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EP-4739275-A1 - VITELLARIA PARADOXA EXTRACT COMPOSITION

EP4739275A1EP 4739275 A1EP4739275 A1EP 4739275A1EP-4739275-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a Vitellaria paradoxa extract composition comprising at least 5000 μg/g of gallic acid and at least 2500 μg/g of total flavan-3-ols. The invention also relates to a use of a Vitellaria paradoxa extract composition and an edible product or a cosmetic product comprising a Vitellaria paradoxa extract composition. Further, the invention also relates to a process for producing a Vitellaria paradoxa extract composition.

Inventors

  • AALBERTS, Martin
  • WERLEMAN, JEANINE LUVELLE
  • `T ZAND, Imro
  • MA, JUN

Assignees

  • Bunge Loders Croklaan B.V.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240625

Claims (15)

  1. 1. A Vitellaria paradoxa extract composition comprising at least 5000 pg/g of gallic acid and at least 2500 pg/g of total flavan-3-ols.
  2. 2. Extract composition according to Claim 1, comprising from 5000 pg/g to 50000 pg/g of gallic acid, preferably from 5100 pg/g to 25000 pg/g, more preferably from 5200 pg/g to 15000 pg/g and even more preferably from 5200 pg/g to 10000 pg/g.
  3. 3. Extract composition according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, comprising from 2500 pg/g to 25000 pg/g of total flavan-3-ols, preferably from 2600 pg/g to 20000 pg/g, more preferably from 2700 pg/g to 15000 pg/g and even more preferably from 2800 pg/g to 10000 pg/g.
  4. 4. Extract composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the weight ratio of total flavan-3-ols to gallic acid is at most 1.30, preferably from 0.20 to 1.20, more preferably from 0.30 to 1.10 and even more preferably from 0.40 to 1.00.
  5. 5. Extract composition according to any of the preceding claims, comprising: from 150 pg/g to 2000 pg/g of gallocatechin (GC), preferably from 160 pg/g to 1500 pg/g, more preferably from 170 pg/g to 1200 pg/g and even more preferably from 180 pg/g to 1000 pg/g; and/or from 1500 pg/g to 15000 pg/g of epigallocatechin (EGC), preferably from 1600 pg/g to 12000 pg/g, more preferably from 1750 pg/g to 10000 pg/g and even more preferably from 1900 pg/g to 8000 pg/g; and/or from 50 pg/g to 2000 pg/g of catechin, preferably from 60 pg/g to 1000 pg/g, more preferably from 65 pg/g to 500 pg/g and even more preferably from 70 pg/g to 300 pg/g; and/or from 30 pg/g to 1000 pg/g of epicatechin (EC), preferably from 40 pg/g to 500 pg/g, more preferably from 45 pg/g to 300 pg/g and even more preferably from 50 pg/g to 200 pg/g; and/or from 100 pg/g to 10000 pg/g of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), preferably from 200 pg/g to 5000 pg/g, more preferably from 250 pg/g to 2500 pg/g and even more preferably from 300 pg/g to 1500 pg/g; and/or from 50 pg/g to 5000 pg/g of gallocatechin gallate, preferably from 80 pg/g to 2500 pg/g, more preferably from 90 pg/g to 1500 pg/g and even more preferably from 100 pg/g to 800 pg/g; and/or from 30 pg/g to 1500 pg/g of epicatechin gallate (ECG), preferably from 50 pg/g to 1000 pg/g, more preferably from 60 pg/g to 800 pg/g and even more preferably from 70 pg/g to 500 pg/g.
  6. 6. Use of a Vitellaria paradoxa extract composition according to any of the preceding claims in an edible product, a cosmetic product or a feed product, preferably in a nutritional product, a confectionery product, a bakery product, a culinary product or a plant-based food product.
  7. 7. An edible product or a cosmetic product comprising a Vitellaria paradoxa extract composition according to any of Claims 1 to 5, preferably comprising from 0.01% to 10.0% by weight of the extract composition.
  8. 8. A process for producing a Vitellaria paradoxa extract composition comprising the steps of: a) providing nuts from Vitellaria paradoxa; b) expelling the nuts to extract oil and obtain a residue; c) further extracting oil from the residue using a first solvent; d) removing the first solvent from the residue to form a de-oiled residue; e) mixing the de-oiled residue with a second solvent; f) separating the mixture to form a solid fraction and a liquid fraction; and g) removing the second solvent from the liquid fraction to form a Vitellaria paradoxa extract composition.
  9. 9. Process according to Claim 8, wherein in step b) the expelling comprises steam treatment and/or physical pressing such as screw pressing.
  10. 10. Process according to Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein in step c) the first solvent is selected from a group consisting of hexane, acetone, isopropanol, ethanol, 2- methyltetra hydrofuran and mixtures thereof, preferably wherein the first solvent comprises hexane.
  11. 11. Process according to any of Claims 8 to 10, wherein in step e) the ratio of the weight of de-oiled residue to the volume of the second solvent is from 1 :5 (g/mL) to 1:35 (g/mL), preferably from 1: 10 (g/mL) to 1 :30 (g/mL) and more preferably from 1 : 15 (g/mL) to 1 :25 (g/mL).
  12. 12. Process according to any of Claims 8 to 11, wherein in step e) the mixing is carried out at a temperature of from 20°C to 80°C, preferably from 40°C to 75°C and more preferably from 55°C to 70°C.
  13. 13. Process according to any of Claims 8 to 12, wherein in step e) the second solvent has a dielectric constant at 20°C of at least 15, preferably from 18 to 90 and more preferably from 19 to 80.
  14. 14. Process according to any of Claims 8 to 13, wherein in step e) the second solvent comprising from 30% to 70% by volume of water and preferably from 40% to 60% by volume of water, preferably wherein in step e) the second solvent comprises a mixture of ethanol and water in a volume ratio of from 30:70 to 70:30 or a mixture of acetone and water in a volume ratio of from 30:70 to 70:30.
  15. 15. Process according to any of Claims 8 to 14, wherein in step e) the mixing includes shear mixing at a speed of at least 5000 rpm, preferably from 8000 rpm to 15000 rpm and for at least 30 seconds, preferably from 1 minute to 120 minutes.

Description

Vitellaria paradoxa extract composition This invention relates to a Vitellaria paradoxa extract composition, a use thereof and an edible product or a cosmetic product comprising a Vitellaria paradoxa extract composition. This invention also relates to a process for producing a Vitellaria paradoxa extract composition. Background The listing or discussion of an apparently prior-published document in this specification should not necessarily be taken as an acknowledgement that the document is part of the state of the art or is common general knowledge. Vitellaria paradoxa, formerly known as Butyrosepermum parkii, is commonly known as shea, shi or vitellaria. Shea nuts are obtained from the shea tree, which is endemic to the savannah of West Africa. The nut consists of a kernel surrounded by a shell. The nut is further surrounded by pulp (forming the shea fruit), which must be removed in order to obtain the shea nut. Shea butter is a valuable fat extracted from the nuts of Vitellaria paradoxa and is widely used in cosmetic products. Shea butter is also used to produce shea stearin in order to make cocoa butter equivalents for confectionery applications. However, after extracting shea butter, shea nut residue is generally considered as waste, or only for feed. Shea contains phenolic compounds having antioxidant activity that might be suitable for food application or cosmetic application. However, it has not been known whether and how phenolic compounds could be extracted from shea nut residue. WO 2011/122278 is directed to a method for extracting shea butter. Steven Maranz et al., J. Agric. Food Chem. 2003, 51, 6268-6273, describes phenolic constituents of shea (Vitellaria paradoxa) kernels. Quan V. Vuong et al., J. Sep. Sci. 2010, 33, 3415-3428 relates to extraction and isolation of catechins from tea. There remains a need for a Vitellaria paradoxa extract composition containing a high level of phenolic compounds such as gallic acid and flavan-3-ols which provide functional antioxidant properties. There is a further need that such an extract composition could be easily obtained from de-oiled shea nut residue in order to provide additional value to the waste generated during the process of extracting shea butter from shea nuts. There is also a need to provide a process for efficiently extracting phenolic compounds from de-oiled shea nut residue in good yield. Description of the invention According to the present invention, there is provided a Vitellaria paradoxa extract composition comprising at least 5000 pg/g of gallic acid and at least 2500 pg/g of total flavan-3-ols. For the avoidance of doubt, as used herein (and unless otherwise stated), the concentration in pg/g of a stated component or components, such as gallic acid or total flavan-3-ols, is based on the extract composition, i.e. the total (whole) content of the extract composition. It is believed that the Vitellaria paradoxa extract composition has a concentrated content of phenolic compounds such as gallic acid and flavan-3-ols desirable for use as an additive for food application and/or cosmetic application in order to improve antioxidant properties. The term "Vitellaria paradoxa" refers to the species in the genus Vitellaria, formerly known as Butyrospermum parkii. It is also commonly known as shea or shi. The term "gallic acid" refers to 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid, which is classified as a phenolic acid. The term "flavan-3-ol" refers to derivatives of flavanols that have 2-phenyl-3,4- dihydro-2H-chromen-3-ol as the functional moiety or backbone; a subgroup of flavonoids. It includes compounds such as catechin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin, epigallocatechin gallate, etc.. As used herein, articles such as "a" and "an" when used in a claim, are understood to mean one or more of what is claimed or described. The content and identity of gallic acid and flavan-3-ols in the compositions of the invention may be measured and characterized by commercial analytical laboratories such as Reading Scientific Services Ltd., Functional Ingredients Group, Berkshire, UK ("RSSL"). A measuring method using reverse-phase HPLC in order to determine catechins is also suggested in Quan V. Vuong et al., J. Sep. Sci. 2010, 33, 3415-3428. The extract composition according to the invention preferably is not extracted with methanol. Methanol is believed not to have a desirable combination of toxicological and solvent properties for use in accordance with the invention. The extract composition according to the invention preferably comprises from 5000 pg/g to 50000 pg/g of gallic acid, more preferably from 5100 pg/g to 25000 pg/g, even more preferably from 5200 pg/g to 15000 pg/g and most preferably from 5200 pg/g to 10000 pg/g. The extract composition according to the invention preferably comprises from 2500 pg/g to 25000 pg/g of total flavan-3-ols, more preferably from 2600 pg/g to 20000 pg/g, even more preferably from 2700 pg/g to 15000 pg/g and most preferably