Fermented Plant Extracts via Kefir Grains for Aglycone Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing active plant extracts, particularly flavonoids, often result in glycosylated forms that are less active and require deglycosylation for effectiveness, which can be inefficient, especially in individuals with impaired intestinal absorption due to various reasons.
Innovation Solution
A method involving fermentation of plant extracts with kefir grains to convert glycosylated flavonoids into their active aglycone forms, enhancing bioavailability and activity through acid and enzymatic hydrolysis, thereby producing a high-content deglycosylated active principle extract.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If plant extracts are produced using conventional extraction methods, then the extraction process is simple and quick, but the flavonoids remain in glycosylated forms that are less active and require additional deglycosylation steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the extraction medium by adding organic solvents (ethanol, methanol, or isopropanol) to the aqueous extract. This parameter change enables simultaneous extraction of both glycosylated and aglycone forms of flavonoids, eliminating the need for separate deglycosylation steps and directly producing the desired active compounds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary deglycosylation by treating the plant extract with beta-glucosidase enzyme before final extraction. This preliminary action converts glycosylated flavonoids into their active aglycone forms in advance, so that the subsequent extraction process directly yields the bioactive compounds without requiring additional deglycosylation steps.
2Reliability
If deglycosylation is performed to convert glycosylated flavonoids to aglycone forms, then the anti-oxidizing activity increases, but the process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the extraction process with the deglycosylation process by performing both operations simultaneously in a single step. The organic solvent extraction and beta-glucosidase treatment are combined, allowing the extract to be directly obtained in aglycone form without requiring separate deglycosylation equipment or processing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the active aglycone forms of flavonoids by using organic solvents that selectively dissolve these compounds while leaving glycosylated forms behind. This extraction approach directly obtains the bioactive compounds without requiring complex deglycosylation equipment or multiple processing steps.
3Reliability
If intestinal absorption is impaired due to various reasons, then the bioavailability of glycosylated flavonoids decreases, but conventional extraction methods cannot address this limitation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses beta-glucosidase enzyme that naturally occurs in the human intestine to perform deglycosylation in the extract itself before consumption. This self-service approach pre-processes the flavonoids into their absorbable aglycone forms, eliminating the need for the consumer's intestinal enzymes and making the product effective even for individuals with impaired intestinal absorption function.
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 process significantly increases the bioavailability and anti-oxidizing, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial effects of flavonoids, making them more effective as health supplements and medicaments, and can improve animal yield and product stability.
Implementation Method 1
Fermentation of a plant extract by means of a kefir grain
Implementation Method 2
conversion of the glycosylated form of flavonoids into the active aglycone form through acid and enzymatic hydrolysis
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure concerns plant extracts which have been fermented with kefir grains, methods of production of these extracts, a powder comprising these extracts and compositions comprising these extracts. Since these extracts have a high content of aglycone active principles, their biological activities are high and their applications are varied.