Abstract: A vinegar based-antimicrobial was developed for controlling food pathogens in meat products. The antimicrobial is prepared using liquid blending (buffering process), dehydration and standardization. The buffering process refers to partial neutralization of white distilled vinegar (300 grain) with mild bases to produce a solution containing acetic acid and its salt. The dehydration step involved the removal of water from the buffered vinegar using a dryer. The standardization step involved a plating (spraying) process wherein white distilled vinegar (300 grain) was applied to the dried, buffered vinegar to meet the target active component as well as other physical and chemical product specifications.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for adjusting the yield and purity of a proteinase inhibitor extract from plant tissue, preferably potato tubers. The extraction and isolation of the proteinase inhibitor from potatoes begins with the addition of an organic acid, preferably formic acid, and a salt, preferably sodium chloride, to raw potatoes. The mixture is subjected to process steps to extract soluble proteins. The extract is subjected to heat treatment at an adjusted temperature and adjusted duration whereby purity of the proteinase inhibitor is enhanced by heating at a relatively high temperature for a relatively short duration and whereby yield of the proteinase inhibitor is enhanced by heating at a relatively low temperature for a relatively long duration. If the removal of soluble protein impurities that are not denatured during the heat treatment step is desired, ultrafiltration is used. By adjusting the cycles of filtration, purity of the proteinase inhibitor can be adjustably selected.

Abstract: A method for assaying the proteinase inhibitor content of tissue of a plant. The proteinase inhibitor and other protein products are extracted from the plant tissue by preparing a mixture of solvent and comminuted plant tissue to form a solid fraction and a liquid fraction which contains the proteinase inhibitor and other protein products. The liquid fraction is heated to a temperature and for a time period sufficient to denature at least some of the other protein products without substantially denaturing the proteinase inhibitor. The denatured, undesired protein products are removed by centrifugation or filtering to prepare a clarified extract solution. The amount of proteinase inhibitor inhibitor in the clan ed extract is measured. If the assay is used in the selection of plant tissues for use in the extraction of proteinase inhibitor, plant tissues with a proteinase inhibitor content less than a pre-selected standard are rejected.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for adjusting the yield and purity of a proteinase inhibitor extract from plant tissue, preferably potato tubers. The extraction and isolation of the proteinase inhibitor from potatoes begins with the addition of an organic acid, preferably formic acid, and a salt, preferably sodium chloride, to raw potatoes. The mixture is subjected to process steps to extract soluble proteins. The extract is subjected to heat treatment at an adjusted temperature and adjusted duration whereby purity of the proteinase inhibitor is enhanced by heating at a relatively high temperature for a relatively short duration and whereby yield of the proteinase inhibitor is enhanced by heating at a relatively low temperature for a relatively long duration. If the removal of soluble protein impurities that are not denatured during the heat treatment step is desired, ultrafiltration is used. By adjusting the cycles of filtration, purity of the proteinase inhibitor can be adjustably selected.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the extraction of a proteinase inhibitor from plant tissue. The extraction of the proteinase inhibitor begins with the addition of an alcohol-free, aqueous solution of an organic acid and a salt to plant tissue. The extraction solution and plant tissue are comminuted to reduce the average particle size of the plant tissue to improve extraction efficiencies. A weight ratio of between about 1:1 and about 1:10 extraction solution to plant tissue is used. In extracting proteinase inhibitor II from potato tubers, the extraction solution utilizes formic acid and sodium chloride, and the average particle size is reduced to between about 100 and 1500 microns. The process has been demonstrated to be cost-effective and provide high yields of the target proteinase inhibitor on commercial scales.

Abstract: A method for removing protein impurities from extracts of protease inhibitor-containing plant material. Plant materials containing protease inhibitors, such a potato tubers that contain protease inhibitor II, are extracted using an alcohol-free solvent. The proteins present in the extract include impurities other than the protease inhibitor, specifically Kunitz, Bowman-Birk and carboxypeptidase inhibitors. The extract is subjected to heat treatment to denature and precipitate the unstable protein impurities followed by centrifugation to remove the precipitate. Ultrafiltration in the presence of a buffer removes the Bowman-Birk and carboxypeptidase inhibitors. The resulting purified protease inhibitor has applicability in the control of obesity and diabetes.

Abstract: A method for assaying the proteinase inhibitor content of tissue of a plant. The protease inhibitor and other protein products are extracted from the plant tissue by preparing a mixture of solvent and comminuted plant tissue to form a solid fraction and a liquid fraction which contains the protease inhibitor and other protein products. The liquid fraction is heated to a temperature and for a time period sufficient to denature at least some of the other protein products without substantially denaturing the protease inhibitor. The denatured, undesired protein products are removed by centrifugation or filtering to prepare a clarified extract solution. The amount of protease inhibitor present in the clarified extract is measured. If the assay is used in the selection of plant tissues for use in the extraction of proteinase inhibitor, plant tissues with a proteinase inhibitor content less than a pre-selected standard are rejected.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the extraction of a proteinase inhibitor from plant tissue. The extraction of the proteinase inhibitor begins with the addition of an alcohol-free, aqueous solution of an organic acid and a salt to plant tissue. The extraction solution and plant tissue are comminuted to reduce the average particle size of the plant tissue to improve extraction efficiencies. A weight ratio of between about 1:1 and about 1:10 extraction solution to plant tissue is used. In extracting proteinase inhibitor II from potato tubers, the extraction solution utilizes formic acid and sodium chloride, and the average particle size is reduced to between about 100 and 1500 microns. The process has been demonstrated to be cost-effective and provide high yields of the target proteinase inhibitor on commercial scales.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for adjusting the yield and purity of a proteinase inhibitor extract from plant tissue, preferably potato tubers. The extraction and isolation of the proteinase inhibitor from potatoes begins with the addition of an organic acid, preferably formic acid, and a salt, preferably sodium chloride, to raw potatoes. The mixture is subjected to process steps to extract soluble proteins. The extract is subjected to heat treatment at an adjusted temperature and adjusted duration whereby purity of the proteinase inhibitor is enhanced by heating at a relatively high temperature for a relatively short duration and whereby yield of the proteinase inhibitor is enhanced by heating at a relatively low temperature for a relatively long duration. If the removal of soluble protein impurities that are not denatured during the heat treatment step is desired, ultrafiltration is used. By adjusting the cycles of filtration, purity of the proteinase inhibitor can be adjustably selected.

Abstract: A method for removing protein impurities from extracts of protease inhibitor-containing plant material. Plant materials containing protease inhibitors, such a potato tubers that contain protease inhibitor II, are extracted using an alcohol-free solvent. The proteins present in the extract include impurities other than the protease inhibitor, specifically Kunitz, Bowman-Birk and carboxypeptidase inhibitors. The extract is subjected to heat treatment to denature and precipitate the unstable protein impurities followed by centrifugation to remove the precipitate. Ultrafiltration in the presence of a buffer removes the Bowman-Birk and carboxypeptidase inhibitors. The resulting purified protease inhibitor has applicability in the control of obesity and diabetes.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ultrafiltration method for isolation and purification of a proteinase inhibitor extract from plant tissue, preferably potato tubers. The extraction and isolation of the proteinase inhibitor from potatoes begins with the addition of an organic acid, preferably formic acid, and a salt, preferably sodium chloride, to raw potatoes. The mixture is subjected to process steps to extract soluble proteins. Undesired proteins are denatured and removed, resulting in an extract solution suitable for ultrafiltration. The ultrafiltration process comprises two parts, concentration and diafiltration. The concentration part is primarily for dewatering, and as such, acids, salts, and other small molecules are removed concurrent to concentration. An ideal ultrafiltration membrane composition comprises regenerated cellulose with a nominal molecular weight cut-off of 10,000 Dalton.