Bioactive composition for cosmetic applications

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a plant extract from Curcuma plants, characterized by the process steps process step A) liquid extraction of Curcuma rhizomes, process step B) optionally, separation of a curcuminoid-containing solid obtained by precipitation from the extraction mixture obtained in process step A), process step C) removal of solvents present from the extraction mixture obtained in process step A) or B) to obtain a concentrate and process step D) distillation of the concentrate at a pressure of less than 1 bar to give the extract as distillate.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a plant extract from Curcuma plants. More particularly, the present invention provides a process for the preparation of a plant extract from Cucuma which includes the following processing steps: A) liquid extraction of Curcuma rhizomes, B) optionally, separation of a curcuminoid-containing solid obtained by precipitation from the extraction mixture obtained in process step A), C) removal of solvents present from the extraction mixture obtained in process step A) or B) to obtain a concentrate, and D) distillation of the concentrate at a pressure of less than 1 bar to give the extract as distillate.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Curcuma longa (curcuma, turmeric) is a plant of the ginger plant family (Zigimberaceae), the roots and rhizome of which are used as dye and spice on account of the intense yellow color and the characteristic taste. A variety of biological effects are described for the dried...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0029]Process step A) is preferably carried out at elevated temperature, preferably at a temperature greater than 20° C. and preferably at a temperature of from 30° C. to 80° C.

[0030]An optional precipitation step, process step B), can be carried out downstream of process step A); through this, a curcuminoid-rich solid fraction can be separated off from the product obtained in A). The precipitation can be achieved here through partial evaporation of the solvent (concentration) or temperature reduction or combinations thereof. The addition of an antisolvent in which the curcuminoids have only low solubility can likewise be used for the precipitation. For this purpose, preference is given to using substances which have a higher polarity than the solvent used for the extraction step. The solid can be separated off from the remaining solution by customary filtration methods, as are described, for example, in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 7th edition, release 2006 in the chapter “Filtration”.

[0031]In process step B), the solid can be separated off as metal complex. For this purpose, a solution of a metal salt, such as, for example, calcium, magnesium, zinc or chromium salt, can be added to the extract from process step A) under elevated temperatures and mixed. The pH can be adjusted to an advantageous value in order to precipitate the metal complex exhaustively. The temperature can be reduced to provide assistance.

[0032]In order to simplify the removal of the solvent in process step C) to isolate the crude extract, both in process step A) and also in process step B), the extractants / solvents used have a low boiling point, preferably a boiling point of less than 100° C. under standard conditions.

[0033]The removal of extractant / solvent present in process step C) preferably takes place by evaporation. Thus process step C) can take place at ambient pressure, superatmospheric pressure or subatmospheric pressure, where pressure and temperature conditions are to be adapted to the properties of the selected solvent or solvent mixture. If, for the extraction process step A) and the optional precipitation process step B), solvents are used which have boiling temperatures of above about 60° C. at atmospheric pressure, then the vaporization is preferably carried out at reduced pressure, with pressures of from about 100 to <1000 mbar being particularly preferred.

[0034]Process step C) can take place either batchwise or continuously.

Problems solved by technology

However, the intense yellow / orange color stands in the way of one such use; even in concentrations of 0.1% by mass, it causes a significant, unacceptable coloring of creams or lotions.

The described process is not suitable for the preparation of cosmetic raw materials since treatment with ionizing radiation is generally not accepted by the market.

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