Water dispersible compositions containing natural hydrophilic water-insoluble pigments, methods of preparing same and their use

• US 20030041780A1
• Filed: 08/19/2002
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marianne Winning, Per Pihlmann Isager
• Original Assignee: Marianne Winning, Per Pihlmann Isager
• Inventors: Isager, Per Pihlmann, Winning, Marianne
• Granted Patent: US 6,719,839 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 106/493
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 2200/00 containing organic compounds, e.g. synthetic flavouring agents
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 2200/14 containing fruits, nuts, e.g. almonds, seeds, plants, plant extracts or essential oils
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 2210/00 containing inorganic compounds or water in high or low amount
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/343 Products for covering, coating, finishing, decorating
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/36 characterised by the composition containing organic or inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/32 characterised by the composition containing organic or inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 19/09 Mashed or comminuted products, e.g. pulp, purée, sauce, or products made therefrom, e.g. snacks A23L19/01, A23L19/10, A23L27/63 and A23L21/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/58 Colouring agents
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 5/42 Addition of dyes or pigments, e.g. in combination with optical brighteners
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 5/43 using naturally occurring organic dyes or pigments, their artificial duplicates or their derivatives
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 5/44 using carotenoids or xanthophylls
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 7/191 After-treatment of puffed cereals, e.g. coating or salting
• CPC Class Codes: A23P 20/10 Coating with edible coatings, e.g. with oils or fats
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/00 Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/145 with organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/1658 Proteins, e.g. albumin, gelatin
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/28 Dragees; Coated pills or tablets , e.g. with film or compression coating A61K9/2072 takes precedence, e.g. partially coated tablets A61K9/2072, coated multilayer tablets A61K9/2086, tablets with drug-coated core A61K9/209
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 9/04 Ingredients treated with organic substances treated with macromolecular compounds C08K9/08
• CPC Class Codes: C09B 61/00 Dyes of natural origin prepared from natural sources , e.g. vegetable sources
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 3/00 Treatment in general of inorganic materials, other than fibrous fillers, to enhance their pigmenting or filling properties
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 3/10 : Treatment with macromolecular organic compounds C09C3/006 takes precedence

Abstract

Ready-to-use water dispersible pigment compositions containing waer-insoluble, hydrophilic pigments are provided. The compositions comprise a stable dispersion of the pigment such as a porphyrin pigment, carmine, curcumin and a carotenoid in the form of bodies of an average size which is at the most 10 μm is provided. The pigment bodies are dispersed without the use of a surface active substance in an aqueous phase comprising a hydrocolloid. The natural pigment compositions which are useful for coloring of food products and maceuticals do not migrate in the products and they are acid stable. The compositions are useful in coating compositions for tablets and dragees.

Claims

1. A ready-to-use water dispersible pigment composition comprising a dispersion of a water-insoluble hydrophilic natural pigment in the form of bodies of an average size which is at the most 10 μ

m, said bodies being dispersed in the absence of a surface active substance in an aqueous phase comprising a hydrocolloid, the composition containing at least 5% by weight of water.

3. A composition according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the natural pigment is selected from the group consisting of a porphyrin pigment, carmine, curcumin and a carotenoid.

4. A composition according to claim 3 wherein the pigment is in the form of particles obtained by precipitation of the pigment caused by acidifying an alkaline solution of the pigment.

5. A composition according to any of claims 1-4 wherein the aqueous phase comprises a carbohydrate.

6. A composition according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the hydrocolloid is selected from a protein, a polysaccharide and a gum.

7. Use of a composition according to any of claims 1-7 in the manufacturing of an edible product whereby the composition is dispersed in an aqueous phase of said edible food product.

9. Use according to claim 7 in the manufacturing of an edible product comprising multiple, separated compartments whereby the composition is dispersed in one or more selected compartments, the composition in one compartment essentially not migrating to other compartments.

10. Use of a composition according to any of claims 1-6 in the manufacturing of a pharmaceutical product.

11. Use according to claim 10 wherein the pharmaceutical product comprises multiple, separated compartments whereby the composition is dispersed in one or more selected compartments, the composition in one compartment essentially not migrating to other compartments.

12. An edible product comprising a composition according to any of claims 1-6.

13. A pharmaceutical product comprising a composition according to any of claims 1-6.

2. A ready-to-use water dispersible pigment composition comprising a dispersion of a water-insoluble, hydrophilic natural pigment in the form of bodies of an average size which is at the most 10 μ

m, said bodies being dispersed in the absence of a surface active substance in an aqueous phase comprising a hydrocolloid, the composition containing less than 5% by weight of water, subject to the limitation that when the pigment is carmine or spray dried norbixin the hydrocolloid is not gelatin.

8. Use according to claim 8 wherein the aqueous phase has a pH which is at the most 7.

14. A method of preparing a ready-to-use water dispersible pigment composition, said method comprising preparing a dispersion of a water-insoluble, hydrophilic natural pigment by mixing the pigment in the absence of a surface active substance into an aqueous phase containing a hydrocolloid, to obtain a dispersion comprising the pigment in the form of bodies having an average size of at the most 10 μ

m, the composition containing at least 5% by weight of water.

15. A method according to claim 14, which comprises the further step of drying the dispersion to obtain a composition containing less than 5% by weight of water, subject to the limitation that, when the pigment is carmine or spray-dried norbixin, the hydrocolloid is not gelatin.

16. A method according to claim 14 or 15 wherein the solid pigment is in the form of particles obtained by precipitation of the pigment caused by acidifying an alkaline solution of the pigment.

17. A method according to claim 14 wherein the amount of hydrocolloid is less than 10% by weight calculated on the pigment.

18. A method according to claim 14 which comprises a further step wherein an additional amount of hydrocolloid is added.

19. A method according to claim 14 wherein a carbohydrate is added to the aqueous phase.

20. A method of preparing a ready-to-use water dispersible pigment composition, said method comprising the steps of:

i) preparing an alkaline aqueous solution comprising a water-insoluble, hydrophilic natural pigment,

ii) preparing an aqueous dispersion or solution of a hydrocolloid,

iii) mixing the alkaline aqueous solution with the aqueous dispersion or solution of a hydrocolloid and

iv) if desired, adjusting the pH to a level which causes the pigment to precipitate,

to obtain the composition comprising the pigment in the form of a dispersion of pigment bodies having an average size of at the most 10 μ

m, the composition containing at least 5% by weight of water.

21. A method according to claim 20, which comprises the further step of drying the composition of pigment bodies to obtain a composition containing less than 5% by weight of water, subject to the limitation that, when the pigment is carmine or spray-dried norbixin, the hydrocolloid is not gelatin.

24. A method according to of claim 20 wherein the aqueous solution of step i) and/or the dispersion or solution of step ii) comprises a carbohydrate.

22. A method of preparing a ready-to-use water dispersible pigment composition, said method comprising the steps of:

i) preparing an alkaline aqueous solution comprising a water-insoluble, hydrophilic natural pigment followed by decreasing the pH to a level which causes the pigment to precipitate, resulting in a dispersion of precipitated 1% pigment,

ii) preparing an aqueous dispersion or solution of a hydrocolloid,

iii) mixing the dispersion comprising the precipitated pigment of step i) and the dispersion or solution of the hydrocolloid of step ii),

to obtain the composition comprising the pigment in the form of dispersions of pigment bodies having an average size of at the most 10 μ

m, the composition containing at least 5% by weight of water.

23. A method according to claim 22, which comprises the further step of drying the composition of pigment bodies to obtain a composition containing less than 5% by weight of water, subject to the limitation that, when the pigment is carmine or spray-dried norbixin, the hydrocolloid is not gelatin.

25. A method according to claim 22 wherein the dispersion comprising the precipitated pigment of step i) and the dispersion or solution of the hydrocolloid of step ii) comprises a carbohydrate.