NUTRACEUTICAL FLOUR

The object of the present invention is a nutraceutical flour of the type outlined in the preamble of claim 1.

As it is known, flours, durum wheat flours, coarse durum wheat flours (hereinafter simply and univocally called flours) obtained by grinding dried fruits or seed are nowadays marketed.

Among said flours, the most commercially used flour is the type 0 soft wheat flour having a maximum ash content of 0.65 e minimum protein content equal to 11.00 and, mainly, type 00 soft wheat flours characterized by a maximum ash content of 0.55 and a minimum protein content equal to 9.

These flours are obtained by industrially grinding wheat grains which causes the removal of the germ (the nutritive core of the grain containing amino acids, fatty acids, B vitamins, vitamin E) and bran (the grain outermost part rich of fibers).

All this enables to obtain a refined flour characterized by a long shelf life, unfortunately this flour is heavily deficient of nutritional principles and has a very high content of sugars.

Therefore, almost all the products obtained from the known flours can cause a substantial increase of the blood sugar levels and consequently an increase of the glucose production.

Consequently, the human body is subjected to greater fat deposits and to a fast increase of weight and of the content of triglycerides and low-density apolipoproteins, for example.

Such condition can cause cardiocirculatory diseases and metabolic disorders.

In this condition, the technical task underlying the present invention consists of devising a nutraceutical flour capable of substantially overcome at least part of the cited drawbacks.

In the context of said technical task, an important object of the invention is to provide a nutraceutical flour characterized by an improvement of the nutritional properties and therefore uncapable of causing greater fat deposit, fast weight increase, an overload on one or more organs or other issues tied to the intake of the known flours. The technical task and the specified objects are met by a nutraceutical flour as claimed in the attached claim 1 . Examples of preferred embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

In the present document, measurements, values, shapes, and geometrical references (as perpendicularity and parallelism), when associated to words like “about” or other similar terms such “almost” or “substantially” should be meant without measurement errors or other inaccuracies determined by production and/or manufacturing errors and, mainly, without a slight difference from the value of the measurement, from the shape or geometrical reference which is associated to. For example, such terms if are associated to a value, indicate a difference not greater than 10% than the same value.

Moreover, terms such as “first”, “second”, “upper”, “lower”, “main”, and “secondary, when used, do not necessarily mean a sequence, a priority of a relationship or relative position, but can be simply used for more clearly distinguishing different components from each other.

Measurements and data given in the present document are considered, unless otherwise noted, as performed in the ICAO International Standard Atmosphere (ISO 2533).

The nutraceutical flour can comprise a ground product. The ground product can be obtained by grinding one or more, for example, of dried fruits and plant seeds such as for example, corn, barley, emmer wheat, rice, oat, rye, chestnuts, chickpeas, almonds, and buckwheat.

Preferably, the ground product is obtained by grinding soft wheat. It can be one of known products such as: type 00, 0, 1 , 2, soft wheat flour or whole wheat flour.

The nutraceutical flour can comprise extracts of Saccharum officinarum, suitably obtained from stalk of Saccharum officinarum.

The extracts of Saccharum officinarum can comprise policosanols, and more particularly octacosanols.

In addition, Saccharum officinarum extracts can comprise one or more and particularly all vitamins B and/or E.

The content of Saccharum officinarum extracts can be substantially less than 3.0 g, in particular less than 1.0 g, and more particularly substantially comprised between 0.75 g and 0.25 per kg of the ground product. Preferably, it is substantially comprised between 0.4 g and 0.5 g per kg of the ground product.

The nutraceutical flour can comprise extracts of Medicago sativa L, in the following simply called Medicago sativa, suitably obtained by leaves of Medicago sativa.

The extracts of Medicago sativa can comprise triterpenic saponins and folic acid suitably in the 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate form.

In addition, the Medicago sativa extracts can comprise one or more and particularly all the isoflavones, policosanols, and coumarins.

The content of Medicago sativa extracts can be substantially less than 10.0 g, particularly less than 5.0 g, and more particularly substantially comprised between 0.5 and 2.0 g per kg of the ground product. Preferably, it is substantially equal to 1.0 g per kg of the ground product. The content of Medicago sativa extracts can be substantially greater than the one of the Saccharum officinarum extracts.

The nutraceutical flour can comprise extracts of Cyclanthera pedata suitably obtained from the Cyclanthera pedata fruits.

The Cyclanthera pedata extracts can comprise phytosterols and particularly sitosterol-3-p-D-glycoside.

The content of Cyclanthera pedata extracts can be substantially less than 10.0 g, particularly less than 5.0 g, and more particularly substantially less than 2.0 g per kg of the ground product. Preferably, it is substantially comprised between 0.05 g and 1 g per kg of the ground product.

The content of Cyclanthera pedata extracts can be substantially equal to the one of the Medicago sativa extracts. Alternatively, it can be substantially less than the one of the Saccharum officinarum extracts.

The nutraceutical flour can comprise extracts of Silybum marianum suitably obtained from fruits of Silybum marianum.

The Silybum marianum extracts can comprise silymarin.

The content of Silybum marianum extracts can be substantially less than 10.0 g, in particular less than 5.0 g, and more particularly substantially comprised between 0.5 g and 2.0 g per kg of the ground product. Preferably, it is substantially equal to 1.0 g per kg of the ground product.

The content of Silybum marianum extracts can be substantially equal to the one of the Medicago sativa extracts.

The nutraceutical flour can comprise extracts of Berberis vulgaris L. in the following simply called Berberis vulgaris, suitably obtained by roots of Berberis vulgaris.

The Berberis vulgaris extracts can contain berberine. In addition, the Berberis vulgaris extracts can comprise one or more and, particularly, all of oxyacanthine, berbamine, palmatine, berberrubine, ijatrorrhizine, columbamine (alkaloids), tannin, pectin, citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid.

The content of Berberis vulgaris extracts can be substantially less than 10.0 g, particularly less than 5.0 g, and more particularly substantially comprised between 1 .0 g e 3.0 g per kg of the ground product. Preferably, it is substantially equal to 1.5 g per kg of the ground product.

The content of Berberis vulgaris extracts can be substantially greater than the one of the Medicago sativa.

The nutraceutical flour can comprise extracts of Lentinula erode (Berk.) Pegler, in the following simply called Lentinula erode, suitably obtained by the whole Lentinula erode.

The Lentinula erode extracts can comprise b-glucans.

The Lentinula erode extracts can comprise one or more and in particular all of essential amino acids, minerals such as potassium, calcium, zinc, B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin), ergosterol, lentinan polysaccharide, eritadenine, and lanthionine.

The content of Lentinula erode extracts can be substantially less than 10.0 g, in particular less than 5.0 g, and more particularly substantially comprised between 1.0 g and 3.0 g per kg of the ground product. Preferably, it is substantially equal to 1.5 g per kg of ground product.

The content of Lentinula erode extracts can be substantially greater than the one of the Medicago sativa extracts, and suitably almost equal to the ones of the Berberis vulgaris extracts.

The nutraceutical flour can comprise extracts of Avena sativa L, in the following simply called Avena sativa, suitably obtained from suitably soluble fiber of Avena sativa.

The Avena sativa extracts can comprise b-glucans.

In addition, the Avena sativa extracts can comprise one or more, and particularly all the carbohydrates, starch, proteins, unsaturated fats, mineral salts, vitamins B, C, E, and avenin.

The content of Avena sativa extracts can be substantially less than 10.0 g, in particular less than 5.0 g, and more particularly substantially comprised between 1 .0 and 3.0 g per kg of the ground product. Preferably, it is substantially equal to 2.0 per kg of the ground product.

The content of Avena sativa extracts can be substantially greater than the one of the Saccharum officinarum extracts and particularly of Medicago sativa extracts. The nutraceutical flour can comprise extracts of Hordeum vulgare, particularly the waxy variety, simply called in the following Hordeum vulgare, suitably obtained from Hordeum vulgare caryopsis.

The Hordeum vulgare extracts can comprise b-glucans.

In addition, the Hordeum vulgare extracts can comprise one or more and particular all the soluble polysaccharides.

The content of Hordeum vulgare extracts can be substantially less than 10.0 g, in particular less than 5.0 g, and more particularly substantially comprised between 1.0 g and 3.0 g per kg of the ground product. Preferably, it is substantially equal to 2 g per kg of the ground product.

The content of Hordeum vulgare extracts can be substantially greater than the one of the Saccharum officinarum extracts and particularly of the Medicago sativa extracts. Said content can be almost equal to the one of the Avena sativa extracts.

The nutraceutical flour can comprise extracts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, suitably obtained from fungi of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae extracts can comprise B vitamins and/or folic acid. In addition, Saccharomyces cerevisiae extracts can comprise one or more and in particular all the proteins, mineral salts (particularly magnesium, potassium, phosphor, iron, calcium, and selenium), folic acid.

The content of Saccharomyces cerevisiae extracts can be substantially less than 10.0 g, in particular less than 5.0 g, and more particularly comprised between 0.5 g and 2 g per kg of ground product. Preferably, it is substantially equal to 1 g per kg of the ground product.

The content of Saccharomyces cerevisiae extracts can be substantially equal to the one of the Medicago sativa extracts.

The nutraceutical flour can comprise extracts of Saccharomyces boulardii suitably obtained from fungi of Saccharomyces boulardii.

The Saccharomyces boulardii extracts can comprise B vitamins and/or folic acid.

In addition, the Saccharomyces boulardii extracts can comprise one or more or in particular all the proteins, mineral salts (specifically magnesium, potassium, phosphor, iron, calcium, and selenium), folic acid.

The content of Saccharomyces boulardii extracts can be substantially less than 10.0 g, in particular less than 5 g, and more particularly substantially comprised between 0.5 g and 2.0 g per kg of the ground product. Preferably, it is substantially equal to 1 g per kg of the ground product.

The content of Saccharomyces boulardii extracts can be substantially equal to the one of the Medicago sativa extracts and therefore of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae extracts.

The nutraceutical flour can comprise extracts of Ganoderma Lucidum (Reishi), in the following simply called Ganoderma Lucidum, suitable obtained from sporophores of Ganoderma Lucidum.

The extracts of Ganoderma Lucidum can comprise b-glucans and germanium.

In addition, the Ganoderma Lucidum extracts can comprise one or more and in particular all of the mineral salts (such as Fe-Zn-Cu-Mn-Mg-K-Ca and germanium), vitamins specifically A, C, E, and in particular B (especially folic acid), ergosterine, amino acids, enzymes, Ling Zhi 8 protein, sterols, adenosine, polisaccharides (consisting of glucose, galactose, mannose with parts of xylose and fucose) and triterpenes such as lucidenic acid and ganoderic acid.

The content of Ganoderma Lucidum extracts is substantially less than 10.0 g, in particular less than 5.0 g, and more particularly substantially comprised between 0.5 g and 2.0 g per kg of the ground product. Preferably, it is substantially equal to 1.0 g per kg of the ground product.

The content of Ganoderma Lucidum extracts is substantially equal to the one of the Medicago sativa.

The nutraceutical flour can comprise extracts of Vitis vinifera suitably obtained from skins of berries and/or shoots of Vitis vinifera.

The Vitis vinifera extracts can comprise resveratrol and pterostilbene.

The content of Vitis vinifera extracts can be substantially comprised between 1.0 g and 10.0 g, in particular between 2.0 g and 5.0 g, and more particularly between 2.5 g and 4.0 g per kg of the ground product. Preferably, it is substantially equal to 3.0 g per kg of the ground product.

The content of Vitis vinifera extracts can be substantially greater than the one of the extracts of Saccharum officinarum, in particular of Medicago sativa and more particularly of Hordeum vulgare.

The nutraceutical flour can comprise extracts of Beta vulgaris suitably obtained from the root of Beta vulgaris.

The Beta vulgaris extracts can comprise stachydrine, equivalent to proline and betaine (known as trimethylglycine).

The content of Beta vulgaris extracts can be substantially less than 10.0 g. in particular less than 5.0 g, and more particularly less than 2.0 g per kg of the ground product. Preferably, it is substantially comprised between 0.05 g and 1 .0 g per kg of the ground product.

The content of the Beta vulgaris extracts can be substantially equal to the one of the extracts of Saccharum officinarum. It is almost equal to the one of the Medicago sativa.

The nutraceutical flour can comprise extracts of Boletus edulis suitably obtained from the whole mushroom.

The Boletus edulis extracts can comprise trimethylglicine.

The Boletus edulis extracts can be substantially less than 10.0 g, in particular less than 5.0 g, and more particularly substantially less than 2.0 g per kg of the ground product. Preferably, it is substantially comprised between 0.05 g and 1 g per kg of the ground product.

The content of the Boletus edulis extracts can be substantially equal to the one of the Saccharum officinarum extracts. It is almost equal to the one of Medicago sativa and preferably of Beta vulgaris.

Preferably, the nutraceutical flour comprises extracts of Beta vulgaris and Boletus edulis. The nutraceutical flour can comprise extracts of Cynara scolymus L, in the following simply called Cynara scolymus, suitably obtained from leaves of Cynara scolymus. The Cynara scolymus extracts can comprise cynarine obtained only by a drying process.

In addition, the Cynara scolymus extracts can comprise one or more and in particular all the cynarine, polyphenols, polyacetyls, sterols, organic acids (such as 5-caffeoylquinic acid or chlorogenic acid), sesquiterpene lactones, cynaropicrin, and derivatives thereof, mineral salts, and volatile aromatic components.

The content of Cynara scolymus can be substantially less than 10.0 g, in particular less than 5.0 g, and more particularly less than 2.0 g per kg of the ground product. Preferably, it is substantially comprised between 0.05 g and 1.0 g per kg of the ground product.

The content of the Cynara scolymus can be substantially greater than the one of the Saccharum officinarum extracts. It is almost equal to the one of the Medicago sativa. The nutraceutical flour can comprise extracts of Grifola frondosa suitably obtained from the carpophore of Grifola frondosa.

The extracts of Grifola frondosa can comprise b-glucans.

The content of Grifola frondosa extracts can be substantially less than 1.0 g, in particular less than 1 .0 g, more particularly less than 0.5 g, and still more particularly less than 0.1 g per kg of the ground product. Preferably, it is substantially equal to 0.05 g per kg of the ground product.

The content of the Grifola frondosa extracts can be substantially less than the one of the Saccharum officinarum extracts.

The nutraceutical flour can comprise extracts of Cordyceps sinensis suitably obtained from the mycelium of Cordyceps sinensis. The Cordyceps sinensis extracts can comprise polysaccharides and b-glucans.

In addition, the Cordyceps sinensis extracts can comprise one or more and particularly all of cordycepic acid, galactomannan, b-mannans.

The content of the Cordyceps sinensis extracts can be substantially less than 1 .0 g, in particular less than 0.5 g, and still more particularly less than 0.1 g per kg of the ground product. Preferably, it is substantially equal to 0.05 per kg of the ground product.

The content of the Cordyceps sinensis extracts can be substantially less than the one of the Saccharum officinarum extracts. It can be almost equal to the content of Grifola frondosa extracts.

In a non-limiting example, of the formulation, the nutraceutical flour can substantially comprise a ground product and, for each kg of said ground product, from 0.4 to 0.5 g of Saccharum officinarum extracts, 1.0 g of Medicago sativa extracts, from 0.05 to 1 g of Cyclanthera pedata extracts, 1 .0 g of Silybum marianum extracts, 1.5 g of Lentinula erode extracts, 2.0 g of Avena sativa extracts, 2.0 g of Hordeum vulgare extracts, 1.0 g of Saccharomyces cerevisiae extracts, 1.0 g of Saccharomyces boulardii extracts, 1 .5 g of Berberis vulgaris extracts, 1 .0 g of Ganoderma Lucid urn extracts, 3.0 g of Vitis vinifera extracts, at least one of extracts of Beta vulgaris (content from 0.05 to 1.0 g), and Boletus edulis extracts (content from 0.05 to 1g) and, suitably, one or more of 1.0 g of Cynara scolymus extracts, 0.05 g of Grifola frondosa extracts, and 0.05 g of Cordyceps sinensis extracts.

The above described extracts can be obtained, preferably, by the Soxhlet-type reflux extraction, and in particular by ultrasounds or supercritical gases, and the addition, as solvent, of sulfur dioxide. Preferably, such extracts are obtained by the Soxhlet methanol reflux method. This method comprises: fermentation and hydrolysis of part of a plant (e.g. fruits, flowers, or leaves) from which the extracts are obtained by adding yeast suitably Saccharomycetaceae (e.g. Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and preferably with a pH of 7 for about 4 days; evaporation and centrifuging of the extracts for eliminating the solvent from the obtained solution, Soxhlet extraction; elimination of the methanol by heating it to the boiling point thereof, and consequent extraction by evaporation.

It is noted the use of other methods adapted to enable to obtain the above described extracts containing said active principles. For example, as an alternative, the Saccharum officinarum extracts can be obtained by a solvent-free cold pressing. The invention comprises a new process for producing a nutraceutical flour.

The production process can comprise a grinding step by which the ground product is obtained, for example, by grinding one or more dried fruits or plant seeds (corn, barley, emmer wheat, rice, oat, rye, chestnuts, chickpeas, almonds, and buckwheat) and similar.

The production process can comprise a step of mixing one or more of said extracts with the ground product.

In the mixing step, additional extracts of Saccharum officinarum can be suitably added to the ground product according to said contents.

In the mixing step, additional extracts of Medicago sativa can be suitably added to the ground product according to said contents.

In the mixing step, additional extracts of Cyclanthera pedata can be suitably added to the ground product according to said contents.

In the mixing step, additional extracts of Silybum marianum can be suitably added to the ground product according to said contents.

In the mixing step, additional extracts of Lentinula erode can be suitably added to the ground product according to said contents.

In the mixing step, additional extracts of Avena sativa can be suitably added to the ground product in order to obtain said content.

In the mixing step, additional extracts of Hordeum vulgare can be suitably added to the ground product according to said contents.

In the mixing step, additional extracts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae can be suitably added to the ground product according to said contents.

In the mixing step, additional extracts of Saccharomyces boulardii can be suitably added to the ground product according to said contents.

In the mixing step, additional extracts of Berberis vulgaris can be suitably added to the ground product according to said contents.

In the mixing step, additional extracts of Ganoderma Lucidum can be suitably added to the ground product according to said contents.

In the mixing step, additional extracts of Vitis vinifera can be suitably added to the ground product according to said contents.

In the mixing step, additional extracts of Beta vulgaris can be suitably added to the ground product according to said contents.

In the mixing step, additional extracts of Boletus edulis can be suitably added to the ground product according to said contents.

In the mixing step, additional extracts of Cynara scolymus can be suitably added to the ground product according to said contents.

In the mixing step, additional extracts of Grifola frondosa can be suitably added to the ground product according to said contents.

In the mixing step, additional extracts of Cordyceps sinensis can be suitably added to the ground product according to said contents. The production process can comprise a step of methylating at least part and in particular all the resveratrol in said extracts (suitably of Vitis vinifera) in pterostilbene.

The step of methylating folic acid (present at least in the Medicago sativa, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and/or Saccharomyces boulardii) makes available at least part of the methyl groups present in a methyl group donor (e. g. trimethylglicine, contained in the Beta vulgaris and/or Boletus edulis extracts) which perform the step of methylating resveratrol for obtaining pterostilbene.

In this step, trimethylglicine (N,N,N-trimethylglicine or preferably a N-trimethylated amino acid in the neutral pH zwitterionic form) perform a methylating action on the resveratrol causing the formation of pterostilbene. In particular, the trimethylglicine action, by folic acid, remethylates resveratrol by reducing also 5-methyl- tetrahydrofolate (MHTF) to methyl tetrahydrofolate, which provides the methyl group required to form, by resveratrol, pterostilbene.

The nutraceutical flour according to the invention obtains important advantages. Indeed, the nutraceutical flour is effective at countering unbalances such as the ones regarding the cholesterol, immunitary and/or cardiovascular systems, hypoglycemia, due to the Vitis vinifera pterostilbene (suitably obtained by said methylation step) performing a hypocholesterolemizing, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral actions.

The hypocholesterolemizing action is aided by folic acid and/or Saccharum officinarum extracts which, due to policasonols, vitamins E, and B, reduce the cholesterol, in particular the LDL type. Such action is augmented by the Medicago sativa extracts which, acting on the livery and detoxification systems augment the hypocholesterolemizing action of the Saccharum officinarum and Vitis vinifera extracts.

Moreover, the addition of Cyclanthera pedata, Berberis vulgaris and/or Silybum marianum extracts increases (suitably aided by the berberine contained in Silybum marianum extracts capable of blocking the ABC transporters) the expression of the receptor for the LDLs, inhibiting their absorption in the intestine and its secretion. The hypocholesterolemizing action is increased by the Lentinula erode extracts (because they contain eritadenine) and Cynara scolymus extracts which exploit their content of cyanirine for reducing cholesterol.

Moreover, the inventor outlines the important functional contribution of the b-glucans (present in one or more of the Hordeum vulgare, Avena sativa, Lentinula erode, Cordyceps sinensis, Grifola frondosa, and/or Ganoderma Lucidum) capable of collecting and absorbing LDL cholesterol consequently contributing to the protection against cardiocirculatory diseases and strokes.

Such action is enhanced by the presence of enzyme saccharase (present in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces boulardii and/or Beta vulgaris) which, when hydrolyzed, break down saccharose into glucose and fructose.

An important action of the b-glucans is also the reduction of the hormone ghrelin and consequently the reduction of the body weight and of the visceral fat mass. This action is enhanced by extracts of Medicago sativa (capable of controlling sugars in the blood, and hyperglycemia due to the contents of alkaloids, asparagine, and trigonelline), of Berberis vulgaris and Silybum marianum (capable of increasing the hypolipemic action of berberine) and/or of Avena sativa having a fat burning action. It is noted that the b-glucans action is aided by the extracts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and/or Sacchoromyces boulardii capable of increasing the b-glucans biosynthesis. The nutraceutical flour has strong action on the immunitary system given by the b- glucans.

Such action is synergistically enhanced by Ganoderma Lucidum which stimulates the immunitary system particularly the natural-killers and by Grifola frondosa having immunostimulant and adaptogenic actions.

Another advantage of the nutraceutical flour is its positive action on the cardiovascular system. Indeed, the policosanols of the Saccharum officinarum extracts have an anti-platelet action which consequently reduces blot clots and prevents the smooth muscle cells of the vessel wall from proliferating. To summarize, the nutraceutical flour is characterized in that it curbs and controls the hematic cholesterol levels, controls and reduces low density apolipoproteins, curbs and increases high density apolipoproteins, curbs and controls the hematic homocysteine, protects arteries and cardiocirculatory system and is characterized for its scavenging and hepatic steatosis countering actions. The invention is susceptible to be implemented in variants falling in the scope of the inventive idea defined in the claims. In such scope, all the details can be substituted by equivalent elements and materials, sizes can be of any type.