Patent ID: 6383543
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: A23K,A23L,C07C,C09K,C11B,Y02A

Abstract:
Process for the preparation of completely water-soluble antioxidant material comprising the sodium salt of rosmarinic acid, and of aqueous solutions containing as solute said antioxidant material, which process comprises effecting sequentially steps (a) and (b), followed by any one of steps (c), (d) and (e):(a) subjecting tissue of plants of the Labiatae family to extraction with a first extractant selected from the group consisting of weakly acidic, neutral and alkaline aqueous extractants at temperature&lE;80Â° C.; (b) separating the aqueous phase from insoluble matter; and either (c) extracting said separated aqueous phase, after concentration if desired, with a second extractant comprising aqueous ethanol, and separating the resultant aqueous organic phase which contains said antioxidant material; or (d) evaporating said separated aqueous phase to obtain said antioxidant material in solid form; or (e) subjecting said separated aqueous phase to chromatographic separation to recover a product enriched in said sodium salt of rosmarinic acid; provided that: (&agr;) where said extracted aqueous phase is alkaline, this is acidified and acid-insoluble material is removed prior to carrying out step (c), (d) or (e); (&bgr;) where alkaline aqueous extractant is used, this contains as cations essentially only sodium ions.