METHOD FOR EXTRACTION OF A RAW MATERIAL TO PRODUCE A FORMULATION RICH IN PHYTOCHEMICALS

Abstract

The present invention describes a method for extraction of a raw material or a combination of raw materials to produce a formulation (NEAT™) rich in phytochemicals and which is based on or rich in oil and proteins, said method comprising—bringing the raw material or combination of raw materials into contact with a solvent being carbon dioxide and which optionally is assisted with one or more co-solvents being GRAS (generally recognized as safe), such as but not limited to water, ethanol, dimethyl carbonate; —performing an extraction in high pressure conditions ranging from subcritical to super critical conditions in carbon dioxide in a pressure range of 250-800 bars and in a temperature range of 15-45° C. to provide a formulation being rich in phytochemicals, e.g. lipids, phenolics, terpenoids and alkaloids and proteins wherein a residue obtained in the method for extraction is subjected to extraction in carbon dioxide at supercritical conditions in a pressure above 72 bars and 31° C., and wherein pressurized hot water is used as a co-solvent or after the extraction with carbon dioxide.

Claims

1. A method for extraction of a raw material or a combination of raw materials to produce a formulation rich in phytochemicals, and preferably plant-proteins, and which is based on or rich in oil, said method comprising bringing the raw material or combination of raw materials into contact with a solvent being carbon dioxide and which optionally is assisted with one or more co-solvent(s) being GRAS (generally recognized as safe), such as but not limited to water, ethanol, dimethyl carbonate; performing an extraction in high pressure conditions ranging from subcritical to super critical conditions in carbon dioxide in a pressure range of 250-800 bars and in a temperature range of 15-45° C. to provide a formulation being rich in phytochemicals, e.g. lipids, phenolics, terpenoids and alkaloids, wherein a residue obtained in the method for extraction is subjected to extraction in carbon dioxide at supercritical conditions in a pressure above 72 bars and 31° C., and wherein pressurized hot water is used as a co-solvent or after the extraction with carbon dioxide.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein one or more green co-solvents are used in the extraction.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more green co-solvents is water, ethanol, dimethyl carbonate or a combination thereof.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the extraction is carried out under sonication and/or ultrasound assisted extraction.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises a separation step which is a membrane separation step.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method involves polarity control.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the raw material or combination of raw materials are chosen from any of Frankincense, Baobab, Moringa, Oats, Blueberries, Rubus chamaemorus, Raspberry, Grape vine, Carrots, Tomatoes, Marigold, curly kale, olives and olive leaves or a combination of any of these.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method produces an oil-based formulation comprising phytochemicals and/or phytosterols.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method produces an oil-based formulation extract comprising at least any three of the following components: one or more glycerolipids, phospholipids, glycolipids or terpenoids, or a combination thereof; omega 3, 6 or 9, or a combination thereof; one or more antioxidants; vitamin A, E and/or vitamin D; at least on plant-protein and free amino acids; and one or more phenolic compounds.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND EXAMPLES

[0051] Extractions was performed in accordance with the method according to the present invention. A lab-scale supercritical fluid extraction system (Isco™) was used in a pressure range 300-800 bars, a temperature range 35-45° C. and a time of 15-30 minutes.

[0052] In FIG. 1 there is shown chromatograms of extracted oils obtained in accordance with the present invention. The following is valid here: 1) Where it states Sample_oil_O then the chromatogram illustrates the content from Oats. 2) Where it states Sample_oil_M then the chromatogram illustrates the content from Moringa. 3) Where it states Sample_oil_L then the chromatogram illustrates the content from Frankincense. 4) Where it states Sample_oil_B then the chromatogram illustrates the content from Baobab. 5) Where it states Sample_oil_ALL then the chromatogram illustrates the content from a combination of raw materials from Moringa, Oats, Frankincense and Baobab. This is case where these raw materials were mixed and extracted at the same time.

[0053] As may be seen from FIG. 1 for the oils extracted in accordance with the present method Moringa has higher amount of DAGs and steroid esters. The resulted mixture had a wide range of compounds including glycerolipids, phospholipids and glycolipids and terpenoids. By mixing Moringa and Baobab, there was obtained a homogeneous oil-based formulation with a unique combination of Boswellic acids, diglycerides, triglycerides, phospholipids and steroid esters.

[0054] In relation to these suitable raw materials to be used when performing the method according to the present invention the following may be mentioned. Moringa (M) oil is rich in a wide range of TAGs (triglyceride) &phospholipids and contains as well DAGs (diglyceride), and steroid esters. Baobab oil is rich in a wide range of TAGs (triglyceride) and phospholipids. Frankincense is rich in a wide range of Boswellic acids. This implies that a resulted mixture of oils from Oats, Moringa, Baobab and Frankincense has a wide range of functional compounds including glycolipids, phospholipids and glycolipids and terpenoids.

[0055] In FIG. 2 there is shown the chromatogram resulting from similar tests as according to FIG. 1, but in this case Moringa and Baobab was mixed. By mixing Moringa and Baobab, there was obtained a homogeneous oil-based formulation with a unique combination of diglycerides, triglycerides, phospholipids and steroid esters.

[0056] In relation to suitable raw materials to be used, some mentioned above and others not, the following may also be mentioned. In relation to olives, olives contain concentrations of up to 140 mg per g on a dry matter basis in olives and 60-90 mg per g of dry matter in the leaves of Oleuropein, which is a phenolic compound in olive cultivars and can reach. This may be of interest in relation to the present invention. Moreover, CURLY KALE, which is also usable according to the present invention, contains 20 mg per 100 g raw material Lutein & Zeaxanthin. Furthermore, Frankincense rich has oil content of about 30% mainly rich in Boswellic acids and exhibits a range of microbial activities. Moreover, bilberries have an oil content in the order of 15-20% mainly rich in about 6-9 types of free fatty acids (FFA), e.g. linoleic acid; tocopherols; phytosterols; squalene; unsaturated oils and phenolics. Also this is of interest to use when performing the method according to the present invention for suitable applications. Moreover, Baobab Seed Oil, also of interest according to the present invention, has a content is in the order of 20% mostly rich in Palmatic acid, Oleic acid. This is also reported to have a high content of essential fatty acids e.g. vitamins A, D, E and F.