Reconstituted Plant Product for Controlled Substance Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need to improve plant-based products for nutraceutical or phytotherapeutical use by controlling the amount and release of substances, as natural plants vary in quality and may contain undesired substances, and desired substances are not easily extracted during digestion.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the separation of plant extracts and fibrous plant products to create a reconstituted version with controlled substance release, where the plant extract can be applied to the fibrous plant product or penetrate it, allowing for higher concentrations and improved properties, such as accelerated or controlled release of substances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If plant materials are used in their natural form, then they provide essential nutrients and substances, but the quality and concentration of substances vary depending on origin, geographic location, seasonality, and growing conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The plant material is divided into two separate components: a fibrous plant product (solid parts) and a plant extract (substances extracted from the plant). This segmentation allows independent processing and standardization of each component, enabling consistent concentration and quality control of essential substances in the final reconstituted product regardless of natural variability in source plants
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameters of the plant material by separating it into fibrous components and extracted substances, then recombining them in controlled proportions. This parameter change enables standardization of substance concentration and quality, transforming variable natural plant material into a reliable product with consistent essential substance content
2Quantity of substance
If plant materials are used in their natural form, then they provide essential nutrients, but undesired substances or contaminants may be present
Solution Approach 1:
The plant extract is separately extracted from the fibrous plant product through controlled extraction processes. This separation allows for selective removal of desired essential substances while leaving contaminants and undesired substances in the fibrous residue, which can then be discarded or processed separately, resulting in a purified final product
3Quantity of substance
If plant materials are used in their natural form, then they provide essential substances, but the desired substances cannot be easily extracted during digestion
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction of desired substances from the plant material is performed preliminarily during manufacturing, creating a concentrated plant extract that is then applied to or combined with the fibrous plant product. This preliminary extraction action makes the essential substances readily available and easily extractable during subsequent digestion, eliminating the need for difficult natural extraction processes in the digestive system
4Duration of action of moving object
If plant materials are processed to control substance release, then release can be controlled, but the product complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by creating distinct zones within the final product: a fibrous plant product component and a plant extract component with different properties and release characteristics. This local differentiation allows controlled substance release from the extract portion while maintaining the structural integrity of the fibrous portion, achieving release control without requiring complex overall product structures
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 method enables the creation of a product with improved properties, including controlled release and higher concentrations of substances, addressing the variability and extraction issues of natural plants, and can be used in various applications like food, supplements, and cosmetics.
Implementation Method 1
the plant extract can form a second layer or at least partially enter or penetrate into the fibrous plant product
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an edible product, which comprises a fibrous plant product and a plant extract applied thereto. Further, the invention relates to a corresponding method for producing said edible product and its use in at least one of food, food supplement, medicinal, cosmetic, well-being, nutraceutical or phytotherapeutical applications. The plants used may be all plants comprising one or more substances of interest for an edible product.