Patent ID: 8425948
Filing Date: 2013-04-23
Classification: A61P,C07C,C09B

Abstract:
1. A process for isolation of carotenoids crystals having lutein and zeaxanthin in a weight ratio of about 10:1, 5:1 and 1:1 respectively, said process comprising: (a) contacting a plant source rich in lutein with an alcohol and extracting at a temperature of 50° C. to 75° C. to obtain an extract rich in lutein; (b) enriching the extract rich in lutein with an alcohol at a temperature in the range of 25° C. to 50° C. for 10 to 20 minutes to obtain an oleoresin rich in lutein; (c) contacting a plant source rich in zeaxanthin with an alcohol and extracting at a temperature of 50° C. to 75° C. to obtain an extract rich in zeaxanthin; (d) enriching the extract rich in zeaxanthin with an alcohol at a temperature in the range of 25° C. to 50° C. for 10 to 20 minutes to obtain an oleoresin rich in zeaxanthin; (e) mixing the oleoresin rich in lutein and the oleoresin rich in zeaxanthin in a ratio ranging from about 80:20 (w/w) to 90:10 (w/w), about 70:30 (w/w) to 30:70 (w/w) and about 10:90 (w/w) to 20:80 (w/w) respectively and homogenizing the mixture to obtain a mixed oleoresin; (f) hydrolyzing the mixed oleoresin with an alcoholic alkali at a temperature in the range of 70° C. to 80° C. to obtain a reaction mixture; and (g) adding hot water at a temperature in the range of 70° C. to 75° C. to the reaction mixture to form a precipitate of carotenoids, thereby obtaining carotenoids crystals having lutein and zeaxanthin in a weight ratio of about 10:1, 5:1 and 1:1 respectively; wherein the plant source rich in lutein and the plant source rich in zeaxanthin are independently selected from the group consisting of Marigold, Paprika and Chinese wolfberries (