Morinda citrifolia oil

• US 6,417,157 B1
• Filed: 03/14/2000
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tahitian Noni International, Inc. (NewAge, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Morinda, Inc. (NewAge, Inc.)
• Inventors: Story, Stephen P., Wadsworth, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cole, Monique T.
• Application Number:
  US09/523,865
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 512/5, 424/195.1
• US Class Current: 512/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/347 Phenols
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/355 Quinones
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/368 with carboxyl groups directly bound to carbon atoms of aromatic rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/678 Tocopherol, i.e. vitamin E
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/922 of vegetable origin
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/00 Preparations for care of the skin
• CPC Class Codes: C11B 9/0003 Compounds of unspecified constitution defined by the chemical reaction for their preparation
• CPC Class Codes: C11B 9/02 Recovery or refining of essential oils from raw materials
• CPC Class Codes: C11C 5/002 Ingredients

Abstract

An essential oil product obtained from the Indian mulberry (Morinda citrifolia) plant and the process of extracting and purifying the oil is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the seeds from the Indian mulberry fruit are dried, preferably to a moisture content less than 10%. The seeds are ground or shredded to facilitate the removal of natural occurring oil. The shredded or ground flakes are pressed to expel Morinda citrifolia oil. The remaining seed cake is then mixed with a food grade, non-polar extraction solvent such as hexane. The mixture is heated for a sufficient length of time to complete the extraction process. The extraction solvent is then evaporated from the mixture leaving the Morinda citrifolia oil. The oil is further refined, bleached, dried, and deodorized to remove free fatty acids and other unwanted components. An antioxidant can optionally be added to stabilize the oil for further processing or packaging.

Claims

1. An essential oil comprising:

oil extracted from Morinda citrifolia seeds; and

an antioxidant.

2. An essential oil according to claim 1, wherein the antioxidant is selected from tocopherol acetate (vitamin E acetate), propyl gallate, TBHQ (t-butyl hydroquinone), BHT (3,5-bis(t-butyl)-4-hydroxytoluene), and French maritime pine bark extract.

3. An essential oil according to claim 1, wherein the oil extracted from Morinda citrifolia seeds is bleached.

4. An essential oil according to claim 1, wherein the oil extracted form Morinda citrifolia seeds is deodorized.

5. An essential oil according to claim 1, wherein the oil extracted from Morinda citrifolia seeds comprises at least one of:

(i) caprylic fatty acid;

(ii) palmitic fatty acid;

(iii) stearic fatty acid;

(iv) oleic fatty acid;

(v) linoleic fatty acid;

(vi) linolenic fatty acid;

(vii) arachidic fatty acid; and

(viii) eicosenoic fatty acid.

6. An essential oil according to claim 1, wherein the oil extracted from Morinda citrifolia seeds has a free fatty acid content ranging from 5 to 9 grams/100 grams oil.

7. An essential oil according to claim 1, wherein the oil extracted from Morinda citrifolia seeds has a peroxide value ranging from 3 to 6 MEQ/KG.

8. An essential oil according to claim 1, wherein the oil extracted from Morinda citrifolia seeds has a vitamin E content ranging from 11 to 25 IU/100 gram.

9. An essential oil according to claim 1, wherein the oil extracted from Morinda citrifolia seeds is an ingredient in massage oil.

10. An essential oil according to claim 1, wherein the oil extracted from Morinda citrifolia seeds is an ingredient in cosmetics.

11. An essential oil according to claim 1, wherein the oil extracted from Morinda citrifolia seeds is an ingredient in candles.

12. An essential oil according to claim 1, wherein the oil extracted from Morinda citrifolia seeds comprises:

0.5 wt. % caprylic fatty acid;

8.4 wt. % palmitic fatty acid;

4.0 wt. % stearic fatty acid;

13.8 wt. % oleic fatty acid;

66.8 wt. % linoleic fatty acid;

0.2 wt. % linolenic fatty acid;

0.5 wt. % arachidic fatty acid; and

0.2 wt. % eicosenoic fatty acid;

wherein the foregoing concentrations can vary up to ±

10%, by weight.

13. An essential oil comprising:

oil extracted from Morinda citrifolia seeds containing a mixture of fatty acids selected from caprylic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic, arachidic, and eicosenoic fatty acid, wherein said extracted oil has a free fatty acid content ranging from 5 to 9 grams/100 grams oil; and

an antioxidant.

14. An essential oil according to claim 13, wherein the antioxidant is selected from tocopherol acetate (vitamin E acetate), propyl gallate, TBHQ (t-butyl hydroquinone), BHT (3,5-bis(t-butyl)-4-hydroxytoluene), and French maritime pine bark extract.

15. An essential oil according to claim 13, wherein the oil extracted from Morinda citrifolia seeds is bleached.

16. An essential oil according to claim 13, wherein the oil extracted from Morinda citrifolia seeds is deodorized.

17. An essential oil according to claim 13, wherein the oil extracted from Morinda citrifolia seeds has a peroxide value ranging from 3 to 6 MEQ/KG.

18. An essential oil according to claim 13, wherein the oil extracted from Morinda citrifolia seeds has a vitamin E content ranging from 11 to 25 IU/100 gram.

19. An essential oil according to claim 13, wherein the oil extracted from Morinda citrifolia seeds is an ingredient in massage oil.

20. An essential oil according to claim 13, wherein the oil extracted from Morinda citrifolia seeds is an ingredient in cosmetics.

21. An essential oil according to claim 13, wherein the oil extracted from Morinda citrifolia seeds is an ingredient in candles.

22. An essential oil according to claim 13, wherein the oil extracted from Morinda citrifolia seeds comprises:

0.5 wt. % caprylic fatty acid;

8.4 wt. % palmitic fatty acid;

4.0 wt. % stearic fatty acid;

13.8 wt. % oleic fatty acid;

66.8 wt. % linoleic fatty acid;

0.2 wt. % linolenic fatty acid;

0.5 wt. % arachidic fatty acid; and

0.2 wt. % eicosenoic fatty acid.

wherein the foregoing concentrations can vary up to ±

10%, by weight.