Walnut Extract Stability via Rapid Ethanol Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing walnut extracts for treating viral, fungal, and bacterial diseases have low stability over time, limiting their application and effectiveness, as they must be administered shortly after preparation and primarily target specific types of infections.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the extraction of unripe walnuts using a rapid ethanol extraction method, freezing, drying, and filtration to produce a stable walnut-based extract effective against fungi, bacteria, and viruses, maintaining stability for up to 24 months.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional extraction methods are used to obtain walnut extracts, then the extraction process is simple and quick, but the stability of the extract decreases rapidly over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the extraction time parameter to be extremely short (less than 10 minutes) and changing the solvent composition parameters (ethanol 96%, water 3%, hydrochloric acid 1%) to achieve both high extraction efficiency and long-term stability of the active ingredients
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-mixing ethanol 96%, water, and hydrochloric acid in specific proportions before the extraction process, and by pre-selecting unripe walnuts as the raw material to ensure optimal extraction conditions from the beginning
2Ease of operation
If the extract is prepared in advance for future use, then convenience is improved, but effectiveness is lost due to rapid degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the extract through specific solvent composition (ethanol 96%, water 3%, hydrochloric acid 1%) and extraction time (less than 10 minutes) to create a stable formulation that maintains effectiveness over time, enabling advance preparation
3Adaptability or versatility
If the extract targets multiple types of infections (viral, fungal, bacterial), then versatility is improved, but the extraction process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using a single extraction process with a specific solvent mixture (ethanol 96%, water 3%, hydrochloric acid 1%) that simultaneously extracts multiple active ingredients from unripe walnuts, creating an extract with broad-spectrum anti-infection properties against viral, fungal, and bacterial infections without requiring separate extraction procedures for each type
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 extract is stable for extended periods, retaining anti-fungal, anti-microbial, and anti-viral properties, allowing for broader application in treating various infections without significant loss of efficacy over time.
Implementation Method 1
Extracting in a time lower than 10 minutes, wherein the extraction step (v) comprises breaking the dried mass obtained in the drying step into pieces and adding an alcohol in a 1/2 to 1/5 weight/volume ratio and carrying out an extraction during a time lower than 10 minutes
Implementation Method 2
Freezing the raw material prepared in the previous step; Preferably, the freezing step (iii) comprises keeping the walnut fruits in a frozen chamber at a temperature comprised between -18 and -20oC during 70-170 hours
Implementation Method 3
Drying; in a drying chamber at a temperature of 38oC ± 2oC until a humidity lower than 10% is obtained
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention refers to an isolated extract of walnuts of high efficiency and stability over time useful for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of viral, fungal and bacterial diseases, which is characterized in that it is obtained from a process comprising: i) Collecting unripe walnut fruits as raw material; ii) Preparing the raw material for the extraction; iii) Freezing the raw material prepared in the previous step; iv) Drying; v) Extracting in a time lower than 10 minutes; vi) Filtration; and vii) Final packaging. The invention also refers to its use for manufacturing a medicament for the treatment of bacterial, fungal and viral diseases and to a composition comprising it.