# US 6,280,725 B1 · Compositions and methods for inhibiting the growth of fungi

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- Number: US 6,280,725 B1
- Document ID: US6280725B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 09/484,748
- Filed: 2000-01-18
- Granted: 2001-08-28
- Earliest claimed: 2000-01-18
- Assignees: Lipton, division of Conopco, Inc.
- Inventors: Isaac Bom; Stanley Brul
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6280725B1

## CPC

- A23B 2/779: Sugars; Derivatives thereof
- A01N 43/16: with oxygen as the ring hetero atom
- A01N 63/50: Isolated enzymes; Isolated proteins (peptides A01N37/46)
- A23B 2/7295: {Antibiotics}
- A23B 2/733: Compounds of undetermined constitution obtained from animals or plants
- A23B 2/746: with singly-bound oxygen
- A23B 2/754: containing carboxyl groups
- A23B 2/762: Organic compounds containing nitrogen
- A23B: PRESERVATION OF FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES
- A01N: PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF (preservation of food or foodstuff A23); BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES (preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes which kill or prevent the growth or proliferation of unwanted organisms A61K); PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS

## Abstract

A composition suitable for inhibiting the outgrowth of fungi is provided comprising a first ingredient which inhibits the biogenesis of a normal fungal cell wall and a second ingredient which is capable of perturbing the structure of the cellular membrane of said fungi, so that either the cellular integrity is essentially lost or cell division cannot take place, or both. The first ingredient preferably inhibits the anchorage of cell wall proteins in the cell wall of the fungi and is suitably a β-(1,6)-glucose polysaccharide, preferably β-gentiobiose or a pustulan fragment. The second ingredient is suitably a natural microbial membrane affecting substance (MMAS), preferably MB-21. The composition is particularly suitable as a preservative for inhibiting the outgrowth of fungi in food products, such as sauces, dressings, ketchups, and soups, but is also useful for preventing or inhibiting undesired fungal growth on other products such as personal health care products, e.g. soap bars.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A composition suitable for inhibiting the outgrowth of fungi wherein said composition comprises:
a first ingredient which inhibits the biogenesis of a normal fungal cell wall, said first ingredient being selected from the group consisting of β-gentiobiose, fragmented pustulan and mixtures thereof, and
a second ingredient which perturbs the structure of the cellular membrane of said fungi, so that either the cellular integrity is essentially lost or cell division cannot take place, or both, said second ingredient being selected from the group consisting of MB-21, nisin, carvacrol, sorbic acid and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, wherein the first ingredient is present at a concentration of 0.05 to 20% by total weight of the composition.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, wherein the second ingredient is present at a concentration of 5×10−5 to 1×10−2% by total weight of the composition.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, which is added to a food product or to a personal care product.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

Composition according to claim 4, wherein the food product is selected from the group consisting of sauces, sauce-bases, dressings, ketchups, soups, soup-bases, spreads, beverages, and ice cream.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

Composition according to claim 4, wherein the personal care product is selected from the group consisting of skin creams, lotions, ointments, shampoos and other products for application to hair.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, wherein the first ingredient is present at a concentration of 0.1 to 1% by total weight of the composition.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, wherein the second ingredient is present at a concentration of 1×10−4 to 2.5×10−3% by total weight of the composition.