Stable, optically clear compositions

Details Stable, optically clear compositions Stable, optically clear compositions

1996-09-13

1999-03-23

Paden, Carolyn

Food or edible material: processes, compositions, and products

Treatment of live animal

426602, 426262, 426604, 426540, 426541, 426 73, 424439, A23L 1275

Patent

active

058856293

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to compositions for products for internal or external use by humans or animals, such as beverages, processes for preparing such compositions and products containing them. In particular the invention relates to a process for preparing liquid compositions comprising biologically active oils for use in the maintenance and/or promotion of health.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention therefore in one aspect provides an aqueous composition for the preparation of optically clear products for human or animal healthcare comprising 0.001 to 2.0% w/w of a biologically active oil or 0.1-2.0% w/w of a biologically active oil as a 20-30% dispersion in a suitable oil, 2-20% of an emulsifier having an HLB (hydrophilic/lipophilic balance) value of from 10 to 18 or where a blend of emulsifiers is employed, a calculated HLB value of from 10 to 18, and 0.1 to 1.0% of an antioxidant or a mixture of antioxidants.


DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Another aspect of the present invention are stable aqueous compositions of biologically active oils for the preparation of optically clear products for use in human or animal healthcare, for example beverages, are prepared by a process comprising: (a) mixing 0.001-2.0% w/w of a biologically active oil or 0.1-2.0% w/w or a biologically active oil as a 20-30% dispersion in a suitable oil with 0.1 1.0% of an antioxidant or antioxidant mixture, (b) dispersing the mixture for (a) in 2-20% of an emulsifier or an emulsifier mixture having an HLB (hydrolipophilic balance) value of 10 to 18 and heating to 50.degree. to 150.degree. C. so as to yield a transparent mixture, (c) raising the temperature of the mixture from (b) as appropriate while maintaining stirring to maintain a transparent mixture, and (d) combining the mixture from (c) with water having a minimum temperature of 95.degree. C. while continuously stirring to provide a transparent composition.
An example of a blend of emulsifiers is a blend containing 4 parts of Span 20 (sorbitan monolaurate) and 6 parts of Tween 60 (polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate) having an effective HLB value of 0.4.times.8.6+0.6.times.14.9=12.3.
By `optically clear` we mean a product exhibiting a percentage transmittance value of not less than about 95%, preferably 98%, determined at a wavelength of 800 nm in a 1 cm path length cuvette.
By a `biologically active oil` we mean natural or synthetic oils which are or contain biologically active agents in particular prophylactic or therapeutic agents.
Surprisingly it has been found that the composition of the present invention is able to yield a product with desirable properties, particularly high water solubility using ingredients which have hitherto been found to be difficult to solubilise satisfactorily in this kind of product.
Preferably the biologically active oil is an oil of natural origin for example from the seeds or flowers of the Ribes, Boraginaceae, Labitae, Onagraceae and Curcubitaceae species, oils of fungal origin, fish oils or other natural oils.
Preferred oils include evening primrose oil, borage/starflower oil and blackcurrant seed oil.
Suitably the amount of oil is 0.001-2.0% preferably 0.1-1.0% by weight expressed as the pure substance. Oils for use in the present invention can be extracted from natural sources by processes known in the art. The oils are commercially available, for example, from Sigma Chemical Co., Poole, Dorset.
The compositions may contain more than one biologically active oil.
Other biologically active ingredients can be used in the composition according to the invention, in particular carotenoid pigments eg. .beta.-carotene to produce a useful combination of colour and nutritional biochemicals.
The biologically active oils may be mixed or dispersed with other suitable oils in particular, consumable oils for example, corn, peanut, safflower, olive and rapeseed oils as well as many essential oils particularly those used in beverages used to give flavours, such as citrus oils.
The emulsifier may be a

REFERENCES:
patent: 3886294 (1975-05-01), Emodi et al.
patent: 3998753 (1976-12-01), Antoshkiw et al.
patent: 4835002 (1989-05-01), Wolf et al.
patent: 5023095 (1991-06-01), Kirk
patent: 5607707 (1997-03-01), Ford
Lundberg et al., Chemistry and Physics of Lipids, vol. 14 (1975) pp. 260-262.
Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 1979, pp. 900-930.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Stable, optically clear compositions does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Stable, optically clear compositions, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Stable, optically clear compositions will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2122798