Cranberry Proanthocyanidin A Dye for Stable Pharmaceutical Coloring
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Solution Overview
Problem
The pharmaceutical industry faces challenges in finding stable, non-toxic, and interaction-free natural red dyes for pharmaceutical products due to the limitations of synthetic dyes and the complexity of anthocyanins, which are sensitive to pH variations and have stability issues.
Innovation Solution
A highly purified Cranberry extract concentrate containing at least 35% Proanthocyanidins A, specifically low molecular weight polymers, is used as a pharmaceutical coloring agent, providing a stable red hue across a wide pH range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If anthocyanin type dyes are used for natural red coloring, then the coloring is of natural origin, but the dye shows great complexity and chemical polymorphism making it difficult to standardize and stabilize
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and isolates specific proanthocyanidin fractions (A, B, and C) from cranberry extract, separating them from the complex anthocyanin mixture. This extraction process obtains the desired red coloring property while eliminating the complexity and polymorphism issues of natural anthocyanins, achieving standardization through fractionation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite coloring system using multiple proanthocyanidin fractions (A, B, and C) in specific proportions. This composite approach combines the advantages of each fraction while maintaining stability and standardization, overcoming the limitations of single-component natural dyes.
2Quantity of substance
If conventional Cranberry extracts are used for coloring, then the extract contains Proanthocyanidins A, but the extract also contains significant quantities of organic acids and sugars making it difficult to use as a coloring agent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies successive renewed selective purification operations to extract and isolate proanthocyanidin fractions from the crude cranberry extract. This process removes unwanted organic acids and sugars while concentrating the desired proanthocyanidin components, achieving a purified coloring agent suitable for pharmaceutical use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates different fractions (A, B, and C) with specific molecular weight ranges and distinct properties. Each fraction has optimized local characteristics - Fraction A for intense coloring, Fraction B for stability, and Fraction C for solubility - allowing selective use based on formulation requirements.
3Shape
If known Cranberry extracts are used to obtain red color in pharmaceutical syrup, then the extract provides coloring, but the preparation achieves a very acidic pH making it difficult to produce pharmaceutical formulations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the coloring agent by purifying and fractionating proanthocyanidins to remove organic acids. This parameter change allows the maintenance of red coloration while adjusting the pH profile to be compatible with pharmaceutical formulations, enabling use across pH ranges of 3-10.
4Reliability
If synthetic dyes are used for red coloring in pharmaceutical products, then the dye provides stable coloring, but the dye is of chemical origin and may cause intolerance mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses naturally derived proanthocyanidins from cranberry as a replacement for synthetic dyes. Although natural products can be less stable, the purification and fractionation process creates a standardized, stable coloring agent that maintains the safety and natural origin advantages while achieving the reliability needed for pharmaceutical applications.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to the use of proanthocyanidins A from cranberries for colouring pharmaceutical products. The invention also relates to a specific pharmaceutical dye extracted from concentrated cranberries that comprises at least 35% of proanthocyanidins A, and to pharmaceutical preparations containing such a dye.