Title:
PROCESS FOR EXTRACTION AND PURIFICATION OF LUTEIN, ZEAXANTHIN AND RARE CAROTENOIDS FROM MARIGOLD FLOWERS AND PLANTS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO1999020587
Kind Code:
A8
Abstract:
A process for simultaneously extracting, saponifying, and isolating lutein and zeaxanthin, and a mixture of several rare carotenoids in high purity from plants without the use of harmful organic solvents. Lutein crystals containing 5 % zeaxanthin were obtained from the dried petals of Marigold flowers Tagete erecta while zeaxanthin was isolated and purified from the berries of Lycium Chinese Mill (LCM berries). Similarly, this process has been employed to isolate and purify a mixture of lutein, beta-carotene, neoxanthin, violaxanthin, and lutein epoxide from green plants, preferably, kale, collard green, and spinach. These plants, to a lesser extent, also serve as a source of several rare carotenoids such as alpha-cryptoxanthin (Marigolds) and beta-cryptoxanthin (LCM berries). The purified carotenoids isolated by this process are free from impurities and serve as a safe source of nutritional supplement for human consumption as well as providing a suitable and effective color additive for human foods.
Inventors:
KHACHIK FREDERICK (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US1998/022229
Publication Date:
August 26, 1999
Filing Date:
October 21, 1998
Export Citation:
Assignee:
TECHNOLOGY LIAISON OFF OF (US)
KHACHIK FREDERICK (US)
KHACHIK FREDERICK (US)
International Classes:
A23L1/275; C07C29/09; C07C35/08; C07C35/21; C07C403/24; (IPC1-7): C07C35/08; C07C35/18
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