Patent ID: 6743953
Filing Date: 2004-06-01
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
A process for the preparation of xanthophyll crystals containing at least 85% total xanthophylls with at least 90% trans-lutein and/or zeaxanthin, trace amounts of cis-lutein and other carotenoids which comprises(a) saponifying xanthophyll esters present in extract/oleoresin of plant material by admixing the extract/oleoresin with an aliphatic alcoholic alkali solution without addition of water and heating the resultant solution at a temperature in the range of 65Â° C. to 80Â° C.; (b) removing alcohol from the resultant mixture under reduced pressure to get a saponified crude concentrate; (c) admixing the resultant saponified crude concentrate obtained in step (b) with water to form a diluted oily mixture; (d) extracting the diluted oily mixture obtained in step (c) with ethyl acetate to get extract containing xanthophylls and recovering xanthophyll crystals containing at least 85% total xanthophylls with at least 90% trans-lutein and/or zeaxanthin, trace amounts of cis-lutein and other carotenoids.