Increasing bioavailability of carotenoids

Abstract

A method of increasing a fraction of free carotenoids in a source of carotenoids in which at least some of the carotenoids are fatty acid esterified carotenoids is disclosed. The method is effected by contacting the source of carotenoids with an effective amount of an esterase under conditions effective in deesterifying the fatty acid esterified carotenoids, thereby increasing the fraction of free carotenoids in the source of carotenoids.

1 . A method of increasing a fraction of free carotenoids in a source of carotenoids in which at least some of the carotenoids are fatty acid esterified carotenoids, the method comprising contacting the source of carotenoids with an effective amount of an immobilized esterase under conditions effective in deesterifying the fatty acid esterified carotenoids, thereby increasing the fraction of free carotenoids in the source of carotenoids. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said immobilized esterase is selected from the group consisting of an immobilized lipase, an immobilized carboxyl ester esterase and an immobilized chlorophylase. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said immobilized esterase is an immobilized lipase. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said immobilized lipase is selected from the group consisting of an immobilized bacterial lipase, immobilized yeast lipase, immobilized mold lipase and immobilized animal lipase. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said immobilized lipase is a recycled immobilized lipase. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said source of carotenoids is characterized in that a majority of the carotenoids in said source of carotenoids are said fatty acid esterified carotenoids. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said conditions effective in deesterifying the fatty acid esterified carotenoids are characterized by addition of at least one additive selected from the group consisting of: a cellulose degrading enzyme; a protein degrading enzyme; a pectin degrading enzyme; an emulsifier; and at least one metal ion. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said source of carotenoids is red pepper. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said source of carotenoids is red pepper powder. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said source of carotenoids is paprika. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said source of carotenoids is red pepper oil extract. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said source of carotenoids is red pepper oleoresin. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said source of carotenoids is selected from the group consisting of apple, apricot, avocado, blood orange cape gooseberry, carambola, chilli, clementine, kumquat, loquat, mango, minneola, nectarine, orange, papaya, peach, persimmon, plum, potato, pumpkin, tangerine and zucchini. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one metal ion is selected from the group consisting of Ca ++  and Na + . 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said addition of said at least one metal ion is by addition of at least one salt of said metal ion. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one salt is selected from the group consisting of CaCl 2  and NaCl. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said cellulose degrading enzyme is selected from the group consisting of C1 type beta-1,4 glucanase, exo-beta-1,4 glucanase, endo-beta-1,4 glucanase and beta-glucosidase. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said proteins degrading enzyme is selected from the group consisting of trypsin, papain, chymotrypsins, ficin, bromelin, cathepsins and rennin. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said pectin degrading enzyme is selected from the group consisting of a pectin esterase, pectate lyase and a polygalacturonase. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said emulsifier is a non-ester emulsifier. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said emulsifier is lecithin. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said emulsifier is deoxycholate. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said emulsifier is a non-ionic detergent. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said emulsifier is derived from bile, gum Arabic or salt of free fatty acids. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said emulsifier is a recycled emulsifier. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising extracting said source of at least partially deesterified carotenoids with ethyl acetate under alkaline conditions. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said alkaline conditions are characterized by pH from about 8.0 to about 10. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said alkaline conditions are pH 9.5.