Agricultural Research Service (ARS) researchers Andrew Breksa and Gary Manners in California have developed a method for manufacturing pure limonoid compounds from citrus juice production byproducts.
Limonoid compounds are phytochemicals currently believed to have therapeutic benefits.
ARS research studies have shown that these compounds possess potential health benefits, including cancer prevention and cholesterol reduction. Although other methods exist for extracting limonoids from citrus byproducts, ARS's technology has an advantage over existing methods in that it allows for extracting more pure compounds needed for producing nutraceutical and functional foods.
Another benefit of ARS's technology is that it uses "food-grade" solvents, reducing the risks associated with toxic solvents. ARS researchers are currently seeking a cooperative research partner for commercial scale-up of this technology to ultimately produce consumer products made with these compounds. ARS-directed human studies are underway to establish the cholesterol lowering properties of various citrus limonoid species.
Companies that manufacture nutraceuticals, phytochemicals or health directed functional foods would be able to use this technology for producing commercial products.
No Food and Drug Administration approval would be required for food applications targeting cholesterol reduction.
More info: www.ars.usda.gov
