4248 results about "Carotene" patented technology

Soap and cosmetic products can be made from oil-bearing microbial biomass via the alkaline hydrolysis of glycerolipids and fatty acid esters to fatty acid salts. The saponified microbial oils/lipids can be combined with a variety of additives to produce compositions for use as soaps and other cosmetic products, which may also contain other constituents of the biomass, including unsaponified oils, glycerol and carotenoids, among others.

Disclosed are nutritional formulas, including reconstitutable powders, comprising carbohydrate, protein and a lipid component containing a polyunsaturated fatty acid; and from about 0.25 to about 10 ppm, by weight of the total oil content of the infant formula, of a combination of lutein, lycopene, and beta-carotene with preferred weight ratios of the lutein to beta-carotene of from about 0.0196:1 to about 59:1, the lycopene to beta-carotene of from about 0.00805:1 to about 114:1, and the lutein to lycopene of from about 0.0117:1 to about 108:1. Also disclosed are methods of providing nutrition using the disclosed formulas. The nutritional formulas provide improved product stability and color characteristics.

The invention provides unique and novel strains of microalgae that have been subjected to non-transgenic methods of mutation sufficient to reduce the coloration of biomass produced by the strains. Biomass produced from such strains can be used in the manufacture of baked goods, gluten free foods, beverages, high lipid algal flours, and other foods. Pigments such as carotenoids and chlorophyll can be undesirable for consumer acceptance when incorporated into foods such as mayonnaise, yogurt, and white sauces that are not traditionally associated with colors such as yellow, red, orange and green. Some pigments, such as chlorophyll, can also create undesirable taste profiles. Use of reduced pigment microalgal biomass expands the range of food products that can be manufactured with healthy lipid profiles. High protein containing biomass of the invention, also reduced in pigmentation, is also incorporated into products such as meat analogues, nutritional bars and meal replacement beverages. The reduced pigmentation microalgae also allow for incorporation of higher amounts of biomass into certain food products that could otherwise be achieved using highly pigmented microalgal biomass. Methods of generating novel reduced pigment microalgae are disclosed herein. The strains provided by the invention are also useful in the manufacture of healthy, neutral colored extracted triglyceride oils.

The invention relates to trans carotenoid compounds and salts thereof as well as compositions thereof, methods for making them, and uses thereof. These compounds are useful in improving diffusivity of oxygen between red blood cells and body tissues in mammals including humans.

Elevated levels of homocysteine have been implicated as an important risk factor for cardiovascular and other diseases. A composition for decreasing levels of plasma homocysteine and a method for administering the composition are provided, the composition containing dextromethorphan (DM), folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12. The composition provides a synergistic therapeutic effect so that lower amounts of the above ingredients may be employed to minimize any undesirable side effects caused by the use of high levels of a component such as DM. Preferred compositions for cardiovascular diseases further include lecithin, vitamin E, betacarotene, procyanidins/flavonoids, trimethylglycine, garlic oil and minerals. Other compositions for treating glaucoma include bilberry, bioflavonoids and beta-carotene and for treating tardive dyskinesia include an antioxidant such a grape seed extract and pine bark extract, lecithin and oligomeric proanthocyanidins. The compositions may be administered using any suitable means such as orally or intravenous.

A method for producing biofuels along with valuable food and neutraceutical products is provided. A method of making biofuels includes dewatering substantially intact algal cells to make an algal biomass, extracting neutral lipids along with carotenoids and chlorophylls from the algal biomass, and separation of the carotenoids and chlorophylls using adsorption or membrane diafiltration or other methods. The remaining neutral lipids are esterified with a catalyst in the presence of an alcohol. The method also includes separating a water soluble fraction comprising glycerin from a water insoluble fraction comprising fuel esters and distilling the fuel esters under vacuum to obtain a C16 or shorter fuel esters fraction, a C16 or longer fuel ester fraction, and a residue comprising omega-3 fatty acids esters and remaining carotenoids. The method further includes hydrogenating and deoxygenating at least one of (i) the C16 or shorter fuel esters to obtain a jet fuel blend stock and (ii) the C16 or longer fuel esters to obtain a diesel blend stock.

A nutritional supplement composition that promotes visual health and reduces or reverses visual acuity loss by a reduced Vitamin E content from standard supplements with the addition of taurine, omega-3 fatty acids, and non proform Vitamin A carotenoids including lutein and zeaxanthin. The essential ingredients of the nutritional or dietary supplements are Vitamin C, no more than 300 IUs of Vitamin E, Vitamin A at least a portion of which is provided in the form of a proform Vitamin A carotenoid, omega-3 fatty acids, and non proform Vitamin A carotenoids including lutein and/or zeaxanthin. The essential ingredients are provided in a form suitable of oral ingestion or other forms of administration in one or more doses per day.

The methods of the invention can be used to protect against lymphocyte DNA damage and free-radical associated disorders in a subject. The methods of the present invention can be used to increase the antioxidant capacity in both the aqueous and lipid compartments, decrease DNA oxidation, decrease lipid peroxidation, and increase antioxidant nutrient levels in the circulation. The protective effect of the physiologic dose of the mixed carotenoid supplement is rapid, consistent and cumulative.

A spectroscopic method, preferably Raman scattering, is used to rapidly determine the general health or stress status of living plants and plant products, including agricultural crops, forests, and harvested fruits and vegetables. In the preferred embodiments, carotenoid levels are used to provide an indication of oxidative deterioration. Based upon the results of the analysis, further action may or may not be taken, for example, in terms of choosing, picking, harvesting or sorting the agricultural product in accordance with the carotenoid level. Concentration levels of an analyte substance can be determined relative to an external standard, to each other, or relative to another substance in the item being analyzed. Carotenoids such as lycopene, beta-carotene, lutein, violaxanthin, neoxanthin, antheraxanthin, and zeaxanthin are determined according to the invention, through other plant components may be analyzed such as other terpenes, polyenes, chlorophyll, proteins, starches, sugars, overall nitrogen levels, flavonoids, and vitamins. The hardware associated with the invention may be field portable or mounted on a piece of equipment such as a harvester or sorter.

Preparations are disclosed containing the 3R-3'R stereoisomer of zeaxanthin as a sole detectable isomer, packaged for oral ingestion by humans as a therapeutic drug or nutritional supplement. Zeaxanthin is a yellow carotenoid pigment found in the macula (in the center of the human retina), which helps protect retinal cells against phototoxic damage. The pure R-R stereoisomer can be prepared by fermenting cells, such as Flavobacterium multivorum (ATCC 55238), which do not create any detectable quantity of the undesired and potentially toxic S-S or S-R isomers, and which do not synthesize any other carotenoids. The R-R isomer can be concentrated, in large quantities and at low cost, into a viscous oily fluid containing about 5 to 20% zeaxanthin, by means of a simple solvent extraction process. This oily fluid can be mixed with a carrier such as vegetable oil and enclosed within a digestible capsule, comparable to a conventional capsule containing Vitamin E. Alternately, a zeaxanthin fluid can be added to various types of foods, such as margarine, dairy products, syrup, cookie dough, and certain types of meat preparations which are not subjected to harsh cooking. Additional purification steps can also be used to purify zeaxanthin to a granular or powdered state which contains nearly pure zeaxanthin. Such processing can be used to create formulations such as ingestible tablets, and particulate formulations that can be added to soups, salads, drinks, or other foods. Preferred stabilizers and anti-oxidants are also disclosed herein. When consumed by humans in any of these modes, the purified R-R stereoisomer of zeaxanthin can help treat and prevent macular degeneration, one of the leading causes of blindness and vision loss, especially among the elderly.

The present invention relates to a crystalline carotenoid compound, such as β-carotene, with a purity of at least 95% and with substantially no solvent enclosed in the crystal lattice. The present invention further describes a process to prepare such a highly pure crystalline carotenoid compound from microbial biomass, without the use of a solvent extraction and/or an anti-solvent crystallization process.

The development and application of a novel non-polar oil recovery process utilizing a non-dispersive solvent extraction method to coalesce and recover oil from a bio-cellular aqueous slurry is described herein. The process could apply to recovery of algal oil from a lysed algae slurry, recovery of Omega fatty acids from a bio-cellular aqueous feed, recovery of Beta-carotene from a bio-cellular aqueous feed and for the removal from produced water in oil production and similar type applications. The technique of the present invention utilizes a microporous hollow fiber (MHF) membrane contactor. The novel non-polar oil recovery process described herein can be coupled to a collecting fluid (a non-polar solvent such as heptane, a biodiesel mixture or the previously extracted oil) that is circulated through the hollow fiber membrane. In cases where the biodiesel mixture or the previously extracted oil is used the solvent recovery step (e.g. distillation) can be eliminated.

A method for producing biofuels is provided. A method of making biofuels includes dewatering substantially intact algal cells to make an algal biomass, extracting neutral lipids from the algal biomass, and esterifying the neutral lipids with a catalyst in the presence of an alcohol. The method also includes separating a water soluble fraction comprising glycerin from a water insoluble fraction comprising fuel esters and distilling the fuel esters under vacuum to obtain a C16 or shorter fuel esters fraction, a C16 or longer fuel ester fraction, and a residue comprising carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids. The method further includes hydrogenating and deoxygenating at least one of (i) the C16 or shorter fuel esters to obtain a jet fuel blend stock and (ii) the C16 or longer fuel esters to obtain a diesel blend stock.

Negatively charged phospholipids, as well as compositions including negatively charged phospholipids and possibly carotenoids and/or antioxidants, for treating the eye are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a composition comprising at least one negatively charged phospholipid except cardiolipin is used to treat age-related macular degeneration. Methods for producing the negatively charged phospholipids, as well as methods for producing the compositions including negatively charged phospholipids and possibly carotenoids and/or antioxidants for treating age-related macular degeneration, are also disclosed.

A resid fuel additive is provided that includes a plant oil extract, β-carotene, and jojoba oil. The additive may be added to any resid fuel to reduce emissions of undesired components during combustion of the fuel. A method for preparing the additive is also provided.

A method for producing biofuels is provided. A method of making biofuels includes dewatering substantially intact algal cells to make an algal biomass, sequentially adding solvent sets to the algal biomass, and sequentially separating solid biomass fractions from liquid fractions to arrive at a liquid fraction comprising neutral lipids. The method also includes esterifying the neutral lipids, separating a water miscible fraction comprising glycerin from a water immiscible fraction comprising fuel esters, carotenoids, and omega-3 fatty acids. The method also includes obtaining a C16 or shorter fuel esters fraction, a C16 or longer fuel ester fraction, and a residue comprising carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids. The method includes hydrogenating and deoxygenating at least one of (i) the C16 or shorter fuel esters to obtain a jet fuel blend stock and (ii) the C16 or longer fuel esters to obtain a diesel blend stock.