Soybean seed extract, method for producing the same and uses thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a soybean seed extract, method for producing the same and uses of the extract of soybean seeds in promoting wound healing, promoting neuron cell proliferation and/or treating brain diseases and/or neurodegenerative diseases, treating breast cancer, reducing side effects of interfering with DNA and/or RNA replication drugs and/or enhancing pharmaceutical effects of interfering with DNA and/or RNA replication drugs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An extract composition comprising a soybean seed extract, which soybean seed extract is prepared by a process comprising steps of:
 (a) providing soybean seeds and an extracting solution, which extracting solution is water or an alcohol solution containing alcohol at the concentration lower than about 90 wt %;   (b) extracting the soybean seeds with the extracting solution at a barometric pressure lower than about 1 atm and at a temperature lower than about 60° C. to obtain an crude extract; and   (c) removing solids from the crude extract to obtain a liquid portion.   
     
     
         2 . The extract composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the process for preparing the soybean seed extract further comprises a step (d) of concentrating the liquid portion obtained in the step (c) to obtain a concentrated solid portion. 
     
     
         3 . The extract composition according to  claim 2 , wherein the process for preparing the soybean seed extract further comprises a step (e) of drying the concentrated solid portion obtained in the step (d). 
     
     
         4 . The extract composition according to  claim 1  further comprising a soybean seed vapor fraction, which soybean seed vapor fraction is prepared by a process comprising steps of:
 (i) providing soybean seeds in a second extracting solution, which second extracting solution is water or air alcohol solution containing alcohol at the concentration lower than about 15 wt %; and 
 (ii) extracting the soybean seeds with the second extracting solution at a barometric pressure lower than about I atm and at a temperature lower than about 110° C. and collecting the vapor fraction. 
 
     
     
         5 . The extract composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the alcohol solution in step (i) contains alcohol at the concentration lower than about 5 wt %. 
     
     
         6 . The extract composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the content of the soybean seed extract is from about 0.001 wt % to about 5 wt %; and the content of the soybean seed vapor fraction is from about 95 wt % to about 99.999 wt %. 
     
     
         7 . A method for preparing the extract composition according to  claim 1  comprising a process for preparing the soybean seed extract comprising steps of:
 (a) providing soybean seeds and an extracting solution, which extracting solution is water or an alcohol solution containing alcohol at the concentration lower than about 90 wt %; 
 (b) extracting the soybean seeds with the extracting solution at a barometric pressure lower than about 1 atm and at a temperature lower than about 60° C. to obtain an crude extract; and 
 (c) removing solids from the crude extract to obtain a liquid portion. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the process for preparing the soybean seed extract further comprises a step (d) of concentrating the liquid portion obtained in the step (c) to obtain a concentrated solid portion. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the process for preparing the soybean seed extract further comprises a step (e) of drying the concentrated solid portion obtained in the step (d). 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the extract composition further comprises a soybean seed vapor fraction, which soybean seed vapor fraction is prepared by a process comprising steps of:
 (i) providing soybean seeds in a second extracting solution, which second extracting solution is water or an alcohol solution containing alcohol at the concentration lower than about 15 wt %; and   (ii) extracting the soybean seeds with the second extracting solution at a barometric pressure lower than about 1 atm and at a temperature lower than about 110° C. and collecting the vapor fraction.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the alcohol solution in step (i) contains alcohol at the concentration lower than about 5 wt %. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the content of the soybean seed extract is from about 0.001 wt % to about 5 wt %; and the content of the soybean seed vapor fraction is from about 95 wt % to about 99.999 wt %.