Method for extraction of an agent from a plant source

Abstract

Provided are methods for extraction of various agents, e.g. active agent, from a plant source, specifically with the use of extraction formulations which are based on micellar liquid systems.

1 .- 47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . An extraction medium for extracting a lipophilic agent from a plant source containing said lipophilic agent, the extraction medium being in the form of a microemulsion and comprising at least one oil, at least one hydrophilic surfactant, at least one co-surfactant, and no more than 10 wt % of water. 
     
     
         49 . The extraction medium of  claim 48 , wherein said at least one oil is selected from the group consisting of essential oils, terpenes, D-limonene, mineral oil, paraffinic oils, phospholipids, polar lipids, squalenes, sphingomeylins, waxes, vegetable oils, glycerides, triglycerides, fatty acids and esters of fatty acids, and liquid hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         50 . The extraction medium of  claim 48 , wherein said at least one oil being present in the extraction medium at an amount of between about 0.5 and 20 wt %. 
     
     
         51 . The extraction medium of  claim 48 , wherein said at least one hydrophilic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol (15)-hydroxystearate (Solutol HS15), polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monopalmitate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, and polyoxyethylene esters of saturated and unsaturated castor oil, ethoxylated monoglycerol esters, ethoxylated fatty acids, ethoxylated fatty acids of short, medium and long chain fatty acids. 
     
     
         52 . The extraction medium of  claim 48 , wherein said at least one hydrophilic surfactant being present in the extraction medium at an amount of between about 30 and 85 wt %. 
     
     
         53 . The extraction medium of  claim 48 , wherein said at least one co-surfactant is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, sorbitol, xylitol, PEG 200, PEG 400 and PEG 600. 
     
     
         54 . The extraction medium of  claim 48 , wherein said at least one co-surfactant being present in the extraction medium at an amount of between about 1 and 50 wt %. 
     
     
         55 . The extraction medium of  claim 48 , wherein the extraction medium further comprises at least one phospholipid. 
     
     
         56 . The extraction medium of  claim 55 , wherein said at least one phospholipid is present in the extraction medium in an amount of between about 1 and 10 wt %. 
     
     
         57 . The extraction medium of  claim 48 , further comprising at least one solvent. 
     
     
         58 . The extraction medium of  claim 57 , wherein said at least one solvent is selected from the group consisting of ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, acetic acid, and lactic acid. 
     
     
         59 . The extraction medium of  claim 57 , wherein the extraction medium comprises between about 0.1 and 25 wt % of said solvent. 
     
     
         60 . A composition comprising at least 0.1 wt % of a lipophilic agent from a plant source solubilized within the extraction medium of  claim 48 . 
     
     
         61 . The composition of  claim 60 , wherein the lipophilic agent is selected from the group consisting of astaxanthin, lycopene, beta-carotene, lutein, eugenol, piperine, anthocyanins, betaine, oleuropein, trimyristin, curcumin, capsaicin, gossypol, rosmanol, chlorogenic acid, cinnamaldehyde, flavones, caffeine, isoflavone, tocopherol, omega fatty acids, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, niacin, nicotinamide, flavonoids, cineole, borneol, thujone, carnosol, carnosic acid, fumaric acid, behenic acid; and any of their triglycerides or esters of long chain fatty acids. 
     
     
         62 . The composition of  claim 60 , being a food, a food supplement, a nutraceutical composition, a cosmetic composition, or a pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         63 . The composition of  claim 62 , being in a form selected from a gel, a lotion, oil, soap, shampoo, a spray, an emulsion, a cream, an ointment, capsules, soft-gel capsules, a patch, a solution, a suppository, and a chewing gum. 
     
     
         64 . The composition of  claim 62 , being a pharmaceutical composition formulated for delivery of said lipophilic agent topically, orally, by inhalation, nasally, transdermally, occularly, rectally, vaginally, or parenterally to a subject.