Whole Fruit Extracts from the Fruits of the Curcubitaceae Family and Uses Thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of preparing whole fruit extract from the fruits of the Curcubitaceae family. The method includes extracting the peel and pulp of whole fruits by boiling water. In one embodiment, there is provided Luo Han Guo whole fruit extract. The resulting whole fruit extract can be formulated into a sugar-free or no sugar added, low calorie, low glycemic index syrup or jam comprising, e.g. the Luo Han Guo whole fruit extract and sugar alcohols (polyols).

1 . A method of preparing whole fruit extract from the fruits of the Curcubitaceae family, comprising:
 (i) breaking the fruits;   (ii) heating the fruits in water, thereby obtaining an extracted liquid containing solid components of the fruits; and   (iii) separating the solid components of the fruits from the extracted liquid, wherein the extracted liquid is the whole fruit extract containing extracts of the shell and pulp of the fruits.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fruits are Luo Han Guo fruits. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the fruits are boiled for about 1 to 2 hours. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the extracted liquid containing solid components of the fruits is further acidified to about pH 4.0-5.0 with an edible acid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the acidified extract is further treated with pectinase to remove pectin. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the pectinase is denatured by heating after treating the acidified extract. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claims 1  wherein the extracted liquid without the solid components of the fruits is further concentrated. 
     
     
         8 . A whole fruit extract prepared according to the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . The whole fruit extract of  claim 8 , wherein the extract contains a mixture comprising one or more natural sweetener selected from the group consisting of 11-oxo-Mogroside-V, Mogroside-VI, Mogroside-V, Mogroside-IV and Siamenoside-I. 
     
     
         10 . The whole fruit extract of  claim 8  wherein the extract is Luo Han Guo whole fruit extract. 
     
     
         11 . The whole fruit extract of  claim 10 , wherein the Luo Han Guo whole fruit extract has a HPLC profile as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
     
         12 . A no sugar added food or beverage comprising the whole fruit extract prepared according to the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . The no sugar added food or beverage of  claim 12 , wherein the whole fruit extract contains a mixture comprising one or more natural sweetener selected from the group consisting of 11-oxo-Mogroside-V, Mogroside-VI, Mogroside-V, Mogroside-IV and Siamenoside-I. 
     
     
         14 . The no sugar added food or beverage of  claim 12  wherein the whole fruit extract is Luo Han Guo whole fruit extract. 
     
     
         15 . The no sugar added food or beverage of  claim 14 , wherein the Luo Han Guo whole fruit extract has a HPLC profile as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
     
         16 . The no sugar added food or beverage according to  claim 12 , further comprising sugar alcohol (polyol). 
     
     
         17 . The no sugar added food or beverage of  claim 16 , wherein the sugar alcohol is selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, maltitol, maltitol syrup, lactitol, erythritol, isomalt, and hydrogenated starch hydrolysates. 
     
     
         18 . The no sugar added food or beverage according to  claim 12 , wherein the food is a syrup or a jam. 
     
     
         19 . The whole fruit extract of  claim 8  or the no sugar added food or beverage of  claim 12  capable of lowering blood sugar levels.