Both in traditional methods of treating various diseases and in official medicine, there is a centuries-old practice of using biological raw materials. It should be noted that in the official pharmacopoeia the emphasis is on the use of polar and weakly polar compounds – aqueous infusions, galenic (alcohol) extracts and extracts of non-polar compounds in the form of oil infusions have limited use. First of all, in official medicine, oil infusions are used either as products containing fat-soluble vitamins, or for external use.
In traditional medicine, especially Chinese and Tibetan, extracts of fat-soluble compounds of plant origin are very widely used. However, all these infusions have a very low content of biologically active lipophilic compounds. In order to increase biological effectiveness, pharmaceutical companies often add synthetic analogues of the main active substances to the composition of oil infusions, which does not always give the expected therapeutic effect.
We can say with certainty that at present multicomponent mixtures of non-polar compounds of complex composition are not actively used both as biologically active additives, and in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products – dietary supplements and vitamin complexes, as well as in the manufacture of functional foods and beverages.
This situation is explained by the fact that, on the one hand, traditional technologies for the production of mixtures of natural, non-polar (fat-soluble) compounds are mainly aimed at obtaining oils and fats, and compounds with extremely important functional properties are purposefully removed.
Second, a very important quality for dietary supplements is the natural balance of functional compounds in the extract, but standard food production technologies are often unable to produce such products.
Thirdly, traditional technologies that make it possible to obtain multicomponent mixtures of non-polar compounds of complex composition in most cases involve the use of rather “heavy” organic solvents. Although traces of residual amounts of “heavy” solvents are present in the extracts obtained by such technologies, even these trace amounts have an extremely unfavorable effect on the functioning of internal organs. Their destructive influence is most often reflected in the work of the liver, gastrointestinal tract and heart.
Extraction by the method of CO2 extraction uses liquefied carbon dioxide as a solvent – carbon dioxide, which under normal environmental conditions completely evaporates from the composition of the product. At the same time, no other co-extractants are used for CO2 extracts for food purposes, therefore there is no risk of negative effects of “heavy” solvents on the body.
At the same time, the high selectivity of liquefied CO2 towards non-polar compounds and the low temperatures of the process allow us to state that CO2 extracts are indeed naturally balanced complexes with the full composition of biologically active liposoluble compounds in their native (undisturbed) form. At the same time, 100% CO2 extracts are actually concentrates of natural lipophilic compounds. This makes it possible to produce on their basis both food and vitamin supplements, which are pharmaceutical products, and functional food products with the possibility of fairly accurate determination of their later biological activity due to the precise regulation of the main active substances.
(Capsule) shells made from biologically active additives
Studies of the chemical composition of CO2 extracts from plant materials, conducted by Biozevtika together with sub-departments and specialists of the Faculty of Chemistry of Moscow State University, suggest that almost all examined CO2 extracts contain several hundred different non-polar compounds. Some of these compounds are known to chemical science, but almost every extract contains unknown compounds. Again, many of the compounds we have identified have been previously researched in pharmacological laboratories and their functional effectiveness is a proven fact.
Based on this information, it can be stated with certainty that the CO2 extracts obtained from Biozevtika, depending on the vegetable raw materials used for the extraction, can be used for the production of pharmaceutical and food biologically active additives, since they provide the following physiological functions:
- Regulation of fat and carbohydrate metabolism
- Restoration of structural components of cell membranes
- Formation of antioxidant protection
- a hormone-like effect
- Normalization of the activity of the immune system
CO2 extracts and products based on them, manufactured by Biozevtika:
- Promotion of hematopoiesis
- Normalization of the work of blood vessels
- Regulation of nervous activity
- Improving the functioning of the musculoskeletal system
- Detoxifiers
- Contribute to the formation of muscle tissue
Sometimes technologists are afraid to use CO2 extracts in products that have a restriction on the use of vegetable fats. This opinion is largely wrong. Fats are esters of glycerol and higher carboxylic acids. These are high molecular weight and rather refractory compounds. In the cold subcritical extraction technology used by Biozevtika, the temperature regime does not allow the transition of fats (triglycerides) to a liquid form, and the extraction time is specially limited so that the compounds with the lowest molecular weight get into the extract. Of course, in most 100% CO2 extracts, higher carboxylic acids themselves are present, but not triglycerides, and the concentration of these acids is quite low.
In view of the above and the fact that in the production of pharmaceutical and food-biologically active additives, the use amount of 100% CO2 extracts of Biozevtika usually does not exceed 0.01% by weight of the end product, the use of extracts cannot be limited by the requirements to restrict the use in formulations of vegetable fats.
The conducted studies allow recommending the use of 100% CO2 extracts in products containing lipophilic compounds – animal and vegetable oils and fats. These extracts are also perfect for dry bulk products – salt, sugar, flour. Also, Biozevtika has successfully tested the possibility of applying 100% CO2 extracts to dry adsorbent products such as tea, coffee and crushed plant particles.
Carrier for food supplements
The non-polar nature of subcritical carbon dioxide extracts does not allow their use in products, the main components of which are polar compounds – water, alcohol and their mixtures. In order to solve the problem of introducing such extracts into products with a high percentage of water in the composition, and thus allow the production of, for example, functional drinks on their basis, Biozevtika has developed special, unique products – CO2 microemulsions. The use of CO2 microemulsions in the production of corresponding functional products enables the production of optically transparent drinks with a specified biologically active effect. Our company’s research leads us to conclude that in order to achieve the expected effect, 0.01-0.1% microemulsion must be added to the products.
Functional drinks based on microemulsions of CO2 extracts
For advice on using CO2 extracts and microemulsions of CO2 extracts in the manufacture of your dietary supplements, functional foods and functional drinks, please contact us. Our experts are always ready to provide you with any help you can think of.