Aloe pectins
AssigneeCarrington Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsYawei Ni, Kenneth M. Yates, Ryszard Zarzycki
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Abstract
Pectins from gel and rind cell wall fibers of Aloe vera are extracted, isolated and identified. Two classes of Aloe pectin are obtained: the high-molecular-weight (HMW) pectin and the low-molecular-weight (LMW) pectin. Aloe pectins have a low methoxyl (LM) content. Aloe pectins form gel in the presence of calcium, and they, especially, the HMW pectin, form monovalent cation-based gels at low temperature, which revert back to solution when brought to room temperature. The HMW Aloe pectin-calcium gel is used for controlled release. The monovalent cation-based gel is used as a matrix for storing pharmacological substances and also for antigen and antibody precipitation reaction.
Claims78
An Aloe pectin having a 3-O-methyl rhamnose content of from 0.1 to about 5% by mole and optionally having at least one of the following properties:
- (a) degree of methylation of less than about 50% by mole;
- (b) rhamnose content of from about 2 to about 15% by mole;
- and
- (c) being capable of forming a gel in the presence of a solution of a calcium salt;
- wherein said Aloe pectin has been isolated from the leaf of an Aloe plant by extraction, wherein the extraction is accomplished by a supercritical fluid, a water-soluble organic solvent, an acid, an alkali, a chelating agent, a bacteria, an enzyme or a combination thereof.
An Aloe pectin having a 3-O-methyl rhamnose content of from 0.1 to about 5% by mole and optionally having at least one of the following properties:
- (a) degree of methylation of less than about 30% by mole;
- (b) rhamnose content of from about 3 to about 15% by mole;
- (c) being capable of forming a gel in the presence of a solution of a calcium salt;
- and
- (d) a molecular weight of from about 10.sup.4 to about 10.sup.7 Daltons;
- wherein said Aloe pectin has been isolated from the leaf of an Aloe plant by extraction, wherein the extraction is accomplished by a supercritical fluid, a water-soluble organic solvent, an acid, an alkali, a chelating agent, a bacteria, an enzyme or a combination thereof.
An Aloe pectin having a 3-O-methyl rhamnose content of from 0.1 to about 5% by mole and optionally having at least one of the following properties:
- (a) degree of methylation of less than about 30% by mole;
- (b) rhamnose content of from about 3 to about 15% by mole;
- (c) being capable of forming a gel in the presence of a solution of a calcium salt;
- and
- (d) a molecular weight of from about 10.sup.4 to about 10.sup.7 Daltons, capable of forming a gel with a solution of sodium salt at a temperature of from -10.degree. C. to about 10.degree. C. and the gel turns into a solution when the temperature is elevated to about or above 15.degree. C.;
- wherein said Aloe pectin has been isolated from the leaf of an Aloe plant by extraction using EDTA at a pH of from about 3 to about 7, at a temperature of from about 20.degree. C. to about 100.degree. C.
An Aloe pectin having a 3-O-methyl rhamnose content of from 0.1 to about 5% by mole and optionally having at least one of the following properties:
- (a) degree of methylation of less than about 30% by mole;
- (b) rhamnose content of from about 3 to about 15% by mole;
- (c) being capable of forming a gel in the presence of a solution of a calcium salt;
- and
- (d) a molecular weight of from about 10.sup.4 to about 10.sup.7 Daltons, capable of forming a gel with a solution of sodium salt at a temperature of from -10.degree. C. to about 10.degree. C. and the gel turns into a solution when the temperature is elevated to about or above 15.degree. C.;
- wherein said Aloe pectin has been isolated from the leaf of an Aloe plant by extraction using EDTA at a pH of from about 7 to about 9, at a temperature of from about 20.degree. C. to about 100.degree. C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.