Stable, homogeneous natural product extracts containing polar and apolar fractions

Abstract

Disclosed are stable, homogeneous dispersions, comprising (a) from about 20 to 90% by weight of a first composition comprising (i) about 60-95% by weight of a first polar solvent, (ii) about 0-40% by weight of one or more second polar solvents, and (iii) water soluble components of a first natural product; and (b) from about 10 to 60% by weight of a second composition comprising: (i) one or more apolar solvents, and (ii) oil soluble organic components of a second natural product; and (c) from about 0.01 to 8% by weight of a non-surface active lipid phosphate or a surface active agent. Also disclosed are methods of forming the stable, homogeneous dispersions of the invention, comprising forming a first composition comprising water soluble components of a first natural product; forming a second composition comprising oil soluble organic components of a second natural product; mixing the compositions and subjecting the mixture to high pressure high shear processing to form a stable, homogeneous dispersion.

1 . A method of forming a stable, homogeneous dispersion comprising water soluble components of a natural product extract and oil soluble components of a natural product extract, said composition formed by the steps of: 
 obtaining a first natural product extract comprising a polar solvent and water based components of a natural product;    obtaining a second natural product extract comprising an apolar solvent and oil soluble components of a natural product;    combining said first extract and said second extract to form a first composition;    adding about 0.01 to 8% by weight of a non-surface active lipid phosphate or a surface active agent; and    subjecting said mixture to high pressure high shear processing to form a stable, homogeneous dispersion.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of subjecting said composition to high pressure high shear processing occurs at a pressure of about 11,000 to about 27,000 psi and a shear rate which is sufficient to form a dispersion having an average particle size of from about 200 to about 1,000 nm.  
   
   
       3 . The dispersion of  claim 1 , wherein said polar solvent is selected from the group consisting of water; a mono, di, tri or polyhydroxy alkyl derivative; a mono, di, tri or polyhalogenated alkyl derivative; a mono, di, tri or poly alkyl ether derivative; or a mono, di, tri or poly carboxy alkyl derivative, or mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said apolar solvent is selected from the group consisting of a mono, di, tri or polyalkyl ester or ether of a mono, di, tri or polyhydroxy compound; a saturated, unsaturated, linear, branched, or cyclic hydrocarbon; a saturated, unsaturated, linear or branched C 8  to C 30  fatty acid; a branched, linear, or cyclical silicone or silicone derivative; or a homopolymer or heteropolymer fluid formed by the polymerization of alkylene oxide monomers.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said apolar solvent is selected from the group consisting of vegetable oil, soybean oil, babasu oil, castor oil, cottonseed oil, grapeseed oil, rice bran oil, canola oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, olive oil, linseed oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, peanut oil, corn oil, mineral oil, petrolatum, hydrogenated polyisobutene, permethyl fluids, polyisobutene, polybutene, cyclomethicone, dimethicone polysiloxane, dimethicinol, polysiloxanes, polyalkyl siloxanes, polyarylsiloxanes, polyalkylaryl siloxanes, polysiloxane copolymers, polypropylene oxide, polybutylene oxide, isopropyl palmitate, diisopropyl adipate or mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first composition further comprises a non-surface active lipid phosphate.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said polar solvent is a mixture of water and propylene glycol.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second natural products are the same product.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second natural products are extracted from different natural products.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second natural products are extracted from a mixture of different natural products.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second natural products are extracted from a mixture of different natural products, respectively.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said natural product is selected from the group consisting of mulberry, lavender, licorice root, arnica, eyebright and grape root.