The present invention relates to a method for the production of chromoplastid carotenoids that can be isolated from fruits. The procedure of the invention allows to selectively isolate, on the basis of the size (Size Exclusion Chromatography) and in pure form, the carotenoid in the form of regularly shaped and sized aggregates. The process includes the following steps: i) production, in suspension, of homogeneous fragments of the chromoplastidial membranes from the fruits; ii) solution isolation of the membrane components by solubilization with detergents; iii) selective and high-purity isolation of the carotenoid in the form of regular paracrystalline aggregates by a screening technique such as size exclusion chromatography (SEC—Size Exclusion Chromatography).

Disclosed is a method for removing benzo[α]pyrene from a liposoluble natural extract. The method of the present invention comprises adding a suitable solvent to a crude natural extract product so as to obtain a mixed material; heating the mixed material, stirring until uniform, cooling and layering, and then separating the upper layer from the lower layer so as to obtain a precipitate and a filtrate; washing the precipitate with a small amount of a solvent so as to obtain a washed product and a washing solution; removing the solvent from the washed product at a low temperature so as to obtain a finished product; and directly recycling the filtrate and the washing solution as solvents. The present method achieves the purification of the crude natural extract product and the removal of benzo[α]pyrene in one step, and is a novel method which is simple, highly efficient, feasible and easy for industrial applications.

Disclosed is a method for removing benzo[α]pyrene from a liposoluble natural extract. The method of the present invention comprises adding a suitable solvent to a crude natural extract product so as to obtain a mixed material; heating the mixed material, stirring until uniform, cooling and layering, and then separating the upper layer from the lower layer so as to obtain a precipitate and a filtrate; washing the precipitate with a small amount of a solvent so as to obtain a washed product and a washing solution; removing the solvent from the washed product at a low temperature so as to obtain a finished product; and directly recycling the filtrate and the washing solution as solvents. The present method achieves the purification of the crude natural extract product and the removal of benzo[α]pyrene in one step, and is a novel method which is simple, highly efficient, feasible and easy for industrial applications.

The anthocyanin synthesized from date palm may include co-pigmented anthocyanin complexes synthesized by extracting an anthocyanin from date palm leaves and reacting the anthocyanin with phenolic compounds also resulting from date palm leaf extraction in order to produce a co-pigmented anthocyanin complex. Date palm leaf powder may be mixed with water containing about 1.08% hydrochloric acid in a glass or ceramic lined reactor, and extraction may be performed by boiling the mixture for an hour or more. The color of the co-pigmented anthocyanin complex produced by this method may be adjusted by continuing the heating in half hour increments, in order to deepen the hue of the co-pigmented anthocyanin complex. The co-pigmented anthocyanin complex may be separated from the liquid mixture by first filtering the liquid mixture, refining the liquid mixture by adding gelatin to form a colloidal solution, and freeze-drying the refined liquid mixture.

The anthocyanin synthesized from date palm may include co-pigmented anthocyanin complexes synthesized by extracting an anthocyanin from date palm leaves and reacting the anthocyanin with phenolic compounds also resulting from date palm leaf extraction in order to produce a co-pigmented anthocyanin complex. Date palm leaf powder may be mixed with water containing about 1.08% hydrochloric acid in a glass or ceramic lined reactor, and extraction may be performed by boiling the mixture for an hour or more. The color of the co-pigmented anthocyanin complex produced by this method may be adjusted by continuing the heating in half hour increments, in order to deepen the hue of the co-pigmented anthocyanin complex. The co-pigmented anthocyanin complex may be separated from the liquid mixture by first filtering the liquid mixture, refining the liquid mixture by adding gelatin to form a colloidal solution, and freeze-drying the refined liquid mixture.

A formulation includes an active agent, a thickening/solidifying agent, and an antioxidant. The active agent is 9-cis-β-carotene (9CBC) or a derivative thereof of the following formula:

##STR00001##

where R.sub.2 is H or methyl; X is

##STR00002##

optionally substituted with one or more methyl groups; n is an integer of 0-16; and the asterisk represents the point of attachment to the cyclohexene ring.

A formulation includes an active agent, a thickening/solidifying agent, and an antioxidant. The active agent is 9-cis-β-carotene (9CBC) or a derivative thereof of the following formula:

##STR00001##

where R.sub.2 is H or methyl; X is

##STR00002##

optionally substituted with one or more methyl groups; n is an integer of 0-16; and the asterisk represents the point of attachment to the cyclohexene ring.

The anthocyanin synthesized from date palm may include co-pigmented anthocyanin complexes synthesized by extracting an anthocyanin from date palm leaves and reacting the anthocyanin with phenolic compounds also resulting from date palm leaf extraction in order to produce a co-pigmented anthocyanin complex. Date palm leaf powder may be mixed with water containing about 1.08% hydrochloric acid in a glass or ceramic lined reactor, and extraction may be performed by boiling the mixture for an hour or more. The color of the co-pigmented anthocyanin complex produced by this method may be adjusted by continuing the heating in half hour increments, in order to deepen the hue of the co-pigmented anthocyanin complex. The co-pigmented anthocyanin complex may be separated from the liquid mixture by first filtering the liquid mixture, refining the liquid mixture by adding gelatin to form a colloidal solution, and freeze-drying the refined liquid mixture.

The anthocyanin synthesized from date palm may include co-pigmented anthocyanin complexes synthesized by extracting an anthocyanin from date palm leaves and reacting the anthocyanin with phenolic compounds also resulting from date palm leaf extraction in order to produce a co-pigmented anthocyanin complex. Date palm leaf powder may be mixed with water containing about 1.08% hydrochloric acid in a glass or ceramic lined reactor, and extraction may be performed by boiling the mixture for an hour or more. The color of the co-pigmented anthocyanin complex produced by this method may be adjusted by continuing the heating in half hour increments, in order to deepen the hue of the co-pigmented anthocyanin complex. The co-pigmented anthocyanin complex may be separated from the liquid mixture by first filtering the liquid mixture, refining the liquid mixture by adding gelatin to form a colloidal solution, and freeze-drying the refined liquid mixture.

The invention relates to a purified xanthophyll composition comprising (trans,R R)-lutein and (trans,R,R)-zeaxanthin, which is comprised of more than 80% of total xanthophylls and a process for the preparation thereof. Purified xanthophyll composition is comprised of selective isomers such as at least 85% by weight of (trans,R,R)-lutein and at least 15% by weight of (trans,R,R)-zeaxanthin. The composition is prepared by process of extraction from two different plant sources using industrially viable process and purified by employing food grade polar and non-polar solvents. The invention relates to purified xanthophyll composition which is selectively free from (R,S)-zeaxanthin and is suitable for human consumption.