Patent ID: 8128970

Claim:
A composition comprising a reduced melanin extracted from sesame seed hulls or sesame seed shells, wherein the molecular weight of the reduced melanin is between about 264 daltons and about 5000 daltons, wherein the carbon content of the reduced melanin is between about 49 percent and about 57 percent by weight, the hydrogen content of the reduced melanin is between about 5 percent and about 10 percent by weight and the oxygen content of the reduced melanin is between about 33 percent and about 37 percent by weight, wherein the reduced melanin comprises a formula: wherein each X, of each m and n unit, independently, can be either a COOH or salt thereof or a hydrogen atom; wherein at least one of each Y 1 or each Y 2 , of each m and n unit, independently, is an NH and the other is a CH provided both Y 1 and Y 2 are not both NH or CH; wherein each Q 1 and Q 2 , of each m and n unit, are each independently, a hydroxyl, a hydroxyl anion, a H, or a ═O; provided that the molar ratio of hydroxyl to ketone functionality within the reduced melanin is greater than 50 percent; wherein represents a conjugated π system; wherein m is from 1 to about 40; wherein n is from 1 to about 40; wherein m+n=from 2 to about 40; and wherein each m and n monomeric unit can be the same or different.