Extracts derived from sugar cane and a process for their manufacture

Abstract

An extract derived from sugar cane having GI or burn rate reducing characteristics wherein the extract comprises a mixture of one or more polyphenols, one or more carbohydrates, one or more minerals and one or more organic acids.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . An extract derived from sugar cane having glycemic index (GI) or burn rate reducing characteristics, wherein the extract is a syrup which comprises 3.5 to 6 g CE/I of one or more polyphenols, 80 to 220 g/l of one or more carbohydrates, 3 to 5.5 g/l of one or more minerals and 3 to 6 g t-aconitic/l of one or more organic acids. 
     
     
         30 . The extract according, to  claim 29 , wherein the extract comprises 4 to 5 g CE/I of one or more polyphenols, 120 to 170 g/l of one or more carbohydrates, 4 to 5 g/l of one or more minerals and 4 to 5 g t-aconitic/l of one or more organic acids. 
     
     
         31 . An extract derived from sugar cane having GI or burn rate reducing characteristics wherein the extract is a powder which comprises 1.5 to 2.5 wt % of one or more polyphenols, 50 to 80 wt % of one or more carbohydrates, 1 to 3 wt % of one or more minerals and 1 to 3 wt % of one or more organic acids. 
     
     
         32 . An extract derived from sugar cane molasses having GI or burn rate reducing characteristics wherein the extract comprises:
 one or more polyphenols in an amount of 2000 to 3000 mg CE phenolics/100 g of extract;   one or more carbohydrates including 30 to 60 g of sucrose/100 g of extract, 5 to 12 g of glucose/100 g of extract and 7 to 15 g of fructose/100 g of extract;   one or more minerals; and   one or more organic acids including 400 to 650 mg of cis-aconitic acid/100 g of extract and 1500 to 2500 mg of trans-aconitic acid/100 g of extract,   wherein the extract has 600 to 1000 mg GAE antioxidant activity/100 g of extract.   
     
     
         33 . The extract according to  claim 32 , wherein the extract comprises:
 one or more polyphenols in an amount of 2054 to 2733 mg CE phenolics/100 g of extract;   one or more carbohydrates including 38.2 to 52 g of sucrose/100 g of extract, 7.5 to 10.3 g of glucose/100 g of extract and 8.9 to 12.8 g of fructose/100 g of extract;   one or more minerals: and   one or more organic acids including 500 to 597 mg of cis-aconitic acid/100 g of extract and 1688 to 2210 mg of trans-aconitic acid/100 g of extract,   wherein the extract has 650 to 899 mg GAE antioxidant activity/100 g of extract.   
     
     
         34 . The extract according to  claim 29 , wherein the extract is derived from a sugar cane derived product selected from the group consisting of the feed stream of raw sugar cane juice, clarified syrup, concentrated syrup, treacle, primary mill and refinery molasses, golden syrup, brown sugar, bagasse, biodunder, field trash, cane strippings, pith, growing tips, pulp, mill mud and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         35 . The extract according to  claim 29 , wherein the extract is derived from biodunder. 
     
     
         36 . The extract according to  claim 29 , wherein the extract is derived from molasses. 
     
     
         37 . The extract according to  claim 29 , wherein the extract comprises one or more of the following polyphenols: p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, syringic acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, (−)epicatechin, apigenin, (+)catechin, quercetin, diosmin and rutin. 
     
     
         38 . The extract according to  claim 29 , wherein the extract comprises a mixture of the polyphenols diosmin, chlorogenic acid and syringic acid. 
     
     
         39 . The extract according to  claim 29 , wherein the extract has antioxidant activity. 
     
     
         40 . A food product comprising an extract according to  claim 29 . 
     
     
         41 . The food product according to  claim 40 , wherein the amount of the extract is sufficient to lower the glycemic index of the food product. 
     
     
         42 . The food product according to  claim 40 , wherein the food product is a beverage. 
     
     
         43 . The food product according to  claim 40 , wherein the food product is a soft drink, a juice drink, a dietary supplement, a pre-mixed drink, a meal replacement drink, an alcoholic drink, coffee, cocoa or tea. 
     
     
         44 . The food product according to  claim 40 , wherein the food product is a dairy product, a fat-based product, a cereal-based product, a confectionary, or a sports nutrition product. 
     
     
         45 . A food grade ingredient impregnated with or containing the extract according to  claim 29 . 
     
     
         46 . A method of lowering the glycemic index (GI) of a food or beverage, the method comprising adding the extract according to  claim 29  to the food or beverage. 
     
     
         47 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising:
 an extract of  claim 29 ; and   a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.   
     
     
         48 . A nutraceutical composition comprising:
 an extract of  claim 29 ; and   a carrier.   
     
     
         49 . A cosmeceutical composition comprising:
 an extract of  claim 29 ; and   a carrier.