Patent ID: 7182973

Claim:
An extract from which impurities such as cellulose, lignin and ash have been removed, which comprises volatile and non-volatile principal components selected from the group of essential oils, oleoresins, and active principals, and solvent containing dissolved salts, and which is obtained by a low temperature process comprising: (a) contacting raw plant material with an extracting organic polar solvent to form a solution containing principal components, impurities, and insoluble matter; (b) separating the insoluble matter from the solution to form a first extraction solution; (c) raising the pH of the first extraction solution to greater than 7 by adding a quantity of a base to form a solution containing principal components and insolubilized impurities; (d) separating the insolubilized impurities from the solution to form a second extraction solution; (e) neutralizing the second extraction solution by adding a quantity of an acid to form a solution containing principal components and dissolved salts; and (f) separating the principal components from the dissolved salts and from the organic polar solvent and recovering same.