The present invention provides beta-cryptoxanthin crystals from plant source and a process for its preparation. The present invention particularly relates to a process for the preparation of high purity beta-cryptoxanthin crystals comprising at least about 10% by weight total xanthophylls, of which at least about 75% by weight is trans-beta-cryptoxanthin and the remaining including beta-carotene, and trace amounts of trans-capsanthin and other carotenoids derived from the plant source, including capsicum fruits. The production of beta-cryptoxanthin crystals with high content of trans-beta-cryptoxanthin makes it ideal and suitable for use as a provitamin A source material and also has potential effects on improving bone health and inhibiting bone resorption.

The present invention provides beta-cryptoxanthin crystals from plant source and a process for its preparation. The present invention particularly relates to a process for the preparation of high purity beta-cryptoxanthin crystals comprising at least about 10% by weight total xanthophylls, of which at least about 75% by weight is trans-beta-cryptoxanthin and the remaining including beta-carotene, and trace amounts of trans-capsanthin and other carotenoids derived from the plant source, including capsicum fruits. The production of beta-cryptoxanthin crystals with high content of trans-beta-cryptoxanthin makes it ideal and suitable for use as a provitamin A source material and also has potential effects on improving bone health and inhibiting bone resorption.

The present invention relates to compound of formula (I) or a stereoisomer thereof, in particular amarouciaxanthin A acetate. The invention also relates to the method of preparation of these compounds, to compositions comprising them as well as their medical and cosmetic uses.

##STR00001##

The present technology relates to methods for extracting carotenoids like -carotene or lutein from oil obtained from/as a by-product derived from a feedstock material like starch-containing material in a processes for producing fermentation products by-products derived from a fermentative production process, in particular from an ethanol fermentation process, wherein the by-product is selected from the group consisting of distillers' wet grain (DWG), distillers' dried grains (DDG), distillers' solubles (DS), distillers' dried solubles (DDS), distillers' dried grain with solubles (DDGS), and mixtures thereof.

The present technology relates to methods for extracting carotenoids like -carotene or lutein from oil obtained from/as a by-product derived from a feedstock material like starch-containing material in a processes for producing fermentation products by-products derived from a fermentative production process, in particular from an ethanol fermentation process, wherein the by-product is selected from the group consisting of distillers' wet grain (DWG), distillers' dried grains (DDG), distillers' solubles (DS), distillers' dried solubles (DDS), distillers' dried grain with solubles (DDGS), and mixtures thereof.

The present disclosure provides a preparation method of carotenoid agent. The preparation method provided in present disclosure includes: mixing a suspended organic dispersion phase of a carotenoid crystal with a first organic solvent in a spiral coil of a coil heat exchanger to form a mixed solution, with the carotenoid crystal in the suspended organic phase of the carotenoid crystal being dissolved in the first organic solvent to obtain an oil phase matrix of the carotenoid dissolution solution, wherein the temperature inside the spiral coil is from 50? C. to 70? C. In the present disclosure, the carotenoid crystal is dissolved in the first organic solvent at 50? C. to 70? C., effectively avoiding the drawbacks of isomerization reaction of the carotenoid agent when it is dissolved in traditional preparation methods.

A nanosized complex includes a nucleic acid and a compound comprising formula (I): ##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1 is an alkylamino group or a group containing at least one aromatic group; R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are independently an aliphatic group or hydrophobic group; R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are independently H, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an acyl group, or an aromatic group, or a polymer, a targeting group, a detectable moiety, or a linker, or a combination thereof, and at least one of R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 includes a retinoid or retinoid derivative that targets and/or binds to an interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein; a, b, c, and d are independently an integer from 1 to 10; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Disclosed is a method for removing benzo[]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[]pyrene in one step, and is a novel method which is simple, highly efficient, feasible and easy for industrial applications.

The object of the present invention is to find a carotenoid compound that is excellent in water solubility. A carotenoid derivative having a formula (I): ##STR00001##
wherein X represents a carbonyl group or a methylene group, one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represents (a) or (b) and the other represents (a), (b), (c) or a hydrogen atom: (a): CO-A-B-D wherein A represents an alkylene group an alkenylene group, etc., B represents a formula of S(O).sub.n or a formula of NR.sup.4CONR.sup.5 and D represents a hydrogen atom, a carboxy group, etc., (b): CO-E-F wherein E represents an alkylene group or a formula of NR.sup.3 wherein R.sup.3 represents (a1) a hydrogen atom, (b1) an alkyl group etc., and F represents a sulfo group and (c): CO-G wherein G represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, etc., a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable ester or amide thereof.

The object of the present invention is to find a carotenoid compound that is excellent in water solubility. A carotenoid derivative having a formula (I): ##STR00001##
wherein X represents a carbonyl group or a methylene group, one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represents (a) or (b) and the other represents (a), (b), (c) or a hydrogen atom: (a): CO-A-B-D wherein A represents an alkylene group an alkenylene group, etc., B represents a formula of S(O).sub.n or a formula of NR.sup.4CONR.sup.5 and D represents a hydrogen atom, a carboxy group, etc., (b): CO-E-F wherein E represents an alkylene group or a formula of NR.sup.3 wherein R.sup.3 represents (a1) a hydrogen atom, (b1) an alkyl group etc., and F represents a sulfo group and (c): CO-G wherein G represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, etc., a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable ester or amide thereof.