Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Inorganic active ingredient containing – Aluminum – calcium or magnesium element – or compound containing
Patent
1993-08-09
1995-04-25
Rose, Shep K.
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Inorganic active ingredient containing
Aluminum, calcium or magnesium element, or compound containing
423173, 423175, 424688, 426532, A61K 3308, A61K 3306
Patent
active
054097142
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an antimicrobial agent and a method for sustaining the degree of freshness of food.
BACKGROUND ART
Fungi may appear in various kinds of food and industrial products such as paints, paste, and so on. Once the fungi appear in the food and the industrial products, the commercial value of the goods is damaged to a great extent and they are caused to be thrown away in many cases. Even if the fungi would not appear, the growth or the propagation of hazardous microorganisms may damage the commercial value of the goods to a remarkable extent and cause the goods to be thrown away in some cases. Further, the growth or the propagation of such microorganisms in food may cause food poison.
Heretofore, as an antimicrobial agent superior in safety for the human body and applicable to food, ethanol, a hypochlorite, and an allylisothiocyanate are mainly employed. However, ethanol is an inflammable liquid so that the requirement for caution in handling is a weak point. The hypochlorite has the defect that it generates an unpleasant odor derived from chlorine. The allylisothiocyanate presents the defects that it is decomposed in water, generating a malodorous smell, and it is strongly irritating as well.
The main object of the present invention is to provide an antimicrobial agent which is highly safe for the human body, which is easy to handle, and which does not generate any unpleasant odor.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for sustaining the degree of freshness of food.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the disclosure of the invention which follows.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
As a result of extensive studies and research on the development of antimicrobial agents which are highly safe for the human body, which are easy to handle, and which do not cause any unpleasant odor upon application, it has surprisingly been found by the present inventor that a calcined product obtained by calcining shells of an oyster has a highly antimicrobial action and, further, that food treated with the calcined product can sustain the high degree of freshness.
The present invention provides the antimicrobial agent comprising a calcined product of a calcium oxide type, prepared by calcining the shells of the oyster, and/or a calcined product of a calcium hydroxide type which is in the form of a hydrate of the calcined product of the calcium oxide type.
The present invention further provides the method for sustaining the degree of freshness of food by having the calcined product contained in the food.
In addition, the present invention provides the method for sustaining the degree of freshness of food by bringing the food into contact with an aqueous solution or an aqueous dispersion, each containing the calcined product.
It is to be noted herein that the term "antimicrobial action" and its related terms are intended to encompass a germicidal action and a germistatic action. Further, the term "germ" and its related terms are intended to encompass bacteria, fungi, spores thereof, algae and other hazardous microorganisms.
The antimicrobial agent according to the present invention comprises a calcined product of the shells of an oyster or Ostracea. More specifically, the oyster may include, for example, Ostrea, Crassostrea, Sexostrea, and so on. The calcined product may be prepared by calcining the shells of the oyster at high temperatures of approximately 600.degree. C. or higher, preferably in the range of from 900.degree. C. to 1,200.degree. C. As the atmosphere in which the shells of the oyster are calcined, air is usually employed; however, an inert gas such as nitrogen or argon may be employed. The time of calcination may range usually from 15 minutes to 60 minutes, preferably from 20 minutes to 45 minutes. The calcination may be carried out preferably by generating heat (Joule's heat) upon application of electric current to the shells of the oyster employed as a resistor, thereby calcinin
REFERENCES:
patent: 4684529 (1987-08-01), Ueno
patent: 4988520 (1991-01-01), Overton
patent: 5215769 (1993-06-01), Fox et al.
patent: 5296246 (1994-03-01), Inoue et al.
patent: 5344636 (1994-09-01), Miyata
Chem. Abstracts, Derwent Abstracts of Japanese Patents cited by Applicant.
Shinohara GA.116;127400z (1991) of JP 03291230 (Dec. 20, 1991).
Ueda CA116:82525a (1991) of JP 03240449 (Oct. 25, 1991).
Moriyama GA91:173708u 1979 of JP 5408665y (Jul. 10, 1979).
Kurokawa CA 80:58636e (1973) of JP 48085721 (Nov. 13, 1973) (Derwent Abstr).
Kaiko Derwent Abstract of JP 78-73367 (Jun. 17, 1978).
Kaji Derwent Abstr. of JP 52110878 (Sep. 17, 1979).
Fujiex Derwent Abstr. of JP5262655 (Mar. 7, 1992).
Kaiho Co., Ltd.
Rose Shep K.
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