Enzymatic Plant Extract Composition for Bioactive Yield
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for extracting bioactive compounds from plant material are inefficient, environmentally unfriendly, and costly due to the use of harsh solvents and high temperatures, which also fail to effectively break down cellulosic components in plant cell walls.
Innovation Solution
The use of enzymes, such as pectinase, hemicellulase, and beta-glucanase, to break down plant cell walls and facilitate the extraction of bioactive compounds, combined with the production of hydrolyzed proteins through enzymatic hydrolysis, and the formulation of compositions including these extracts and proteins as powders or concentrated fluids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional harsh solvents and high temperatures are used for extraction, then extraction efficiency is improved, but environmental impact worsens and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the extraction parameters from harsh conditions (high temperature, strong solvents) to mild conditions (enzymatic treatment at lower temperatures, aqueous or organic solvents). This resolves the contradiction by achieving effective extraction through parameter optimization rather than extreme conditions, thereby improving environmental impact while maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces enzymes as intermediary substances that facilitate the extraction process. These enzymes act as mediators between the plant material and the solvent, breaking down cell walls to enable efficient extraction without requiring harsh solvents or high temperatures, thus resolving the environmental concern while maintaining extraction efficiency.
2Productivity
If traditional harsh solvents and high temperatures are used for extraction, then extraction efficiency is improved, but production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes extraction parameters to use milder conditions (lower temperatures, enzymatic treatment) that reduce energy consumption and equipment requirements, thereby lowering production costs while maintaining or improving extraction efficiency through the synergistic action of enzymes and solvents.
Solution Approach 2:
By using enzymes as intermediaries, the patent reduces the need for expensive harsh solvents and high-energy processing equipment. The enzymes facilitate extraction at lower costs by breaking down plant cell structures, making the manufacturing process more economically viable while maintaining high productivity.
3Productivity
If enzymes are used to break down plant cell walls, then extraction efficiency is improved, but process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the extraction process into distinct stages: enzyme treatment phase followed by solvent extraction phase. This segmentation allows each stage to be optimized independently, managing process complexity by breaking down the overall procedure into manageable steps that can be controlled and monitored separately, thereby maintaining extraction efficiency while organizing process complexity.
4Quantity of substance
If enzymes are used to break down plant cell walls, then access to bioactive compounds is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary enzymatic treatment to break down plant cell walls before the main extraction step. This preliminary action pre-processes the plant material, making bioactive compounds more accessible during the subsequent extraction phase, thereby increasing the quantity of extracted compounds while managing overall processing time through staged optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous useful action by overlapping or sequentially connecting the enzyme treatment and extraction phases without significant idle time. The enzymatic breakdown continues to facilitate compound access throughout the extraction process, ensuring that the time investment in enzyme treatment is continuously rewarded with improved compound accessibility, thereby optimizing the balance between quantity extracted and processing time.
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
This method improves the yield and efficiency of bioactive compound extraction, reduces production costs and environmental impact, and results in compositions that provide enhanced health and well-being benefits when ingested.
Implementation Method 1
Enzymes can be used to break down the materials within plant cell walls in order to provide better access to the bioactive compounds
Implementation Method 2
methods that extract bioactive compounds from plant material using enzyme treatments can also be used to hydrolyze native proteins into hydrolyzed proteins
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for improving health and well-being in a subject, the compositions including a plant extract obtained by using an enzyme as a processing aid. Also provided herein are methods for extracting a plant extract from a plant material using an enzyme. Methods of producing hydrolyzed proteins are also disclosed.