Process for obtaining lutein from algae

• US 20070196893A1
• Filed: 01/10/2007
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cognis IP Management GmbH (BASF SE)
• Original Assignee: Cognis IP Management GmbH (BASF SE)
• Inventors: Weiss, Albrecht, Gutsche, Bernhard, Johannisbauer, Wilhelm, Rodriguez, Herminia, Martin, Lucia, Obraztsova, Irina, Vargas, M. Angeles, Cordero, Baldomero
• Granted Patent: US 8,357,510 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/67
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/179 Colouring agents, e.g. pigmenting or dyeing agents
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/105 Plant extracts, their artificial duplicates or their derivatives
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 5/46 using dyes or pigments of microbial or algal origin
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/522 Antioxidants; Radical scavengers
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/9722 Chlorophycota or Chlorophyta [green algae], e.g. Chlorella
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/00 Preparations for care of the skin
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 23/00 Preparation of compounds containing a cyclohexene ring having an unsaturated side chain containing at least ten carbon atoms bound by conjugated double bonds, e.g. carotenes containing heterorings C12P17/00

Abstract

A process of obtaining lutein in a high yield from green algae is described. Lutein and lutein-enriched products obtained by the process, which are suitable for use as dietary supplements and/or food additives, or cosmetic or pharmaceutical raw materials, are also described.

Claims

1. A process of obtaining lutein from green algae, which process comprises:

(a) cultivating a green algae selected from the group consisting of Chlorella sorokiniana (SAG 211-32), Neospongiococcum gelatinosum (SAG 64.80), and Chlorococcum citriforme (SAG 62.80) under cultivating conditions suitable for producing lutein;

(b) harvesting the cultivated algae containing lutein; and

(c) obtaining the lutein from the harvested algae containing lutein.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the green algae is Chlorella sorokiniana.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the green algae is cultivated at a temperature of from about 20 to about 40°

C.

4. The process of claim 3 wherein the temperature is about 30°

C.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the green algae is cultivated in a mixotrophic culture medium.

6. The process of claim 5 wherein the medium contains from about 20 to about 60 mM salts of acetic acid and from about 10 to about 60 mM of nitrates.

7. The process of claim 6 wherein the salt of acetic acid is sodium acetate.

8. The process of claim 1 wherein the green algae is cultivated with a light irradiation of from about 200 to about 1,500 μ

Em<sup>−

1</sup>s<sup>−

1</sup>.

9. The process of claim 8 wherein the light irradiation is about 700 μ

Em<sup>−

2</sup>s<sup>−

1</sup>.

10. The process of claim 1 wherein the lutein is obtained in a yield of about 25 mg/liter/day.

11. The process of claim 1 which further comprises adding an antioxidant at step (b) or step (c).

12. The process of claim 11 wherein the antioxidant is alpha tocopherol.

20. A lutein or lutein-enriched product obtained by the process of claim 1 having a lutein/zeaxanthin ratio of greater than about 5 and a chlorophyll A /lutein ratio of less than about 10.

13. A process of obtaining zeaxanthin from green algae, which process comprises:

(a) cultivating a green algae selected from the group consisting of Chlorella sorokiniana (SAG 211-32), Neospongiococcum gelatinosum (SAG 64.80), and Chlorococcum citriforme (SAG 62.80) under cultivating conditions suitable for producing lutein;

(b) harvesting the cultivated algae containing lutein to form a concentrated suspension of the algae;

(c) disrupting the green algae of the concentrated suspension; and

(d) obtaining the lutein from the disrupted green algae of the suspension.

14. The process of claim 13 wherein an antioxidant and/or an emulsifier are added to the concentrated suspension of step (b).

15. The process of claim 13 wherein the medium contains from about 20 to about 60 mM salts of acetic acid and from about 10 to about 60 mM of nitrates.

16. The process of claim 15 wherein the salt of acetic acid is sodium acetate.

17. The process of claim 13 wherein the green algae is cultivated with a light irradiation of from about 200 to about 1,500 μ

Em<sup>−

2</sup>s<sup>−

1</sup>.

18. The process of claim 17 wherein the light irradiation is about 700 μ

Em<sup>−

2</sup>s<sup>−

1</sup>.

19. The process of claim 13 wherein the green algae is Chlorella sorokiniana.

21. A lutein or lutein-enriched product obtained by the process of claim 13 having a lutein/zeaxanthin ratio of greater than about 5 and a chlorophyll A /lutein ratio of less than about 10.