Patent ID: 7208181
Filing Date: 2007-04-24
Classification: A23L,A23V,C09B

Abstract:
1. A method for extracting an anthocyanin compound in its substantially native, chemically unaltered state from a fruit or vegetable material, wherein said fruit material is obtained from a source species selected from the group consisting of Aronia, Citrus, Empetrum, Fragaria, Hylocereus, Malus, Morus, Prunus, Punica, Pyrus, Ribes, Rubus, Sambucus, Solanum and blueberry species of Vaccinium , and said vegetable material is obtained from a source species selected from the group consisting of Beta, Brassica, Daucus, Ipomoea, Rhapanus, Solanum , and Zea , comprising: a. treating said fruit or vegetable material with a continuous flow of aqueous solvent system through said material under subcritical conditions sufficient to dissolve said anthocyanin compound into the aqueous solvent system to obtain an aqueous solvent system having a dissolved anthocyanin compound, wherein said subcritical conditions comprise a temperature in a range of 75–200° C., an extraction pressure of 10–50 Bar, a pH less than 5.0, and a superficial velocity of at least 0.1 cm/sec; b. rapidly cooling said aqueous solvent system having said dissolved anthocyanin compound; and c. recovering an extract comprising the aqueous solvent system and said dissolved anthocyanin compound in its native, chemically unaltered state.