FR2920276A1 - DELIVERY SYSTEM OF ACTIVE INGREDIENTS CONTAINED IN POWDER - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for delivering active principles, in particular active ingredients of vegetable origin. For this purpose, an active agent delivery system according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises at least one complex consisting of a support consisting of whole plants, or parts of plants, dried, and a powder comprising at least one active ingredient adsorbed on the entire surface of said support. With its support consisting of whole plants, or parts of plants, dried, and depending on the type of support used, the active principle delivery system according to the invention can be used for the preparation of infusions, decoctions or macerations , and be consumed by the user during a moment of relaxation.

Description

The present invention relates to a system for delivering active principles, in particular active ingredients of vegetable origin. The invention also relates to a dietary supplement, a preparation intended to prepare an infusion, a decoction or a maceration and also a pharmaceutical product comprising this system for delivering active principles. Finally, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing an active agent delivery system. Many plants are now known and used for their virtues in the fields of phytotherapy, beauty or well-being. These plants indeed contain substances or active ingredients that can be extracted from the plant and whose beneficial activity can be used by humans. There are many supplements today based on plant extracts. Food supplements are, for example, in the form of capsules, ampoules or tablets. Some plants are more particularly used in the field of herbal medicine. These plants are listed in the Pharmacopoeia, a list listing the medicinal plants, and are then considered as drugs. Plant extracts can be obtained by different extraction methods. The extracts obtained can be in a powder form whose granulometry can vary from 5 to 500 microns. Depending on the extraction method used, the extracts can be concentrated between 2 to 50 times compared to the initial weight of the plant used. Some food supplements come in the form of capsules, or tablets, containing fragments of crushed plants. These dietary supplements are not concentrated in active principles and each unit of complement does not allow to deliver a sufficient dose of active ingredients to enable them a significant activity. It is then necessary to repeat the supplement several times during the same day or to take several units per intake. There are also food supplements in the form of capsules, tablets, sachets or ampoules, containing dry extracts of plants, and in which the active ingredients are thus concentrated. The disadvantage of these food supplements is that the taking in itself of these capsules, tablets or ampoules does not provide the user any pleasure and does not constitute a real moment of relaxation.

There are also sachet preparations comprising soluble plant solids powder for the preparation of beverages, for example hot, but these preparations correspond to a simple dissolution of powder which appear very far from the preparation of a classic infusion appreciated by a number of consumers. Herbal tea preparations in the form of whole plant mixtures, or dried plant parts, and having virtues in the aforementioned fields are also available. But the concentrations of active principles contained in these mixtures are not sufficient to allow them a significant activity. Indeed, it is fragments of the dried plant little concentrated in active ingredients, which are used, and not dried extracts concentrated in active principles. The object of the present invention is to provide an active agent delivery system that allows to deliver the active ingredient at a significant dose while providing the user with a relaxing moment and a gustatory sensation. For this purpose, an active agent delivery system according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises at least one complex consisting of a support consisting of whole plants, or parts of plants, dried, and a powder comprising at least one active ingredient adsorbed on the entire surface of said support. The delivery system of active principles according to the invention is structurally very different from known delivery systems such as capsules or tablets. Indeed, the carrier of the powder is of plant origin and therefore does not require the addition of chemical compounds such as excipients commonly used in the manufacture of capsules or tablets. It is not a mixture of components but a complex because the powder is adsorbed on the plant parts constituting its support. According to one embodiment, said support is composed of whole plants, or parts of plants, dried, chosen from the group comprising dried cherry tails, dried raspberry seeds, dried bitter orange peel, lemon peel dried and crushed greens, dried and crushed ginger, dried poppy seeds, dried flax seeds, dried rose hips, dried angelica fruits, tea leaves, mint leaves, or mixtures thereof.

With its support consisting of whole plants, or parts of plants, dried, and depending on the type of support used, the active principle delivery system according to the invention can be used for the preparation of infusions, decoctions or macerations , and be consumed by the user during a moment of relaxation.

According to one embodiment of the invention, said active agent delivery system further comprises dried plant fragments mixed with said complex, said dried plant fragments being intended for use in infusion, decoction or maceration. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the delivery system comprises between 5 and 95% of dried plant fragments intended for use in infusion, decoction or maceration and between 5 and 95% of said complex. The delivery system may, for example, comprise 75% of dried plant fragments intended for use in infusion, decoction or maceration and 25% of said complex. The resulting mixture is physically similar to conventional herbal preparations known and marketed for the manufacture of teas and herbal teas, or any other beverage obtained from dried plant fragments. But unlike these known preparations, the mixture has physiological properties which are those of the active ingredient (s) contained in the powder. Thus, thanks to the delivery system of active principles according to the invention, it is possible to offer a consumer tea, infusions or any other herbal drink, which are enriched in active ingredients and which are consumed the same way that a classic herbal drink. According to a particular embodiment of the invention, said dried plant fragments mixed with said complex are tea leaves.

Advantageously, said powder comprising at least one active ingredient is composed of at least one dry extract of a plant, in particular a plant that can be used in the fields of phytotherapy, beauty or well-being. For the same amount by weight, a dry plant extract contains a higher concentration of active ingredients than the whole plant or the plant simply fragmented, crushed and dried. A delivery system according to the invention is thus much more concentrated in active ingredients than conventional dried and ground herbal preparations, such as herbal teas found on the market.

According to one embodiment, the powder is composed of at least one dry extract of plant selected from the group consisting of a dry extract of grape seeds, a dry extract of melissa, a dry extract of hops, a dry extract of green coffee, a dry extract of guarana, a dry extract of dandelion, a dry extract of valerian, a dry extract of orange blossom, a dry extract of black radish, a dry extract of red vine, a dry extract of ginseng, or their mixture. It is quite possible to use a powder comprising a mixture of several dry extracts of plants, if the combined action of the active ingredients of these plants is sought. According to another embodiment, said powder comprising at least one active ingredient is composed of at least one dry extract of a plant listed in the French, European or International Pharmacopoeia. According to another embodiment, said powder is composed of at least one dry extract of seaweed. Advantageously, said solids extract of algae is 3-carotene, polysaccharides, amino acids, peptides, proteins.

According to another embodiment, said powder is composed of at least one dry extract of animal origin. Advantageously, said dry extract of animal origin is freeze-dried royal jelly or collagen. Like plants, algae have virtues that can be used in the fields of algotherapy, beauty or well-being.

According to one characteristic of the invention, said complex of said delivery system comprises between 30 and 95% of support and between 5 and 70% of powder comprising at least one active ingredient. For example, the complex of said delivery system may comprise 50% of medium and 50% of powder comprising at least one active ingredient The choice of the proportion of powder relative to that of the support will allow to determine the thickness of the powder coating layer adsorbed on the support. For example, for the same amount of support, the thickness of the powder coating layer can be increased by increasing the amount of powder. This makes it possible to increase the concentration of active principle in the delivery system.

The invention also relates to a food supplement comprising an active substance delivery system as defined above, as well as a pharmaceutical product comprising an active substance delivery system as defined above.

The distinction made between a food supplement and a pharmaceutical product is based on the active ingredient or principles they contain. Indeed, a food supplement is defined by the European Directive n ° 2002/46 / CE as a food whose purpose is to supplement the normal diet while the drugs are defined by the European Directive n ° 65/65 / CEE as any substance or composition possessing curative or preventive properties with regard to human or animal diseases. The invention also relates to a preparation for infusion, decoction or maceration comprising an active agent delivery system as defined above. Such preparations may be, for example, in the form of dosed sachets, or in bulk in a box. The invention finally relates to a method of manufacturing an active agent delivery system as defined above. This manufacturing method is characterized in that it comprises a step of forming said complex of said delivery system comprising the following steps: a step of dispensing said support in a mixer, a step of spraying all or part of a predetermined amount of an aqueous solution or water on said support so as to moisten each plant, or part of a plant, of said support, so that all of the aqueous solution or water then sprayed is absorbed by said support, said spraying step being stopped when said aqueous solution or water is no longer absorbed by said support, -a step of sprinkling all or part of a predetermined quantity of said powder so that the whole said powder then dusted is adsorbed on said support, said dusting step being stopped when said powder is no longer adsorbed on said support, - s the whole of the predetermined quantity of said powder has not been sprinkled, repeat said process from the step of spraying said aqueous solution or water on said support; As well as a step of drying said complex formed. The process thus consists in definitively adsorbing the powder comprising the active ingredient (s) on the support. The complex thus obtained by the process according to the invention is perfectly stable. The aqueous solution, or water, is used to achieve adhesion.

Indeed, the support and the powder possessing a hygroscopic character, the aqueous solution or the water sprayed on the support allows to somehow attract the powder comprising the active ingredients. Advantageously, the predetermined amount of aqueous solution or water is between 2 and 25% by weight relative to the total weight of all the components used to form said complex. The amount of aqueous solution or water is an important feature of the process. Beyond a certain amount of aqueous solution or water spray, it is found free in the mixer and forms drops on the walls of the mixer. The dusted powder will then agglomerate on the walls of the mixer, where the drops are, and no longer adhere to the support. The amount of aqueous solution or water used varies slightly depending on the type of support and / or powder used. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises a step of mixing said complex and a predetermined quantity of dried plant fragments intended to be used in infusion, decoction or maceration, making it possible to obtain a homogeneous mixture. The mixture obtained can be used for the preparation of teas or herbal teas, in the same way as preparations for conventional teas and herbal teas. But unlike these conventional preparations, the mixtures according to the invention are enriched in active principles.

It would not be advantageous to directly mix the powder comprising the active ingredients and the dried plant fragments. Indeed, delivery systems according to the invention are intended for human consumption and contain active ingredients having a functional activity in the human body. It is thus necessary that the concentrations of active principles in such a delivery system are known and stable over time. Now, the physical difference, such as the difference in size, between the powders and the dried plant fragments intended for the preparation of teas, herbal teas or any other beverage, does not make it possible to obtain a stable mixture over time. Indeed, the size of these dried plant fragments varies between 1 and 10 mm while the size of the powder particles is of the order of one hundred micrometers. This only difference in size between these two components results in a phenomenon called phase shift. Thus, during the operations of handling, transport or storage, these mixtures lose their homogeneity, the powders, more foreskin than plant fragments, migrate into the lower parts of the mixture.

The consequence of such a phenomenon would be that certain doses of these mixtures would be little concentrated in active principles which would correspond to a sub-dosage, while other doses would, conversely, be very concentrated in active ingredients which would correspond to overdose.

The dried plants or parts of plants used as a support on which the powder is adsorbed are of a size relatively close to the size of the dried plant fragments intended for infusion, decoction or maceration. When the complex thus formed by the support on which the powder comprising the active ingredient (s) is adsorbed is mixed with the dried plant fragments intended for the preparation of infusion, decoction or maceration, no phase shift is observed. . According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, said solution comprising water comprises, in addition, between 0.5 and 30% by weight of a gelling compound. The gelling compound makes it possible to reinforce the cohesion between the powder and the support.

Advantageously, said gelling compound is a food additive chosen from alginates or gelatin, carrageenans, or agar-agar. According to one embodiment, said method further comprises a step of adding between 1 and 3% by weight of colloidal silica with respect to the total weight of all the components used to form said complex, prior to said step of drying and a sieving step subsequent to said drying step. Colloidal silica facilitates the handling of the delivery system and prevents it from clumping together. It is removed by the sieving step.

The characteristics mentioned above, as well as others, will appear more clearly on reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment of an active substance delivery system according to the invention.

Examples of delivery systems for active principles according to the invention: systems for the delivery of active principles of plants Several systems for the delivery of active principles of the following plants have been produced. Example 1: Process for the manufacture of a system for delivering principles active ingredients extracted from hops (Humulus lupulus) and valerian (Valeriana officinalis).

The amounts of each of the components used are given in Table 1. The active ingredients are in the form of dry extract powders of hops and valerians, respectively. The powders of dry extracts are mixed together. The dried and ground bitter orange peel is used as a support for the dry extract powder. Table 1 Quantity by weight (g) powder Dry extract of 205 Hops Dry extract of 205 Valerian carrier Orange bark 500 bitter Solution Alginate aqueous solution in water at 2% other Colloidal silica 30 15 The total amount of the carrier, consisting of crushed and dried bitter orange peel fragments, is arranged in a mixer, for example of the worm, paddle or turbine type. The aqueous solution comprising 2% sodium alginate is sprayed into the mixer so as to imbibe each of the bark fragments with water. The surface of the bark fragments is thus covered with water. The spray is stopped when the spray solution is no longer absorbed by the bark fragments and is free in the mixer. In this spraying step, only a portion of the total amount of aqueous solution may be sprayed.

A simple visual check allows the skilled person to determine when the spray solution is no longer absorbed. The powder of dry extracts is then added to the mixer by dusting. The powder, which is hygroscopic, will be attracted by the water present on the surface of the bark fragments and thus adsorb on the support. The dusting of the powder is stopped when the powder is no longer adsorbed on the support and is found free in the mixer. A new step of spraying the aqueous solution is then carried out so as to re-soak the support, followed by a new dusting step of the powder of dry extracts. These two steps are repeated until the total amount of dry extract powder is adsorbed onto the support. A complex consisting of the powder of dry extracts adsorbed on the support is thus formed, in which each bark fragment of the support is coated with powder.

The amount of aqueous solution sprayed in total, and during each spraying step, is an important feature of the process. Indeed, if too much of the solution is sprayed into the mixer, part of this solution will not be absorbed by the support and will be free, mainly in the form of drops on the walls of the mixer. During the dusting step, a portion of the dry dust powder dusted will be attracted by these drops and will not be adsorbed on the support. This phenomenon could lead to a consequent loss of dry extracts. ideally, the total amount of aqueous spray solution is between 2 and 25% by weight relative to the total weight of all components used to faith-mer the complex. The total amount of aqueous solution in this example is 11.2%. Colloidal silica is then added to the complex formed at 2.8% by weight relative to the total weight of all the components. Colloidal silica makes it easier to handle the complex. The complex is then dried, for example in an oven, at a temperature between 40 and 50 ° C for 24 to 48 hours. After the drying step, the complex is subjected to a sieving step on a sieve of mesh of 1 to 2 mm. Sieving eliminates colloidal silica. At the end of these different steps, the delivery system whose composition is shown in Table 6 is obtained.

This delivery system is composed of 55% of support and 45% of dry extracts. EXAMPLE 2 Process for the Production of a System for the Delivery of Active Ingredients Extracted from Guarana (Paullinia Cupana) and Ginger (Zingiber officinale) The amounts of each of the components used are given in Table 2. The active ingredients are in the form of powders of dry extracts of Guarana and ginger, respectively. The powders of dry extracts are mixed together. Dried and ground ginger root is used as a carrier for the dry extract powder. Table 2 Quantity by weight (g) Powder Dry extract of 855 _ Guarana Dry extract of 855 ginger Root support of I 1710 ginger Solution Aqueous solution of aqueous 480 ml of alginate in 2% Other Colloidal silica 60 The steps of the production process The delivery system of active ingredients extracted from Guarana and ginger are identical to those described in Example 1. The delivery system obtained is composed for 50% of support and for 50% of dry extracts (Table 6). Example 3: Process for the manufacture of an active ingredient delivery system extracted from Guarana (Paullinia Cupana) and ginger (Zingiber officinale).

The amounts of each of the components used are given in Table 3. The active ingredients are in the form of powders of dry extracts of Guarana and ginger, respectively. The powders of dry extracts are mixed together. Dried green tea leaves are used as a support for the dry extract powder.

Table 3 Quantity by weight (g) Powder Dry extract of 444 dry Guarana 444 Ginger extract _ Tea leaves 1312 Green medium Solution Aqueous solution of alginate in water at 2% Other colloidal silica 30 The steps of the production process of the delivery system of active principles extracted from Guarana and ginger are identical to those described in the previous examples. The delivery system obtained comprises 50% of support and 50% of dry extracts (Table 6). EXAMPLE 4 Process for the manufacture of an active ingredient delivery system extracted from black radish (Raphanus sativus) The amounts of each of the components used are given in Table 4. The active ingredients are in the form of a powder of dry extract of black radish. Dried cherry tails are used as a carrier for the dry extract powder. Table 4 Quantity by weight (g) Powder Dry extract of 660 black radish Support Cherry tails 540 Solution Solution aqueous solution of alginate in water at 2% Other Colloidal silica 20 Steps in the process of producing the principle delivery system Active ingredients extracted from black radish are identical to those described in the previous examples. The delivery system obtained comprises 45% of support and 55% of dry extracts (Table 6). EXAMPLE 5 System for delivering active principles extracted from hops (Humulus lupulus) and valerian (Valeriana officinalis) containing fragments of plants intended for infusion.

To the delivery system described in Example 1 are added fragments of the tea leaves. The delivery system thus obtained is a mixture of the complex of pieces of bitter orange peel on which is adsorbed the powder of dried extracts of hops and valerian, and tea leaves. The mixing step is carried out after the drying step of the complex. The mixture obtained is homogeneous and comprises 25% of the complex and 75% of tea leaves.

EXAMPLE 6 Preparation for infusion in the form of a dosed sachet comprising a system for delivery of active principles extracted from hops (Humulus lupulus) and valerian (Valeriana officinalis)

The delivery system according to Example 5 can be used for the preparation of dosed sachets, such as the dosed sachets known and used for the preparation of beverages such as teas. The sachets contain, on average, 2 g of product. The detailed composition of one of these dosed sachets is given in Table 5.

Table 5 Quantity (mg) Tea leaves 1500 Powder of dried extracts of 225 guarana and valerian Bitter orange peel 275 The use of such a dosed sachet is identical to the use of a traditional tea bag.

Table 6: Final compositions of Examples 1 to 4 obtained after the steps of drying and removing the silica by sieving. Examples% by weight Example 1 Powder of dry extracts of 45 Hops and Valerian Support compound 55 of bitter orange peel 15 Example 2 Powder of dry extracts of 50 ginger and Guarana Support composed of 50 ground ginger root Example 3 Powder of 40 Guarana and Ginger Extracts Powder of 60 Green Tea Leaves Example 4 Powder of 55 Black Radish Dry Extract Support of 45 Cherry Tails

Claims (20)

1) System for delivering active principles, characterized in that it comprises at least one complex consisting of a carrier composed of whole plants, or parts of plants, dried, and a powder comprising at least one active principle adsorbed on the entire surface of said support. 2) system for delivering active ingredients according to claim 1, characterized in that said support is composed of whole plants, or parts of plants, dried, selected from the group comprising dried cherry tails, dried raspberry seeds, dried bitter orange peel, dried and crushed limeade peel, dried and crushed ginger, dried poppy seeds, dried flaxseed, dried rosehip seeds, dried angelica fruit, dried tea, mint leaves, or their mixtures. 3) A system for delivering active ingredients according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises dried plant fragments mixed with said complex, said dried plant fragments being intended for use in infusion, decoction or maceration, such as tea leaves. 4) A system for delivering active ingredients according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said powder comprising at least one active ingredient is composed of at least one dry extract of plant, in particular a plant that can be used in the fields of phytotherapy, beauty or well-being. 25 5) system for delivering active ingredients according to claim 4, characterized in that said powder is composed of at least one dry extract of plant selected from the group consisting of a dry extract of grape seeds, a dry extract of lemon balm, a dry extract of hops, a dry extract of green coffee, a dry extract of guarana, a dry extract of dandelion, a dry extract of valerian, a dry extract orange blossom, dry extract of black radish, dried red vine extract, dry ginseng extract, or mixture thereof. 6) system for delivering active ingredients according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said powder is composed of at least one dry extract of alga, such as fi-carotene, polysaccharides, amino acids, peptides, proteins. 7) A drug delivery system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said powder is composed of at least one dry extract of animal origin, such as lyophilized royal jelly or collagen. 10 8) A system for delivering active ingredients according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said complex comprises between 30 and 95% of support and between 5 and 70% of powder comprising at least one active ingredient, by weight. 9) A system for delivering active ingredients according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that it comprises between 5 and 95% of dried plant fragments intended for use in infusion, decoction or maceration and between 5 and 95% of said complex. 10) A system for delivering active ingredients according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said powder comprising at least one active ingredient is composed of at least one dry extract of a plant listed in the French pharmacopoeia , European or international. 11) Food supplement, characterized in that it comprises an active substance delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 10. 12) Pharmaceutical product, characterized in that it comprises an active substance delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 10. 13) Preparation for infusion, decoction or maceration, characterized in that it comprises an active substance delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 10.5 14) Preparation for infusion, decoction or maceration according to claim 13, characterized in that it is in the form of a dosed bag. 15) A method of manufacturing an active agent delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises a step of forming said complex of the delivery system comprising the following steps: - a step dispensing a predetermined amount of said medium into a mixer; a step of spraying all or part of a predetermined quantity of an aqueous solution or water on said support so as to moisten each plant, or part of a plant, of said support, so that all of said aqueous solution or water then sprayed is absorbed by said support, said spraying step being stopped when said aqueous solution or water is no longer absorbed by said support; a step of dusting all or part of a predetermined quantity of said powder so that all of said powder then dusted is adsorbed on said support, said dusting step being stopped when said powder is no longer adsorbed on said support; if the totality of the predetermined quantity of said powder has not been sprinkled, repeat said method from the step of spraying said solution comprising water on said support; As well as a step of drying said complex formed. 16) A method of manufacturing an active substance delivery system according to claim 15, characterized in that the predetermined amount of aqueous solution or water is between 2 and 25% by weight relative to the total weight of all components used to form the complex. 17) A method of manufacturing an active substance delivery system according to any one of claims 15 to 16, characterized in that it further comprises a step of mixing said complex formed and a predetermined amount of fragments of dried plants intended to be used in infusion, decoction or maceration, making it possible to obtain a homogeneous mixture, said mixing step being subsequent to said drying step. 18) A method of manufacturing an active substance delivery system according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that said aqueous solution or water comprises, in addition, between 0.5 and 30% by weight a gelling compound chosen from alginates, gelatin, carrageenans or agar-agar. 19) A method of manufacturing an active substance delivery system according to any one of claims 15 to 8, characterized in that it comprises, in addition, a step of adding between 1 and 3% by weight colloidal silica with respect to the total weight of all the components used to form the complex, prior to said drying step and a sieving step subsequent to said drying step. 20) A method of manufacturing an active substance delivery system according to any one of claims 15 to 19, characterized in that said predetermined amount of powder is between 5 and 70% of the weight of said complex formed and said predetermined amount of support is between 30 and 95% of the weight of said complex formed.