MXPA06009147A - Compositions containing cis-isomers of a carotenoid compound and process - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a primary composition that includes at least one carotenoid-containing extract, concentrate or oleoresin enriched in cis-isomers of the carotenoid compound, and process of forming the same. It also relates to an oral composition that contains the primary composition in a foodstuff, in a food supplement, in a cosmetic preparation or in a pharmaceutical preparation.

Description

COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING CIS-ISOMERS OF A COMPOSITE CAROTE? OIDE AND PROCESS Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a primary composition that includes. at least one carotenoid-containing material, enriched in cis-isomers of the carotenoid compound, and a process for forming the same. It also relates to an oral composition containing the primary composition in a food material, in a food supplement, in a cosmetic preparation or in a pharmaceutical preparation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The compositions available on the market that include carotenoids, specifically • lycopene, are already known. Lycopene is a natural product known to have multiple roles, in particular that of an antioxidant that relieves chronic diseases. Lycopene is present in several natural products, particularly tomatoes, melons, guavas and grapefruit. The composition generally available in the market comprising lycapenic is an oleoresin. The problem with this oleoresin is that the lycopene present in it is sufficiently bipdisponible.

For example, European Patent 278,284, refers to a powdery composition comprising a synthetic carotenoid. The problem with this composition is that it can not be used in the field of food, and also, it is contemplated for a coloring purpose. Although EP 1,289,383 provides a primary composition that includes at least one lipophilic bioactive compound and a whey protein in an amount effective to increase the bioavailability of the lipophilic bioactive compound, there is a need for a product containing carotenoids that has greater bioavailability and greater bioefficiency than the products currently on the market. The composition containing carotenoids must be soluble in lipids and organic solvents, must be less prone to crystallization and have a lower tendency to aggregation.

Brief Description of the Invention Accordingly, it is a first object of the invention to provide a primary composition comprising at least one carotenoid-containing material, enriched in cis-isomers, the content of cis-isomers which is in an amount effective to increase the bioavailability and / or bioefficiency of the carotenoid compound.

The material containing carotenoids is an extract, concentrate or oleoresin advantageously obtained, extracted, enriched or purified from a plant or plant material, microorganism, yeast or product of animal origin. The preferred form of the primary composition is an additive in a food material for oral administration, such as in a nutritional composition, a food supplement, a pet food product, a cosmetic preparation or in a pharmaceutical preparation. The invention also relates to methods for forming the primary composition, the food supplement, the cosmetic preparation or the pharmaceutical preparation containing the same. . The process for the preparation of a primary composition according to the present invention comprises subjecting a carotenoid-containing material as described above under conditions sufficient to increase its content of cis-isomers to an effective amount to increase bioavailability and / or bio-efficiency of the carotenoid compound in the primary composition. In a further aspect, the composition provides the use of a primary composition comprising at least one carotenoid-containing material enriched in cis-isomers, for the preparation of an oral, cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition, proposed to improve the health of the skin, in particular for photoprotection of the skin, or for protection of the skin tissue against aging. The invention also relates to the use of the primary composition for the preparation of an oral, cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating cardiovascular diseases or cancers. The present invention now makes available to the consumer an improved composition obtained from natural products. . It provides a primary composition having a content of carotenoid cis-isomers greater than the existing compositions. The primary composition provides carotenoids in a particularly bioavailable and / or bioeffective form, which is more soluble in lipids, less prone to crystallization and which has a lower tendency to aggregation. The features of the present invention can be better understood together with additional objects and advantages with reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying Figures.

Brief Description of the Figures Figure 1 shows a typical HPLC chromatogram of lycopene isomers generated by microwave irradiation, which illustrates the products obtained by the process according to the present invention. Figure 2 summarizes the advantage of microwave irradiation versus conventional heating. Figures 3 (A) and 3 (B) show HPLC comparative chromatograms of lycopene isomers: 3 (A) generated by microwave irradiation of tomato oleoresin; 3 (B) generated by microwave irradiation and enriched by fractionation with solvents. Figures 4 (A) and 4 (B) show HPLC chromatograms of lycopene isomers: • 4 (A) generated by iodo-catalyzed photoisomerization of tomato oleoresin; 4 (B) generated by photoisomerization catalysed with iodine and enriched by f operation with solvents. Figures 5 (A) and 5 (B) show HPLC comparative chromatograms of lycopene isomers: 5 (A) generated by heating of tomato oleoresin in ethyl acetate; 5 (B) generated by heating oleoresin of tomato in ethyl acetate and enriched by fractionation with solvent.

Detailed Description of the Invention According to the first aspect, it relates to a primary composition comprising a carotenoid-containing material enriched in cis-isomers of the carotenoid compound. In a preferred embodiment, the carotenoid-containing material is in the form of an extract, a concentrate or an oleoresin, by way of example. Within the following description, the term "oleoresin" means that it means a lipid extract of a carotenoid-containing material, which includes carotenoids, triglycerides, phospholipids, tocopherols, tocotrienols, phytosterols and other less significant compounds. Advantageously, the carotenoid-containing material is an extract, concentrate or oleoresin, which is obtained, extracted, enriched or purified from a plant or plant material, a microorganism, a yeast or a product of animal origin. In addition, it is subjected to a treatment to increase its cis-isomer content of carotenoid, as described below. If the source of the carotenoid is of vegetable origin, they can be vegetables, leaves, flowers, fruits or other parts of the plant. In a preferred embodiment, the source of carotenoids is tomatoes (e.g., whole tomatoes, tomato extract, tomato flesh, tomato puree, tomato peel, with or without the seed), carrots, peaches, apricots, oranges, melons, guavas, papayas, grapefruit, rose hips, soybeans, green tea, green coffee seeds, spices such as ginger or others, grapes and cocoa, as an example. Suitable vegetable concentrates or plants can be obtained, for example, by drying or lyophilizing the freshly cut plants or vegetables or the respective roots, fruits or seeds thereof and then optionally grinding or granulating the dried material. Suitable methods for obtaining extracts of the plants or vegetables mentioned above are known in the art. The plant extracts or plants can be obtained for example by extracting the plants or vegetables freshly cut or processed by the respective roots, fruits or seeds thereof for example with water or with one or more food-grade solvents or with a mixture of water and one or more food grade solvents. Preferably, the extracts and concentrates according to the present invention can be lipid or aqueous. Since the carotenoids are liposoluble, extraction with water will remove undesirable constituents that are soluble in water such as sugars, amino acids, soluble proteins, organic acids, by way of example. If the carotenoid-containing material is obtained from a microorganism, any microorganism that produces the carotenoid, in particular a prebiotic microorganism, such as lactic acid bacteria can be used., by way of example, also, the product of animal origin can be salmon, shrimp, for example, or a liver extract or a milk fraction. The term "milk fraction" means that it means any part of the milk. In a more preferred embodiment, the carotenoid-containing material is an oleoresin. Suitable methods for obtaining oleoresins from the plants or vegetables mentioned above are well known in the art. For example, oleoresins can be obtained by lipid extraction using a solvent compatible with the food issue, cosmetics or pharmaceuticals. Oleoresins prepared by conventional methods have an incarotenoid content of about 0.05% to 50% by weight, their content of all the trans isomers of the carotenoids is usually greater than that of the cis-isomers, for example the ratio of cis-isomers. trans of lycopene in a selected oleoresin of tomato is approximately 7:93. Oleoresins are preferred starting materials for obtaining the primary composition according to the present invention, because they contain other carotenoids or antioxidants such as Vitamin E, which also stabilize The activity and stability of the carotenoid compound in the oleoresin is improved, in particular during the isomerization process and the yield of the cis-lycopene in the primary composition is also increased.The carotenoid-containing material preferably includes carotenes and xanthophylls, such as lycopene, carotene, zeaxanthin, astaxanthin, beta-cryptoxane ntina, capsantina, cantaxantina, luteina, fitoflueno or fitoeno, by way of example. These carotenoid compounds have been subjected to the treatment to increase the cis-isomer fraction of the primary composition. Accordingly, it is a further object of the invention to provide a process for the preparation of this primary composition comprising the step of subjecting a carotenoid-containing material as described above, under conditions sufficient to increase its cis-isomer contents of the carotenoid. to an effective amount for increasing the bioavailability and / or bioefficiency of the carotenoid compound of the primary composition. The process may be in the form of a thermal or acid treatment, an electromagnetic irradiation or a radical reaction, by way of example. In a more preferred embodiment, the carotenoid-containing material, which is in the form of an extract, a concentrate or an oleoresin, is subjected to microwave irradiation or other treatments including non-thermal treatments. The conditions of microwave irradiation depend on the quantity and quality of the material. If an oleoresin is used, the energy and time are adjusted so that the temperature of the microwave oven is at least 100 ° C, preferably 100 to 180 ° C and more preferably 115 to 140 ° C. If an aqueous extract is used, a medium adapted to microwave irradiation can be used. The purpose of the medium is to solubilize or disperse the carotenoids. Losses can be minimized when isomerization is performed under nitrogen in the presence of antioxidants and in the absence of light. The performance of isomerization can also be improved by adding exogenous lipids to the medium. The isomers of the carotenoid-containing compound, generated therefrom, can be subjected to an additional treatment proposed to modify the isomer profile of the primary composition according to the proposed use. Enrichment in some specific cis-isomers can be achieved by solubilization of cis-isomers in selected organic solvents followed by phase separation using centrifugation or filtration, by way of example.

The ratio of cis: rans isomers and the primary composition can then be increased to at least 20:80, preferably between 20:80 and 95: 5, more preferably from 30: 70 to 90: 10. invention thus provides a primary composition, in the form of a liquid powder or gel, comprising a carotenoid compound having a better bio-availability and / or better bioefficiency than the compound alone. Also, the primary composition may be in the form of a composition highly dispersible in water, if the powder form is chosen. In this case, the powder is dispersible in water at room temperature. The primary composition also provides carotenoids in a particularly high soluble form of lipids and organic solvents, is less prone to crystallization and has a lower tendency to aggregation. According to the invention, the primary composition can be used either alone or in association with other active compounds such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E (tocopherols and tocotrienols), carotenoids (carotenes, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, etc.), ubiquinones (e.g., CoQio), catechins (e.g., epigallocatechin galeate), coffee extracts containing polyphenols and / or diterpenes (e.g., kawheol and cafestol), chicory extracts, ginkgo biloba extract, grape or grape seed extracts with high content of proanthocyanidins, spice extracts for example rosemary), soy extracts containing isoflavones and selected phytoestrogens and other sources of fiavonoids with antioxidant activity, fatty acids, for example, n-3 fatty acids , phytosterols, prebiotic fiber, probiotic microorganisms, taurine, resveratrol, amino acids, selenium and glutathione precursors, or proteins, such as whey proteins, a It was an example. The composition further comprises one or more of the emulsifiers, stabilizers and other additives. Use is made of compatible emulsifiers in the food field, such as phospholipids, for example, lecithin; mono- or tri-stearate, monolaurate, monopalmitate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan mono- or tri-oleate; a mono- or diglyceride. You can also use any type of stabilizer that is known in the food, cosmetics or pharmaceuticals. Use is made, as additives, of flavorings, colorants and any other additive known in the food, cosmetic or pharmaceutical matters. These emulsifiers, stabilizers and additives are added according to the final use of the primary composition. According to a further object, the present invention relates to an oral composition comprising the primary composition described above in a food material, in a food supplement, in a pet food product, in a cosmetic preparation or in a pharmaceutical preparation . In a preferred embodiment, a food composition for human consumption is supplemented by the above primary composition. This composition can be a complete nutritional formula, a dairy product, a chilled or shelf stable beverage, a mineral water, a liquid drink, a soup, a dietary supplement, a meat replacement, a nutritional bar, a confectionery, a milk or a fermented milk product, a yogurt, a milk-based powder, a whole nutrition product, a formula for infants, a nutritional product for infants, a cereal product or a product based on fermented cereal, a sandwich, a chocolate, a coffee, a culinary product such as mayonnaise, tomato puree or dressing for sauces or a pet food. In this case, the powder is dissolved from the aforementioned foods or beverages to have an area ingestion of between about 0.001 and 50 mg of carotenoid contained in the primary composition, for example such as lycopene. A daily intake of the order of approximately 5 to 20 mg per day is preferably contemplated.

The nutritional supplement for oral administration can be in capsules, gelatin capsules, soft capsules, tablets, capsules coated with sugar, pills, pastes or pills, gums or solutions or drinkable emulsions, syrups or gels, with a dose of approximately 0.001 to 100 % of the primary composition, which can then be taken directly with water or any other known means. This supplement may also include a sweetener, a stabilizer, an additive, a flavoring or a colorant. A supplement for cosmetic purpose may additionally comprise an active compound with respect to the skin. . The methods to prepare them are common knowledge. In another embodiment, pharmaceutical compositions can be administered for prophylactic and / or therapeutic treatments. In therapeutic applications, compositions are administered to a patient already suffering from a disease, as described hereinafter, in an amount sufficient to cure or at least partially arrest the symptoms of the disease and its complications. An adequate amount to achieve this is defined as a "therapeutically effective dose". The effective amounts for this will depend on the severity of the disease and the weight and general condition of the patient. In prophylactic applications, compositions according to the invention are administered to a patient susceptible to or otherwise at risk of a particular disease. This amount is defined as "an effective prophylactic amount". In use, the precise amounts depend again on the state of health and weight of the patient. The compounds of the invention are preferably administered with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, the nature of the carrier differing with the mode of administration, for example, parenteral, intravenous, oral and topical (including ophthalmic) routes. The desired formulation can be made using a variety of excipients, including, for example, pharmaceutical grades of mannitol, lactose, starch, magnesium stearate, sodium saccharin, cellulose, magnesium carbonate. This composition can be a tablet, a capsule, a pill, a solution, a suspension, a syrup, a dry oral supplement, a wet oral supplement, a dry tube feed, a wet tube feed, etc. Preferably, for humans, the pharmaceutical composition according to the present invention comprises an amount of the primary composition as described above, for a daily administration, such that the amount of carotenoid is from about 0.01 mg to 100 mg. When administered daily to pets, the amount of carotenoid is from about 0.01 mg to 100 mg. It will be appreciated that the skilled person will, on the basis of his knowledge, select the appropriate components and galenic form to target the active compound to the tissue of interest, eg, the skin, colon, stomach, kidney or liver, taking into account the route of administration which may be by means of injection, topical application, intranasal administration, administration by implanted or transdermal sustained release systems, and the like. The invention also relates to a cosmetic composition comprising the primary composition described above. They can be formulated in lotions, shampoos, creams, sunscreens, after-tanning creams, anti-aging creams and / or ointments, as an example. In this case, the content of the primary composition is between 10.10 and 10%. The cosmetic composition preferably comprises between 10.8 and 5% of the carotenoid compound. This composition that can be used topically further comprises a fat or oil that can be used in cosmetics, for example, those mentioned in the CTFA work, Cosmetic Ingredients Handbook, Washington. It is also possible to add other cosmetically active ingredients. The composition further comprises a structuring agent and an emulsifier. Other excipients may also be added to the composition, dyes, fragrances or opacifiers. HE . It will be appreciated that the present cosmetic products will contain a mixture of different ingredients known to the skilled person, ensuring a rapid penetration of the target substance into the skin and preventing the degradation thereof during storage. It will be understood that the concept of the present invention can equally be applied as an adjuvant therapy that aids in the medications currently used. Since the compounds of the present invention can be easily administered together with the food material, special clinical food containing a quantity of the target substances can be applied. It will be clear that in reading the present specification together with the appended claims, the skilled person will contemplate a variety of different alternatives to the specific embodiments mentioned herein. The present invention further relates to the use of the primary compositions, or the oral composition or cosmetic composition described above for the preparation of a proposed composition for protecting skin tissues against aging, in particular to inhibit skin damage and / or mucous membranes by inhibiting-conlagenases and by improving the synthesis of collagen. In fact, the use of the primary composition as described above makes it possible to improve the bioavailability of the carotenoid compound in the body and to delay the aging of the skin, by way of example. It can also be useful in the prevention or treatment of sensitive, dry or reactive skin, even to improve the density or firmness of the skin, to improve the photoprotection of the skin, to prevent or treat diseases or cardiovascular disorders or disorders and cancers. It also has particular benefits on pet hair and skin, such as an improved density of skin and hair, fiber diameter, color, oiliness, gloss and helps prevent hair or skin loss. The effect of a food supplementation in the primary composition according to the present invention, on human or pet skin, can be measured by using conventional methods including minimal erythemal dose (MED), colorimetry, transepidermal water loss, DNA repair (eg, p.53), interleukin measurement and proteoglycan production, or collagenase activity, barrier function or cell renewal or ultrasonic ultrasound. The following examples illustrate the invention in more detail without restricting it to these. All percentages are given by weight unless otherwise indicated.

Examples: Example 1: Preparation of a primary composition by microwave treatment 25 g of lycopene oleoresin manufactured by LycoRed Natural Products Industries, Ltd in Israel is subjected to a microwave treatment of 150 seconds at 2.45 GHz at a temperature of about 105 ° C. The primary composition obtained in this way is cooled under nitrogen to prevent degradation of the carotenoids. The ratio of cis: trans isomers to lycopene is approximately 65:35 in the resulting composition.

Example 2: Preparation of a primary composition by heat treatment 0.28 g of oleoresin (10-lycopene) is isomerized %, Indena) in 30 mL of ethyl acetate on heating during 1 hour under reflux in a nitrogen atmosphere and evaporation of the solvent under reduced pressure. The cis: trans isomer ratio is approximately 35% after heating.

Example 3: Preparation of a primary composition by radical reaction • 2 g of oleoresin (10% lycopene Indena) are mixed in 100 mL of CH2C12 with 116 μl of Iodine solution (2.8 mg of Iodine in 298 μL of CHC12) . The mixture is photoisomerized for 1 hour at room temperature and the solvent is removed under reduced pressure. The ratio of cis: trans isomer is approximately 77% after 'photoisomerization.

Example 4: Preparation of a primary composition by thermal reaction 10 g of tomato paste (Thomy) are mixed with 10 g of high oleic sunflower oil (Trisun) at room temperature. The mixture is heated using a plate heater for 15 minutes (final temperature 100 ° C). The ratio of cis-trans isomer is equal to 40% after heating.

Example 5: Comparison of isomerization of lycopene by microwave treatment and conventional heating. The isomerization yield of a tomato oleoresin from LycoRed Natural Products Industries, Ltd. in Israel, which has been treated by microwave heating or conventional heating (oil bath) is measured. For this, tomato oleoresin (Lycored 6%) is irradiated in glass jars in a microwave oven (2.45 GHz) for several periods of time up to 150 seconds. At the end of each exposure period, the temperature was measured in the oleoresin sample. After cooling, the samples were dissolved in n-hexane (containing 200 ppm BHT) and analyzed by HPLC for isomer formation. Additionally, tomato oleoresins were heated in glass jars in an oil bath at the same temperatures as those previously measured at the end of the microwave treatments. They were immediately removed from the oil bath, allowed to cool and analyzed in the same way as the. samples irradiated with microwaves. The HPLC method for determination of lycopene isomer was adapted from Schierle et al. (1997) Food Chem. 59, 459-65. The results are illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 shows that predominantly 9- and 13-cis isomers of lycopene were generated by microwave irradiation, in addition to some other undefined isomers and all the lycopene transpressant. Figure 2 shows that the isomerization of lycopene is stronger in the oleoresin treated by microwaves and the temperatures necessary to generate cis-isomers were lower compared to the conventionally heated samples. In conclusion, microwaves are a very efficient method to generate geometric isomers of lycopene.

Example 6: Quantity of cis-isomers of lycopene in processed and fractionated tomato oleoresin. HPLC is determined, as in Example 5, the isomer profile of lycopene in a tomato oleoresin from Indena, spa., To compare the following treatments: isomerization of lycopene by microwave treatment of 2, g of oleoresin (Indena, 10%) at 2.45 GHz for 90 seconds (Figure 3A) followed by re-suspension in ethanol, centrifugation (13'000 x g, 5 minutes, room temperature) rejection of the solid fraction and evaporation of the solvent under reduced pressure (Figure 3B). generation of lycopene isomers by photoisomerization catalysed with iodine (1 hour 50) of 2 g of oleoresin (Indena 10%) in CH2C12 (Figure 4A), followed by evaporation of CH2C12, re-suspension in "ethanol, centrifugation (13 '000 xg, 5 minutes, room temperature), resuspension of the solid fraction in ethyl acetate, centrifugation (13'000 xg, 5 minutes, room temperature), rejection of the solid fraction and evaporation of the solvent under reduced pressure (Figure 4B) isomerization of lycopene by refluxing 0.28 g of oleoresin (Indena 10%) in 30 mL of ethyl acetate for 1 hour (Figure 5A), followed by evaporation of ethyl acetate, resuspension in ethanol, centrifugation (13'000 xg). , 5 minutes, room temperature), rejection of the solid fraction and evaporation of the solvent under reduced pressure (Figure 5B).

Results Figure 3A shows that MW treatment of tomato oleoresin induced the ratio of a wide range of cis-isomers of lycopene. Figure 3B shows that solvent fractionation increases in a specific manner the ratio of cis to trans isomer in tomato oleoresin treated with MW. Figure 4A shows that the 5-cis isomer is predominantly formed during the photoisomerization of tomato oleoresin. Figure 4B shows that almost all trans and 5-cis isomers were removed after solvent fractionation. Figure 5A shows that the 13-cis isomer was formed predominantly during a brief reflux period of the tomato oleoresin in ethyl acetate. Figure 9B shows that the 13-cis isomer of the soluble fraction is mainly retained after solvent fractionation.

Example 7: Cosmetic for oral administration. A composition of the form of a hard capsule has the following formulation: The composition can be administered to the individual in an amount of 2 to 3 capsules daily.

Claims (24)

1. CLAIMS 1. Primary composition comprising a material containing carotenoids, enriched in cis-isomers of the carotenoid compound.
2. 2. Primary composition according to the claim 1, wherein the material containing carotenoid is obtained, extracted or purified from a plant or plant material,. microorganism, yeast or product of animal origin.
3. 3. Primary composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the carotenoid-containing material is in the form of an extract, a concentrate or an oleoresin.
4. Primary composition according to one of claims 1 or 3, wherein the cis-isomers of the carotenoid compound are in an amount effective to increase the bioavailability and / or bioefficiency of this carotenoid compound.
5. 5. Primary composition according to claim 1, wherein the plant or plant material is tomato, carrots, peaches, apricots, oranges, melons, guavas, papayas, grapefruit, rose hips, soybeans, green tea, green coffee seeds, Spaces, grapes or cocoa.
6. 6. Primary composition according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the carotenoid compound is lycopene, carotenes, zeaxanthin, astaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, capsanthin, canthaxanthin, lutein, phytofluene or phytoene.
7. Primary composition according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which the cis: trans isomer ratio of the carotenoid compound is at least 20:80.
8. 8. Primary composition according to one of claims 1 to 7, which is in the form of liquid, gel or powder.
9. 9. An oral composition comprising the primary composition according to one of claims 1 to 8, in a food material, in a food supplement, in a pet food product, in a cosmetic preparation or in a pharmaceutical preparation.
10. 10. Oral composition according to claim 9, wherein the food material is selected from the group consisting of a complete nutritional formula, a dairy product, chilled or shelf stable beverage, a mineral water, a liquid beverage, a soup, a supplement dietary, a meat replacement, a nutritional bar, a confectionery product, a milk or fermented milk product, a yogurt, a milk-based powder, a complete nutrition product, an infant formula, a nutritional product for infants, a cereal product or a product based on fermented cereal, a sandwich, a chocolate, coffee, a culinary product or a pet food product.
11. 11. Oral composition according to claim 9 to 10, wherein the food supplement is provided in the form of capsules, gelatin capsules, soft capsules, tablets, sugar-coated tablets, pills, pastes or pills, gums, solutions or drinkable emulsions. , syrups or gels.
12. The oral composition according to claim 11, further comprising at least one of a sweetener, a stabilizer, a flavoring and a dye.
13. 13. Oral composition according to claim 9, wherein the cosmetic composition additionally comprises an active compound with respect to the skin.
14. 14. Oral composition according to one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the content of the primary composition is between about 0.001 and 100%, preferably between about 10 and 50%.
15. 15. Cosmetic composition comprising the primary composition according to one of claims 1 to 8.
16. 16. Cosmetic composition according to claim 15, wherein the content of the primary composition is between about 10.10% and 10%.
17. Process for the preparation of a primary composition according to claim 1 to 8, which comprises subjecting the carotenoid-containing material to a treatment under conditions sufficient to increase its cis-isomer content of the carotenoid compound.
18. The process according to claim 17, wherein the cis-isomer content is an amount effective to increase the bioavailability and bioefficiency of the carotenoid compound.
19. 19. Process according to claim 18, where the treatment is. an acid thermal treatment, an electromagnetic radiation or a radical reaction.
20. The process according to claim 19, wherein the primary composition is further subjected to a treatment to modify its isomer profile.
21. The process according to claim 20, wherein the treatment is a solubilization of cis-isomers in selected organic solvents followed by phase separation using centrifugation or filtration.
22. 22. Use of a primary composition comprising at least one material comprising carotenoid enriched in cis-isomers, for the preparation of an oral, cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition for improving the health of the skin.
23. 23. Use according to claim 22, to protect the skin tissues against aging, and the prevention or treatment of sensitive, dry or reactive skin, to improve the density or firmness of the skin, to increase the photoprotection to the skin.
24. 24. Use of a primary composition comprising at least one carotenoid-containing material enriched in cis-isomers, for the preparation of an oral, cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating cardiovascular diseases or cancers.