Rye Leaven Fermentation for Tocopherol Enrichment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fermentation products from leaven-based mixtures lack high content of tocopherols and other active substances, limiting their effectiveness as medicaments for treating various infections and skin conditions.

Innovation Solution

A process involving sprouted rye grains, heating, addition of heterofermentative lactic-acid bacteria, acidification, and centrifugation to create a fermentation product with enhanced tocopherol and active substance content, which is then purified and formulated for medicinal use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If conventional fermentation processes are used with leaven-based mixtures, then the production process is simple, but the content of tocopherols and other active substances is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent of tocopherols and active substancesVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-sprouting rye grains before incorporating them into the leaven-based mixture. This pre-treatment enriches the substrate with tocopherols and other active substances before fermentation begins, ensuring high content of these beneficial compounds in the final product without requiring complex post-processing steps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs parameter changes by optimizing the fermentation process parameters including maintaining specific temperature ranges (30-34°C), controlling pH levels during acidification, and regulating incubation time. These controlled parameter changes maximize the preservation and concentration of tocopherols and active substances while managing the complexity of the fermentation process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If β-1,3-glucan is used in conventional formulations, then it provides therapeutic benefits, but it has poor solubility and requires emulsifiers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetherapeutic effectivenessVSAvoidformulation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by allowing β-1,3-glucan to self-emulsify through the natural fermentation process. The heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria produce metabolites that act as natural emulsifiers, enabling β-1,3-glucan to become sufficiently soluble and stable in the formulation without requiring additional synthetic emulsifying agents

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria as intermediaries that facilitate the solubility of β-1,3-glucan. These bacteria and their metabolic products serve as mediators between the insoluble β-1,3-glucan and the aqueous formulation medium, enabling effective incorporation and delivery of this therapeutic component

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the mixture is acidified to stop metabolic activity, then microbial stability is achieved, but complete cessation of activity is difficult to detect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemicrobial stabilityVSAvoiddetection of metabolic cessation
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical or complex analytical detection methods with a simple thermal test. By applying heat (e.g., placing the mixture in warm water or a warm environment) and observing whether gas production continues, the method provides a straightforward way to detect whether metabolic activity has ceased, eliminating the need for complex analytical equipment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 resulting medicament effectively treats bacterial, viral, and fungal infections, including onychomycoses, acne, and skin diseases, with improved solubility of β-1,3-glucan and reduced need for emulsifiers, offering enhanced therapeutic benefits and prolonged shelf life.

Implementation Method 1

followed by a further addition of rye fine or coarse meal, water and a bacteriological inoculum from the group of heterofermentative lactic-acid bacteria; acidifying the mixture until the metabolic activity of the microorganisms ceases

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFermentation: Fermentation

Implementation Method 2

heating it to 90-95° C. until a metabolic activity can no longer be detected

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal heating: Heating

Implementation Method 3

separating the mixture by centrifugation into a solution and a precipitate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal separation: Centrifugal Separation

Data Source

PatentUS8729049B2Leaven-based mixture
Publication Date: 2014.05.20 WORESAN

AI summary

An embodiment is a mixture obtainable by a process comprising the following steps: a) adding a culture comprising sprouted rye grains and water to a rye fine or coarse meal and subjecting the mixture to a process of heating to 30-34° C. within 3 to 5 hours, a strong maltose formation being initiated from enzymatic reactions; b) followed by a further addition of rye fine or coarse meal, water and a bacteriological inoculum from the group of heterofermentative lactic-acid bacteria; c) acidifying the mixture until the metabolic activity of the microorganisms ceases, and optionally pasteurizing at 90-95° C.; d) separating the mixture by centrifugation into a solution and a precipitate, after which the solution is optionally filtered at least once.