Echinacea Zingiber Extracts Supercritical CO2 Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for itching, peripheral pain, inflammatory, and painful states, including those caused by radiodermatitis and muscle spasms, often lack effective topical solutions, especially for conditions like herpes pain and radiodermatitis, and existing Echinacea and Zingiber officinale extracts face stability issues due to conflicting data and instability of active ingredients.
Innovation Solution
Combining lipophilic extracts of Echinacea spp. and Zingiber officinale, stabilized through supercritical carbon dioxide extraction, in specific ratios to enhance analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity, preventing the formation of inactive compounds and ensuring stability, which are then formulated for topical administration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional extraction methods are used for Echinacea and Zingiber officinale extracts, then the extraction process is simpler and less costly, but the active ingredients become unstable and form inactive compounds such as shogaol
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by using supercritical carbon dioxide extraction with specific temperature (40-60°C) and pressure (200-260 bars) parameters to maintain the stability of active ingredients while preventing the formation of inactive compounds. This resolves the contradiction by optimizing extraction parameters to achieve both reliability and controlled complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses carbon dioxide in its supercritical state as an inert extraction medium that prevents oxidation and degradation of active ingredients. This inert environment approach maintains ingredient stability without requiring complex additional stabilization equipment, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity
2Reliability
If Echinacea and Zingiber officinale extracts are used separately, then the treatment approach is simpler, but the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity is insufficient for severe conditions such as radiodermatitis and herpes pain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two separate extracts (Echinacea spp. and Zingiber officinale) into a single combined formulation, creating synergistic effects that enhance analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity. This combination approach resolves the contradiction by achieving higher efficacy through integration while managing formulation complexity through standardized preparation methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite extract formulation combining compounds from two different plant sources with complementary pharmacological activities. This composite material approach enables treatment of severe conditions by leveraging the combined therapeutic properties while maintaining a unified formulation structure
3Reliability
If the ratio of Echinacea to Zingiber officinale biomass is not optimized, then the preparation process is simpler, but the analgesic activity is reduced and insufficient for treating severe pain conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise biomass ratio parameters (1:0.1 to 1:1, preferably 1:0.5) for Echinacea to Zingiber officinale to optimize analgesic activity. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by establishing specific ratio ranges that ensure therapeutic efficacy while providing clear manufacturing guidelines that balance precision requirements with practical implementation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The combined extracts provide potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, effectively treating a range of pain conditions, including diabetic neuropathy, joint and muscle pain, herpes pain, and radiodermatitis, with reduced oedema and irritative states, demonstrating improved efficacy over uncombined extracts.
Implementation Method 1
Lipophilic extracts of Echinacea spp. can be obtained by extraction from the roots or rhizomes with alcohols, ketones or aliphatic ethers, or preferably with carbon dioxide under supercritical conditions.
Implementation Method 2
The extract used in the present invention is a lipophilic extract, stabilised and prepared with carbon dioxide under well-defined supercritical conditions.
Implementation Method 3
The extraction process with supercritical carbon dioxide guarantees the stability of the active components, preventing the formation of compounds such as shogaol and other inactive products of oxidation.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a combination of lipophilic extracts of Zingiber officinale and Echinacea angustifolia for the treatment of itching, peripheral pain, superficial and deep inflammatory and painful states, pain associated with muscle spasms, herpes pain, and radiodermatitis caused by oncological radiotherapy, with or without fungal or bacterial infections.