Use of tomato extract as antihypertensive agent and process for making water soluble sugar free tomato extract

Abstract

Provided herein is technology relating to tomato extracts and particularly, but not exclusively to preparing and using tomato extracts as an anti-hypertensive agent to modulate blood pressure.

1 . A composition comprising a water-soluble, sugar-free tomato extract or an active fraction thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the active components of the composition have a molecular mass less than 1000 Da. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , essentially free of lycopene. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  in the form of a dried powder. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  in the form of a solution that will pass through a 0.2 μm filter without loss of solids. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  essentially free of nucleosides. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1  formulated for oral administration. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1  formulated in a form selected from the group consisting of a solution, a suspension, a syrup, a tablet, a capsule, a lozenge, a snack bar, a health drink, an insert, and a patch. 
     
     
         9 . A method of manufacturing a tomato extract, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) homogenizing a tomato to produce a tomato homogenate;   b) filtering the tomato homogenate through a filter having a molecular weight cutoff of 1000 Da to produce a filtrate; and   c) collecting the filtrate to provide an extract.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising freeze-drying the homogenate to produce a freeze-dried homogenate and dissolving the freeze-dried homogenate in water. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising freeze-drying the filtrate to produce a freeze-dried filtrate and dissolving the freeze-dried filtrate in water. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising removing a water-soluble sugar from the extract. 
     
     
         13 . A composition comprising a tomato extract, obtainable by a method comprising the steps of:
 a) homogenizing a tomato to produce a tomato homogenate;   b) filtering the tomato homogenate through a filter having a molecular weight cutoff of 1000 Da to produce a filtrate;   c) collecting the filtrate to provide an extract; and   d) removing a water-soluble sugar from the extract.   
     
     
         14 . A composition comprising a tomato extract of  claim 13  for use as a medicament to treat hypertension or for use as a medicament to inhibit angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 13  wherein the composition is a water-soluble, sugar-free tomato extract. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 13  wherein the tomato extract is made from a cold-break tomato paste. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 14  produced by a process comprising the steps of:
 a) diluting in water a cold-break tomato paste of 28-30° Brix and a browning index less than 0.350 AU; 
 b) removing particulate matter greater than 0.2 μm to produce a solution; and 
 c) concentrating the solution to form a syrup of 62-65° Brix. 
 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 14  produced by a process comprising the steps of:
 a) homogenizing tomatoes; 
 b) removing particulates by centrifugation and/or ultrafiltration; and 
 c) removing soluble sugars. 
 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein the process further comprises fractionating the non-sugar components using high-pressure liquid chromatography. 
     
     
         21 - 73 . (canceled) 
     
     
         74 . A method of treating hypertension, comprising administering a composition comprising a water-soluble, sugar-free tomato extract or an active fraction thereof, or a composition as defined in  claim 13  to a subject in need thereof.