Method for preparing nicotianamine or nicotianamine-containing product

Abstract

Precipitation fractionation of an aqueous extract of soybeans by addition of an organic solvent such as ethanol or molecular weight fractionation of the extract by ultrafiltration or size exclusion chromatography is appropriately combined with activated carbon filtration, cation- or anion-exchange resin treatment or other adsorbent (e.g., polyamide or octadecylsilica) treatment to provide a nicotianamine product of desired purity. The product is added to food and drink to provide health foods.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of preparing nicotianamine comprising adding an organic solvent to an aqueous extract of soybeans and purifying the resulting precipitate.  
     
     
         2 . The method of preparing nicotianamine according to  claim 1 , wherein said aqueous extract of soybeans is soybean whey.  
     
     
         3 . The method of preparing nicotianamine according to  claim 1 , wherein said organic solvent is added to a concentration of 30% by weight or more.  
     
     
         4 . The method of preparing nicotianamine according to  claim 1 , wherein said organic solvent has solubility in water.  
     
     
         5 . The method of preparing nicotianamine according to  claim 1 , which further comprises subjecting the aqueous extract to at least one of ion-exchange resin treatment, activated carbon filtration and other adsorbent treatment either before or after the addition of the organic solvent.  
     
     
         6 . A method of preparing a nicotianamine-containing product comprising adding an organic solvent to an aqueous extract of soybeans and collecting the resulting precipitate as a crude product.  
     
     
         7 . The method of preparing a nicotianamine-containing product according to  claim 6 , wherein said aqueous extract of soybeans is soybean whey.  
     
     
         8 . The method of preparing a nicotianamine-containing product according to  claim 6 , wherein said organic solvent is added to a concentration of 30% by weight or more.  
     
     
         9 . The method of preparing a nicotianamine-containing product according to  claim 6 , wherein said organic solvent has solubility in water.  
     
     
         10 . The method of preparing a nicotianamine-containing product according to  claim 6 , which further comprises subjecting the aqueous extract to at least one of ion-exchange resin treatment, activated carbon filtration and other adsorbent treatment either before or after the addition of the organic solvent.