LIQUID COMPOSITION COMPRISING PHYCOCYANIN

Abstract

The present invention relates to a liquid composition comprising 3 to 10 wt % of phycocyanin, at least 50 wt % of glycerol, and 0.1 to 3 wt % of at least one emulsifier based on the total weight of the liquid composition.

Claims

1. A liquid composition comprising: 3 to 10 wt % of phycocyanin; at least 50 wt % of glycerol; and 0.1 to 3 wt % of at least one emulsifier based on the total weight of the liquid composition.

2. The liquid composition according to claim 1, wherein the emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of lecithins, lysolecithins mono- and/or diglycerides of fatty acids, polyglycerol esters of fatty acids, or mixtures thereof.

3. The liquid composition according to claim 1 or 2 comprising 5 to 9 wt % of phycocyanin, based on the total weight of the liquid composition.

4. The liquid composition according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the phycocyanin is on a carrier material.

5. The liquid composition according to claim 4, wherein the carrier material is selected from the group consisting of, trehalose, maltodextrin, any citrate, or mixtures thereof

6. The liquid composition according to at least one of claims 1 to 5 comprising 50 to 70 wt % of glycerol and 10 to 35 wt % of water.

7. The liquid composition according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the emulsifier is mono- and/or diglycerides of fatty acids or a lecithin.

8. The liquid composition according to at least one of claims 1 to 7 having a viscosity of <2000 mPas at 25 C. determined with a Haake spindle rheometer.

9. The liquid composition according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a natural colorant.

10. The liquid composition according to claim 9, wherein the natural colorant is selected from the group consisting of a carotinoid, a Safflower petal extract concentrate, a Gardenia yellow extract concentrate, a carrot concentrate, curcumin extract, or an anthocyanin containing vegetable or fruit concentrate or mixtures thereof.

11. A method for preparing a liquid composition according to at least one of claims 1 to 10 comprising dissolving phycocyanin and the emulsifier in glycerol and optional water.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the emulsifier is dissolved in glycerol and optional water, and the phycocyanin is added as a powder to the solution.

13. Use of the liquid composition according to at least one of claims 1 to 10 for coloring food.

14. The use of claim 13, wherein the foodstuff is a beverage, a dairy product, ice cream, confectionery or a drage coating.

15. A foodstuff comprising the liquid composition of at least one of claims 1 to 10.

Description

EXAMPLES

[0053] General Procedure:

[0054] A water-glycerol mixture was prepared in all the tests and the emulsifiers were incorporated either via a stirrer or Ultra-Turrax. Subsequently, phycocyanin powder is added and dissolved by means of a stirrer. After the addition is complete, the resulting composition is stirred for further 5 minutes.

[0055] Materials:

[0056] Demineralized water

[0057] Glycerol

[0058] E322 Topcithin SF (sunflower lecithin Cargill;)

[0059] E471 Mono-, Diglyceride from High Oleic acid Sunflower oil (Hafen-Mhlen-Werke GmbH)

[0060] Phycocyanin powder from Spirulina algae based on citrate as a carrier was purchased from HuaKang, China, composed as follows: 29.50.5 wt % phycocyanin, 50% trisodium citrate, the remaining 20.50.5 wt % are colorless algae biomass.

[0061] When dissolving phycocyanin powder in a mixture of water and glycerol under stirring, the formation of foam is observed and a voluminous fluffy dispersion is obtained (Comparative Example 1). Initially the whole formulation becomes a foam. Even after 14 h the foam did not collapse and only half of the phycocyanin containing liquid drains out from the foam. The other half of the precious liquid remains entrapped in the foam and, consequently, would be lost as this foam cannot be applied to color food. The agents used in Examples 1 to 3, almost fully prevents the formation of foam and the preparations can be immediately filled in selling packages without any significant losses. The viscosity of the invented preparation is favorably low and the a.sub.w value is below 0.75.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Composition and physicochemical characteristics of formulations Comparative Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Example 1 Composition Phycocyanin content 8.7 wt % 6.5 wt % 6.6 wt % 6.4 wt % Phycocyanin powder 28.8 wt % 22.0 wt % 22.0 wt % 22.0 wt % Demineralized Water 17.6 wt % 19.5 wt % 19.25 wt % 19.5 wt % Glycerol 53.1 wt % 58.0 wt % 58.0 wt % 58.5 wt % Emulsifier 0.5 wt % 0.5 wt % 0.75% none E322 E322 E471 Viscosity (temperature) 1065 mPas 217 mPas 200 mPas Not (20.6 C.) (23.8 C.) (24.0 C.) measurable, foam only Dry matter (by thermo 71.5% 71.5% 71.2% 70.2% gravimetry, isotherm at 103 C. in sand, 16 h) a.sub.w-value 0.596 0.616 0.615 0.614 Volumes liquid/foam after 200 ml/40 ml 200 ml/25 ml 200 ml/20 ml Foam only 1 h Volumes liquid/foam after 200 ml/40 ml 200 ml/25 ml 200 ml/20 ml 100 ml/280 ml 14 h Foam volume of total 40/240 = 11% 9% 74% volume after 14 h 17%

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Compar- ative Example Example Example Example 1 2 3 1 Phycocyanin 0.5:1000 0.67:1000 0.67:1000 0.67:1000 example: demineralized water Phycocyanin 0.0043 0.0043 0.0044 0.0043 content wt % wt % wt % wt % in dilution L*a*b*- L 88.8 88.2 87.5 89.2 values of A 9.1 9.5 9.1 9.4 dilution b 15.7 16.4 15.2 16.2 Turbidity 3.02 3.88 6.33 1.47 of dilution [FNU] by Hach 2100Qis (at 90 scatter angle)

[0062] Results:

[0063] As can be seen from Examples 1 to 3 of Table 1, when preparing a liquid composition in accordance with the present invention, the foam formation is suppressed compared to Comparative Example 1.

[0064] As can be seen from Table 2, the color does not deteriorate and the turbidity is low.