Process for isolation, purification, and recrystallization of lutein from saponified marigold oleoresin and uses thereof
AssigneeThe Catholic University of America
InventorFrederick Khachik
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Abstract
A method of isolating, purifying and recrystallizing substantially pure lutein, preferably from saponified marigold oleoresin in its pure free form, apart from chemical impurities and other carotenoids. Lutein may be used as an analytical standard or in cancer prevention trials and as a safe and effective color additive for human food.
Claims21
The carotenoid composition consisting essentially of substantially pure lutein crystals derived from plant extracts that contain lutein, said lutein crystals being of the formula:
- wherein the lutein is substantially free from other carotenoids and chemical impurities found in the natural form of lutein in the plant extract.
A method of obtaining substantially pure, free form lutein crystals from saponified marigold extract, comprising the steps of:
- (a) mixing the marigold extract with water/alcohol mixture remove soluble impurities;
- (b) lowering the temperature of the mixture to a temperature to precipitate lutein crystals;
- (c) washing the lutein crystals with water to remove water soluble impurities;
- (d) washing the lutein crystals with an organic solvent mixture to remove organic impurities, and thereafter recrystallizing the lutein.
A method for providing lutein to humans which comprises:
- (a) providing a lutein composition suitable for human consumption having (1) at least about 90% lutein having been extracted and purified from plant extracts which contain 10% or less of non-lutein carotenoids, (2) no traces of toxic chemicals that would render the lutein composition unsuitable for human consumption and (3) significantly less than about 10% of non-lutein carotenoids obtained by purification of said plant extracts;
- and
- (b) administering said lutein composition to a human.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.