Isolation of lutein from alfalfa
AssigneeNu-Tein Co., Inc.
InventorsMark Hoffman, David Baugh, Michael Ahern, David Walsh
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims66
A method of obtaining xanthophylls from green plant oleoresin, the method comprising:
- (a) saponifying green plant oleoresin to provide a saponified resin, wherein the saponifying employs a saponification agent in an amount sufficient to maintain the pH during the saponifying at about 10 to about 14;
- (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 xanthophylls 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, wherein the saponifying employs a saponification agent in an amount sufficient to maintain the pH during the saponifying at about 10 to about 14;
- (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.