Improvements to the processes of extraction of the complex pigment and pigments of the plant materials

摘要

Biologically active photo- and oxy-stable plant pigment units are prepared from raw plant material by forming from such material a hydrosol of colloidal dispersoids containing pigment protein and lipin constituents, filtering, separating the plant pigment units from the hydrosol by centrifuging or by electro-dialysis, and drying the pigments under careful conditions. The mother liquor from which the pigments have been separated may, if desired, be further treated to separate cytoplasmic plant protein. The raw material such as fresh leaves, raw vegetables or fruits is washed to remove surface dirt, then chopped into small pieces and finally ground in a colloid mill with a small quantity of distilled water. The filtration step which follows is carried out through paper or a fritted glass filter. If the pigment units are to be separated by centrifugation the so-called super-centrifuges which revolve at 2900 r.p.m. are used. If electrodialysis is used, collodion sacs are employed as the dialysing membrane, the hydrosol being on one side of the membrane and distilled water on the other and a current of 110 volts and 1.8 to 2 amperes is passed. The drying is preferably carried out in dry air at about 30 DEG C. The dried pigments so obtained may be further separated by selective-solvent partition or by chromatographic adsorption. Examples are given starting with spinach, parsley and tomato, and a description of the therapeutic uses is included.