US 6,747,015 B2 · Low molecular weight polymannuronate

Abstract

Disclosed is a polymannuronate composition including polymannuronate having molecular weight from about 4,000 to about 500,000 in a high purity. The composition can be used in producing nutritional compositions such as functional foods and health aids. Also, the composition can be used in a pharmaceutical composition along with a pharmaceutical carrier. The composition has various effects, including controlling serum lipids, preventing hyperlipidemia, preventing obesity, preventing diabetes, enhancing functions of liver, expelling heavy metals from a body, etc. Further disclosed is a process to producing the polymannuronate composition, in which alginate is hydrolyzed and then the polymannuronate components are isolated. Further disclosed herein is a composition produced by that process. In the hydrolysis, an organic acid is preferably used, and the isolation of the polymannuronate involves adjustment of pH of the resulting mixture of the hydrolysis.

Claims34

Dependent claims

A method of preparing a polymannuronate composition, comprising:

providing alginate;
hydrolyzing the alginate to form a mixture comprising polymannuronate and polyguluronate, wherein the polymannuronate has a molecular weight ranged from about 4,000 Dalton (Da) to about 500,000 Da, wherein the hydrolysis comprises adding one or more organic acids to the alginate and heating the mixture of the alginate and the organic acid, and wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of citric acid, malic acid, oxalic acid, lactic acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid and acetic acid, wherein the hydrolysis is carried out for about 20 minutes to about 3 hours;
and
isolating the polymannuronate from the mixture.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Low molecular weight polymannuronate

Life of this patent

Low molecular weight polymannuronate

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims34