::: The Technology ::: Experiments :::

Experiments

As stated above, Nutralease’s FNVs provide high solubilization power, stability and improved bioavailability.
Following are three graphs that show these advantages using lycopene-FNVs. NutraLease will be glad to provide additional informationupon request.

Solubilization
Stability
Bioavailability

The solubilizationcapacity of lycopene is shown in figure 1 as a function of the percentage of the aqueous phase in the micro-emulsion (ME). The y-axis shows the weight (mg) of the solubilized lycopene in 100 grams of the micro-emulsion. The maximum solubility is 0.46% (i.e. 460 mg in 100 grams), it was achieved when ~68% of the ME (by weight) was water. Keep in mind that lycopene solubility in water is negligible.

Figure 1: Amount of lycopene solubilized in 100 grams of micro-emulsion as a function of the aqueous percentages of it.

The stability of lycopene is shown in figure 2 as a function of time. The stability actually represent its resistant to oxidation and light while in storage. The red bars represent lycopene in an emulsion where the yellow are the NutraLease lycopene-FNVs. The concentration of lycopene in the bottle at the beginning of the experiment was 160 ppm. The two bottles were then placed on a shelf in the laboratory and samples were taken to measure the concentration of lycopene. The change in percentage from the original amount is shown in figure 2 as a function of time elapsed. At day 52, the lycopene in the emulsion was reduced to 28% of its original amount and it was totally absent at day 75. The lycopene percentage of the lycopene -FNVs was 62% after 75 days.

Figure 2: Comparison between the concentrations of lycopene in emulsion (red) and within NutraLease lycopene -FNVs (yellow).

Bioavailability In a preliminary clinical experiment, the concentration of lycopene in the blood serum was compared between two groups of humans who received a dose of 23 mg lycopene either from fresh tomatoes or from NutraLease’s lycopene-FNV (figure 3). Administrating the lycopene as FNVs resulted in a 3 times higher concentration in the blood after 5 hours. It took less then 10 hours without the FNV for the lycopene concentration in the serum to go back to its reference level, however, the FNV kept the concentration higher even after 10 hours. Note that in order to intake 23 mg of lycopene, one has to consume ~ 0.5 kg of fresh tomatoes. Additionally, adsorption of lycopene from fresh tomatoes is higher compared with capsules that are commonly sold in health stores.

Figure 3: Comparison between the concentrations of lycopene in the blood serum when administrated as fresh tomatoes (blue) versus FNV (red)