26
A method for purifying beta-carotene from plants, which comprises:
- extracting the plant with a solvent to produce a crude mixture of carotenes in the extract;
- removing the solvent from the extract and resuspending the extract in a non-polar solvent;
- chromatographing the extract on a column of deactivated alumina;
- and
- collecting fractions from the column which contain the purified beta-carotene.
A composition which comprises substantially purified naturally occurring beta-carotene, isomers, in relative amounts of at least 40% 9-cis beta-carotene and less than about 50% all-trans beta-carotene, and substantially free of organic solvent.
A method for inhibiting a tumor in a host, which comprises administering to the host a tumor-inhibiting amount of a pharmaceutical composition which comprises substantially purified naturally occurring beta-carotene isomers, in relative amounts of at least 40% 9-cis beta-carotene and less than about 50% all-trans beta-carotene.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.