NZ332872A - Gel encapsulated water content reduced honey product containing bee venom - Google Patents

Abstract

The specification describes a liquid honey product encapsulated in a gel. The gel preferably contains bee venom, nervonic acid, honey and gelling excipients.

Description

NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 No: 332872 Date: 18 November 1998 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION "Gel Encapsulated Honey Containing Product" We, IMMUNO LABORATORIES LIMITED, a company duly incorporated under the laws of New Zealand of Unit G, 40 Stanley Street, Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to an encapsulated honey containing product.

Honey is perceived to be beneficial as a food. Honey also serves as an effective carrier of other components that may have a nutritional and/or other beneficial effect.

The present invention therefore has as its object the provision of an encapsulated honey or honey containing quantity of a material to be taken orally. In particular, although not solely, it relates to a gel encapsulated material (preferably liquid) honey or (preferably liquid) honey containing product.

In other aspects the present invention is directed to the provision of an appropriate carrier for bee venom. Such a bee venom/honey product which optionally includes other inclusions is to be gel encapsulated.

In a first aspect the present invention consists in a gel encapsulated liquid honey containing product, the gel being solulizable in the presence of water, the honey having had either: (i) its water content of from 5 to 20 w/w% reduced to below about 3 w/w%, or (ii) its water content of from 3 to 20 w/w% reduced to a lower water content (whether within the aforementioned range or below, eg: to dry powder form) and thereafter being mixed with a compatible and suitable nonaqueous liquid (eg: in oil) or (iii) its water content of from 0 to 5 w/w% at least in part emulsified.

In some forms the content of the honey can be reduced by a mixture of both of the previously mentioned options.

Preferably said honey containing product is a product that also includes bee venom.

Preferably said honey containing product comprises: Bee Venom 0.0001 - 0.005% w/w (with respect to the contents of the capsule only) Nervonic Acid (and/or other fatty acids) 0 - 10% w/w (with respect to the contents of the capsule only) Other Inclusions 0-50% w/w (with respect to the contents of the capsule only) [For example - propolis - up to 50% w/w pollen - up to 50% w/w] Honey Balance to 100% w/w but greater than 5% w/w (with respect to the contents of the capsule only) Preferably said other inclusions are those required for the purpose of option (iii) above and optionally for other purposes.

In still a further aspect the present invention consists in a capsule capable of releasing its contents after oral ingestion, said capsule containing within its surround Bee Venom 0.0001 - 0.005% w/w (with respect to the contents of the capsule only) Nervonic Acid 0 - 10% w/w (with respect to the contents of the capsule only) Other Inclusions 0-50% w/w (with respect to the contents of the capsule only).

For example - propolis (up to 50% w/w) - pollen (up to 50% w/w) Honey Balance to 100% w/w but greater than 5% w/w (with respect to the contents of the capsule only) Preferably said other inclusions are as follows 0.1 to 70% w/w Preferably said capsule is either in the form of a filled multi-part premoulded or preformed capsule (in which case preferably the contents are non-liquid) or a gel encapsulation with a gel forming material of the contents (for example, gelatin).

The invention also consists in as an oral dosage unit a capsule of any of the earlier mentioned form.

In still a further aspect the present invention consists in a method of encapsulating a honey including material or honey in a gelatin encapsulant material, said method comprising the steps of (a) taking the honey containing material or honey having a water content of from 0.1 to 30%, and (b) emulsifying at least some of the water content with an appropriate emulsification procedure, and (c) thereafter gel encapsulating (for example, with gelatin) a dosage unit of the material of step (b).

Optionally, if the capsule is of a honey containing material, steps (a) and (b) may be performed in respect of the honey component alone or in a partly blended form, ie before admixture with all of the components of the honey containing material This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

The invention consists in the foregoing and also envisages constructions of which the following gives examples.

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to a specific formulation for inclusion as the content of a liquid gel capsule: • Honey (preferably Manuka) - 0.1% - 800 grams/kg • Bee Venom - 0.1% - 50 mg / kg PEG 400 - 0.1% -100 mgs / kg • Propylene Glycol - 0.1% - 200 grams / kg • Polysorbate 80 • Oil Carrier (eg; soya oil) Optional • Nervonic Acid -0.1%- lOOmgs/kg -0.1%-500mgs/kg -0.1%- lOOmgs/kg 1%

Claims (19)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A gel encapsulated liquid honey containing product, the gel being solulizable in the presence of water, the honey having had either: (i) its water content of from 5 to 20 w/w% reduced to below about 3 w/w%, or (ii) its water content of from 3 to 20 w/w% reduced to a lower water content (whether within the aforementioned range or below, eg: to dry powder form) and thereafter being mixed with a compatible and suitable nonaqueous liquid and/or (iii) its water content of from 0 to 5 w/w% at least in part emulsified.

2. A product of claim 1 having had (i).

3. A product of claim 1 having had (ii)

4. . A product of claim 1 having had (iii).

5. A product of any one of claims 1 to 4 which also includes bee venom.

6. A product of any one of claims 1 to 5 having Bee Venom 0.0001 - 0.005% w/w (with respect to the contents of the capsule only), Nervonic Acid (and/or other fatty acids) 0 - 10% w/w (with respect to the contents of the capsule only), Other Inclusions 0-50% w/w (with respect to the contents of the capsule only), and Honey Balance to 100% w/w but greater than 5% w/w (with respect to the contents of the capsule only),

7. A product of claim 6 having (with respect to the contents of the capsule only) from 0 to 50% w/w propolis.

8. A product of claim 6 or 7 having (with respect to the contents of the capsule only) from 0 to 50% w/w pollen.

9. A capsule capable of releasing its contents after oral ingestion, said capsule containing within its surround Bee Venom 0.0001 - 0.005% w/w (with respect to the contents of the capsule only), Nervonic Acid 0 - 10% w/w (with respect to the contents of the capsule only), Other Inclusions 0-50% w/w (with respect to the contents of the capsule only), and Honey Balance to 100% w/w but greater than 5% w/w (with respect to the contents of the capsule only).

10. A capsule of claim 9 having (with respect to the contents of the capsule only) from 0 to 50% w/w propolis.

11. A capsule of claim 9 or 10 having (with respect to the contents of the capsule only) from 0 to 50% w/w pollen.

12. A capsule of any one of claims 9 to 11 either in the form of a filled multi-part premoulded or preformed capsule (in which case preferably the contents are non-liquid) -6- or a gel encapsulation with a gel forming material of the contents.

13. A capsule of claim 12 wherein the encapsulation has been with gelatin.

14. As an oral dosage unit a capsule of any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. A method of encapsulating a honey including material or honey in a gelatin encapsulant material, said method comprising the steps of (b) taking the honey containing material or honey having a water content of from 0.1 to 30% w/w, and (b) emulsifying at least some of the water content with an appropriate emulsification procedure, and (c) thereafter gel encapsulating a dosage unit of the material of step (b).

16. A method of claim 15 wherein the encapsulation is with gelatin.

17. A method of claim 15 or 16 wherein the capsule is of a honey containing material and steps (a) and (b) are performed in respect of the honey component alone or in a partly blended form, (ie before admixture with all of the components of the honey containing material).

18. An encapsulated product produced by a process of any one of claims 15 to 17.

19. A gel encapsulated capsule of Honey Bee Venom PEG 400 Propylene Glycol Polysorbate 80 Oil Carrier (eg; soya oil) Nervonic Acid - 0.1% - 800 grams / kg, - 0.1% - 50 mg/kg, -0.1%- lOOmgs/kg, - 0.1% - 200 grams / kg, - 0.1% -100 mgs / kg, and - 0.1% - 500 mgs / kg; and optionally - 0.1% -100 mgs / kg 1%. DATED THIS DAY OF A.J. PAI^.SON (7 PUCANT nWTELLECTUA L "pRO PERTV OrfiCfl 2 1 MAY I3£9 RECEI END