Process for the production of an aloe vera gel and the resulting concentrated gel

Abstract

Process for the production of an aloe vera gel and the resulting concentrated gel, It comprises: - a first step in which aloe vera leaves of at least 3 years of age are selected, - a second step in which the leaves are cut and washed with water to remove impurities and dirt, - a third step in which the sides of the leaf, the tip of the leaf and the upper and lower part of the leaf are cut, leaving only the parenchyma of the aloe vera, - a fourth step in which the parenchyma is cut into fillets transversely to the vascular bundles, - a fifth step in which the parenchyma resulting from the fourth step is introduced into a vacuum mixing turbo-emulsifier, which chops / shreds it into small pieces of gel, for a period of 60 to 180 minutes at a speed of 150 to 600 rpm, cooling it to a temperature comprised between 20 and 33°C, - a sixth step in which the gel obtained from the fifth step is stabilised and filtered with a filter of dimensions comprised between 400 and 600 microns to remove impurities, and - a seventh step in which the gel from the sixth step is filtered through a 50- micron filter, which separates the water from the concentrated aloe vera gel.

Description

[0001] Process for the production of an aloe vera gel and the resulting concentrated gel

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a process for the production of an aloe vera gel and the resulting concentrated gel.

[0004] Specifically, such process for the production of an aloe vera gel is characterised by: - a first step in which aloe vera leaves of at least 3 years of age are selected; - a second step in which the leaves are cut and washed with water to remove impurities and dirt from the leaves; - a third step in which the sides of the leaf, the tip of the leaf and the upper and lower part of the leaf are cut, leaving only the parenchyma of the aloe vera; - a fourth step in which the parenchyma is cut into fillets transversely to the vascular bundles; - a fifth step in which the parenchyma resulting from the fourth step is introduced into a vacuum mixing turbo-emulsifier that chops / shreds it into small pieces of gel for a period of 60 to 180 minutes at a speed of 150 to 600 rpm, cooling it to a temperature comprised between 20 and 33°C; - a sixth step in which the gel obtained from the fifth step is stabilised and filtered with a filter of size comprised between 400 and 600 microns to eliminate impurities; and a seventh step in which the gel from the sixth step is filtered through a 50-micron filter, which separates the water from the concentrated aloe vera gel.

[0005] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In the state of the art, various systems and procedures are known to obtain products derived from the succulent plant of aloe vera.

[0007] Patent US6203797, entitled "Dietary supplement and method for use as a probiotic for alleviating the symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome" by Stephen PERRY, filed in 2000, relates to a dietary supplement for use as a probiotic and to relieve the symptoms of the irritable bowel syndrome, comprising lyophilised aloe, fructooligosaccharides and a mixture of dahlia inulin juice and, optionally, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), manganese and L-glutamine.

[0008] Another specific feature to relieve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, includes bromelain and papain in the basic formulation. In addition, for specific probiotic functions, the following "friendly" bacteria may be added to the basic formulation: Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum and Bifidobacterium bifidum.

[0009] Similarly, Chinese Patent CN 105029262 entitled “Compound powder with functions of relaxing bowel and improving stomach and intestine, and a preparation method of the compound powder”, filed in 2015 in the name of WEIHAI YUSHANFANG BIOLOG SCIENCE &. TECHNOLOGY CO LTD, relates to a compound powder with the functions of relaxing the intestine and improving the stomach and intestine, as well as a method of preparing the compound powder. The compound powder contains galactomannan, xyloligosaccharides, complete and dried aloe leaf powder, pumpkin powder, tremella powder, poria cocos powder, soybean oligosaccharides, dietary fibre, inulin, a sweetening agent and essence. The related preparation method includes the steps of drying, cooling, sieving, three-dimensional mixing and packaging of the raw material to obtain the finished product. The ratio of the selected raw materials is in accordance with the modern principle of maintaining health, the formulation is scientific and reasonable, the functions of improving stomach and intestine and relaxing the intestine are achieved, the taste is good and the flavour is unique.

[0010] Finally, the Chinese patent CN 103284265 "Solid drink with the effects of improving intestinal flora and intestinal relaxation", filed in 2013 in the name of SACCHARIDIA BIO PHARMACEUTICAL TECHNOLOGY SHANGHAI CO LTD is also mentioned, which refers to a solid drink characterised as composed of the following raw materials and auxiliary materials in weight percentage: 30-60% of inulin, 10-30% of pectin, 2-20% of oat fibre, 0.5-10% of aloe powder, 0.5-10% of papaya powder and the rest of the bromatologically acceptable auxiliary materials that are mixed. The solid drink is scientific in its formulation, rational in the preparation technology and convenient to drink, has a delicious taste and has the effect of improving the intestinal flora and relaxing the intestine.

[0011] The following patents are also state of the art documents: JPH03246226 and W087 / 00052, and the documents Zapata et al “Characterisation of gels from different aloe spp. as antifungal treatment: Potential crops for industrial application” and Silva et al “Effect of crosslinking in chitosan / aloe-vera based membranes for biomedical applications”

[0012] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention relates to a process for the production of an aloe vera gel and the resulting concentrated gel. The closest prior art document may be considered the above-mentioned patent US6203797. It solves the drawback of how to obtain products derived from aloe vera. Patent US6203797 highlights that the products currently available on the market are prepared by drying the aloe leaves in the sun or by hot air circulation. The drawback of this type of patent is that the polysaccharides, glycoproteins and enzymes contained in the gel are thermally damaged or oxidised during drying.

[0014] Furthermore, additives are added to conventional aloe tablet products to facilitate the compaction thereof, such as Avicel.RTM or corn starch, in an amount ranging from a few percentage points to tens of percentage points. Since a small amount of hot water is added to mix the additives into the dried aloe mass, the resulting product undergoes further thermal degradation by heating.

[0015] The solution proposed in the same patent US6203797 does not even prevent the degradation of many elements that are anyway lost at the time of harvesting, since the times and methods of harvesting the aloe vera are not taken into account.

[0016] The present invention solves the drawback with a selective harvesting of the aloe vera right from the start, where the plants must be at least 3 years old, by means of a specific cut of the plants in the shape of a fillet and the further processing thereof within 4 hours of detaching the aloe vera leaf from the plant thereof. Such process prevents the onset of the oxidation mechanism.

[0017] The plant is then subjected to a process inside a vacuum mixer (vacuum mixing turbo-emulsifier), which allows the maximum extraction of the aloe vera, keeping most of the elements thereof intact.

[0018] A first object of the present invention is a process for the production of an aloe vera gel, characterised by:

[0019] - a first step in which aloe vera leaves of at least 3 years of age are selected;

[0020] - a second step in which the leaves are cut and washed with water to remove impurities and dirt from the leaves;

[0021] - a third step in which the sides of the leaf, the tip of the leaf and the upper and lower part of the leaf are cut, leaving only the parenchyma of the aloe vera;

[0022] - a fourth step in which the parenchyma is cut into fillets transversely to the vascular bundles;

[0023] - a fifth step in which the parenchyma resulting from the fourth step is introduced into a vacuum mixing turbo-emulsifier which chops / shreds it into small pieces of gel for a period of 60 to 180 minutes at a speed of 150 to 600 rpm, cooling it to a temperature comprised between 20 and 33°C;

[0024] - a sixth step in which the gel obtained from the fifth step is stabilised and filtered with a 400- to 600-micron filter to remove impurities;

[0025] - and a seventh step in which the gel from the sixth step is filtered through a 50-micron filter, which separates the water from the concentrated aloe vera gel.

[0026] A second object of the present invention is a concentrated gel obtained according to the above production process, characterised by a viscosity comprised between 2,000 and 3,500 mPa / s.

[0027] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] To facilitate the explanation, the present report is accompanied by two sheets of drawings showing a practical case of embodiment, which is given as an example, without limiting the scope of the present invention:

[0029] - Figure 1 shows a front view of the machine with the mixer (turboemulsifier) separated from the container, before the introduction of the aloe into the container.

[0030] - Figure 2 is a front view of the mixer (turbo-emulsifier) inside the container.

[0031] - Figure 3 is a side view of the container in the emptying position (to facilitate the visualisation, elements such as the mixer and the driving means, among others, have been removed).

[0032] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] Figures 1 and 2 show a cutting device 1 , a container 2, a first motor 3, lifting means 4, an impeller shaft 5, a rotating shaft 6, cutting blades 7, a lid 8 and a second motor 10.

[0034] Figure 3 shows the container 2, the first motor 3 and the impeller shaft 5.

[0035] Therefore, the process of the present invention comprises the following steps.

[0036] A first step in which aloe vera leaves of at least 3 years of age are selected. This is to ensure a low concentration of aloin.

[0037] In a second step, the leaves are cut and washed with water to remove impurities and dirt from the leaves. Mainly tap water is used without chemicals or detergents. In the third step, the sides of the leaf, the tip of the leaf, the top and bottom of the leaf are cut, leaving only the parenchyma of the aloe vera. With this cut, the anthraquinone and any possible parenchyma of the aloe vera are removed. Anthraquinone has been associated with colon disorders and to aloin, which is a known laxative but has side effects.

[0038] In a fourth step, the parenchyma is cut into fillets transversely to the vascular bundles. This specific cut serves to make all the active ingredients available, allowing the preparation of high-quality dietary supplements and skin preparations. If the transverse cut is made after step three, as in the Japanese patent JPH03246226, the contamination of the bark by impurities is avoided.

[0039] Finally, in a fifth step, the parenchyma from the fourth step is placed in a vacuum mixing turbo-emulsifier, which grinds it into a gel, that is, it grinds and shreds it into small pieces of gel.

[0040] A vacuum mixing device is used because air oxidises and damages the active ingredients of aloe vera. In addition, the possible contamination by other products, elements, etc. is eliminated.

[0041] In the aforementioned fifth step, the parenchyma is left in the mixing turboemulsifier, grinding, for a period of time between 60 and 180 minutes, at a speed comprised between 150 and 600 rpm, cooling to a temperature comprised between 20 and 33°C. This operation serves to preserve the high concentration of active ingredients and nutritional elements, thus stabilising the resulting gel. The use of pressure as a homogeniser, as in the Japanese patent JPH03246226, may cause the degradation of the active ingredients, break the cell structures, alter the structure of cell membranes, etc.

[0042] Preferably the laboratory should have a humidity in the order of 40-60%.

[0043] The resulting fluid is usually a gel (a non-Newtonian fluid).

[0044] It is at this stage that specific ingredients such as olive oil, inulin, etc. may be added and it is also the time when stabilising / preservative systems are used to avoid the development of microorganisms, moulds and fungi that may damage the gel obtained.

[0045] The process comprises a sixth step in which the gel obtained from the fifth step is stabilised and filtered with a 400- to 600-micron filter to remove impurities.

[0046] Finally, the process comprises a seventh step where the sixth step gel is filtered through a 50-micron filter, which separates the water from the concentrated aloe vera gel. This is done primarily to help concentrate the product and remove more water, obtaining a high quality concentrated extract.

[0047] The concentrated gel obtained according to the process described above has a viscosity comprised between 2,000 and 3,500 mPa / s. It is within these limits that it has been observed that the gel of the present invention is able to better retain moisture, develop its anti-inflammatory properties, heal wounds, maintain its antibacterial properties intact, etc.

[0048] Optionally, a first dietary supplement comprising a concentrated gel in accordance with the previous paragraph, unpasteurised may also comprise malic acid and lactic acid in a total concentration of 0.001-1 % w / w.

[0049] Similarly, a cosmetic product comprising a concentrated gel may be obtained with the viscosity comprised between 2,000 and 3,500 mPa / s. A first example is represented by the use of a preservative system based on benzyl alcohol, benzoic acid and sorbic acid in a total concentration of 0.001-1 % w / w.

[0050] A second example of cosmetic products comprises the use of a preservative system based on sodium dehydroacetate, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate in a total concentration of 0.001-1% w / w.

[0051] In addition, the concentrated gel with the viscosity comprised between 2,000 and 3,500 mPa / s (both dietary and cosmetic) may be mixed with inulin having the following characteristics:

[0052] - more than 89% w / w of fructans (with less than 9% w / w of fructose)

[0053] - less than 6% w / w of dextrose,

[0054] - less than 5% w / w of sucrose and

[0055] - water solubility greater than 70%.

[0056] In summary, according to the preferred variant of the invention, the operator will select the aloe vera plants and, among these, those guaranteed to be at least 3 years of age.

[0057] The operator then cuts the aloe vera leaf and, together with other already cut leaves, begins to clean the leaves with water to remove all the impurities and dirt that may contaminate the future aloe vera gel.

[0058] Once the aloe vera leaf has been cleaned, the operator will cut the sides of the leaf, the tip and the upper and lower part of the leaf, leaving the parenchyma, which is the part that contains all the usable gel of the aloe vera leaf.

[0059] The operator will then cut the parenchyma into fillets, but with the particularity that it will be cut transversely to the vascular bundles of the leaf, to maintain the properties of the parenchyma intact. The parenchyma is introduced into a turbo-emulsifier (figures 1 , 2 and 3). Then, the turbo-emulsifier will be in the position shown in figure 1 , with the lid 9 raised to allow the parenchyma to enter the turbo-emulsifier.

[0060] Then, the second motor 10, thanks to the lifting means 4, lowers the cutting device 1 until it is positioned inside the container 2 and the lid is closed and hermetic on the container 2.

[0061] The first motor 3 then moves the rotation shaft 6, which in turn rotates the blades 7 to crush and / or break the gel, for a time comprised between 60 and 180 minutes, rotating at a speed comprised between 150 and 600 rpm and at a temperature comprised between 20°C and 33°C (figure 2).

[0062] Subsequently, once this fifth step is completed, the lid 1 is lifted by means of the lifting means 4 and the container 2 is tilted by means of the impeller shaft 5 to empty the contents thereof (figure 3).

[0063] The gel that has been emptied from the container 2 is filtered in a sixth step, in a filter of dimensions comprised between 400 and 600 microns in order to remove the impurities.

[0064] In the seventh step, a second 50-micron filter is again applied to separate the concentrated aloe vera gel from the remaining water.

[0065] The concentrated aloe vera gel will have a viscosity comprised between 2,000 and 3,500 mPa / s at room temperature.

[0066] The present invention relates to a new process for the preparation of an aloe vera gel and the resulting concentrated gel. The cited examples are not limitative of the present invention, which may therefore have different applications and / or adaptations, all falling within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . Process for the production of an aloe vera gel, characterised in that it comprises: a first step in which aloe vera leaves of at least 3 years of age are selected, a second step in which the leaves are cut and washed with water to remove impurities and dirt, a third step in which the sides of the leaf, the tip of the leaf and the upper and lower part of the leaf are cut, leaving only the parenchyma of the aloe vera, a fourth step in which the parenchyma is cut into fillets transversely to the vascular bundles, a fifth step in which the parenchyma resulting from the fourth step is introduced into a vacuum mixing turbo-emulsifier, which chops / shreds it into small pieces of gel, for a period of 60 to 180 minutes at a speed of 150 to 600 rpm, cooling it to a temperature comprised between 20 and 33°C, a sixth step in which the gel obtained from the fifth step is stabilised and filtered with a filter of dimensions comprised between 400 and 600 microns to remove impurities, and a seventh step in which the gel from the sixth step is filtered through a 50- micron filter, which separates the water from the concentrated aloe vera gel.

2. Concentrated gel obtained according to claim 1 , characterised by a viscosity comprised between 2,000 and 3,500 mPa / s at room temperature.

3. Dietary supplement comprising a concentrated gel according to claim 2, which also comprises malic acid and lactic acid, unpasteurized, in a total concentration of 0.001-1% w / w.

4. Cosmetic product comprising a concentrated gel according to claim 2, which also comprises benzyl alcohol, benzoic acid and sorbic acid, in a total concentration of 0.001-1% w / w.

5. Cosmetic product comprising a concentrated gel according to claim 2, which also comprises sodium dehydroacetate, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate, in a total concentration of 0.001-1% w / w.

6. Inulin mixture comprising a concentrated gel according to claim 2, with the following characteristics:- more than 89% w / w of fructans (with less than 9% w / w of fructose),- less than 6% w / w of dextrose,- less than 5% w / w of sucrose and- solubility in water greater than 70%.

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