Nano-crystallized herbal ingredient-containing package and method of preparing herbal decoction
Inventors
KO, Chun Hay • KWOK, Connie Sau Kuen • Ng, Chun Fai • TSE, Ka Man • NG, Ying Ying
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10980742-B2
Publication Date
2021-04-20
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention provides a nano-crystallized herbal ingredient-containing package for use in a food processor or being used directly to prepare a herbal decoction. The package includes a housing; single or multiple herbal ingredient nano-crystals; one or more non-additive and anti-caking spacers for preventing caking that blocks solvent flowing through the package towards the single or multiple herbal ingredient nano-crystals during processing by the food processor; and optionally one or more stabilizing agents for stabilizing the single or multiple herbal ingredient nano-crystals during nano-crystallization of the herbal ingredients and during preparation of the herbal decoction. A method of preparing a herbal decoction from the package is also provided.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a nano-crystallized herbal ingredient-containing package for use in a food processor or being used directly to prepare an herbal decoction. The package comprises a housing with at least a side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall forming a cavity, and single or multiple herbal ingredient nano-crystals having an average particle size of equal to or less than 1,000 nm are present at about 5–50 wt. % to the total weight of components inside the cavity.
The package further includes one or more non-additive and anti-caking spacers having an average particle size of about 0.5 to 5 mm at about 45–90 wt. % to the total weight of components inside the cavity. These anti-caking spacers are for preventing the nano-crystals from caking thereby permitting solvent to flow through the package towards the nano-crystals during processing by the food processor.
The package also comprises one or more stabilizing agents at about 0–5 wt. % for stabilizing the nano-crystals during nano-crystallization of the herbal ingredients and during preparation of the herbal decoction. In the disclosed use context, the package enables decoction preparation using a solvent delivered through the package for dissolving the nano-crystals, including options using elevated pressure and temperature for a first period and atmospheric pressure conditions for a second period until at least substantial or partial dissolution is achieved.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim family coverage centers on a nano-crystallized herbal ingredient-containing package for use in a food processor or directly for preparing an herbal decoction, with three core inventive elements: a housing holding ≤1,000 nm herbal nano-crystals, non-additive anti-caking spacers that permit solvent flow toward the nano-crystals, and stabilizing agents that stabilize the nano-crystals during nano-crystallization and decoction preparation.
Nano-crystallized herbal nano-crystals in a housing cavity
A housing comprising at least a side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall which forms a cavity, wherein single or multiple herbal ingredient nano-crystals having an average particle size of equal to or less than 1,000 nm are present at about 5–50 wt. % to the total weight of components inside the cavity.
Non-additive anti-caking spacers permitting solvent flow
One or more non-additive and anti-caking spacers having an average particle size of about 0.5 to 5 mm at about 45–90 wt. % to the total weight of components inside the cavity for preventing the nano-crystals from caking thereby permitting solvent to flow through the package towards said single or multiple herbal ingredient nano-crystals during processing by the food processor.
Stabilizing agents for nano-crystals during nano-crystallization and decoction preparation
One or more stabilizing agents at about 0–5 wt. % for stabilizing said single or multiple herbal ingredient nano-crystals during nano-crystallization of the herbal ingredients and during preparation of said herbal decoction.
Across the identified independent claim coverage, the inventive package combines a housing cavity containing herbal nano-crystals of average particle size ≤1,000 nm, non-additive anti-caking spacers sized to prevent caking while allowing solvent flow to the nano-crystals during food-processor processing, and stabilizing agents that stabilize the nano-crystals both during nano-crystallization and during herbal decoction preparation.
Stated Advantages
Permitting solvent to flow through the package towards the nano-crystals during processing by the food processor.
Preventing the nano-crystals from caking.
Stabilizing the nano-crystals during nano-crystallization and during preparation of the herbal decoction.
Documented Applications
Use in a food processor for processing a package to prepare an herbal decoction by flowing solvent through the package.
Directly preparing an herbal decoction using the nano-crystallized herbal ingredient-containing package.
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