Bioactive compositions comprising
The present invention provides bioactive compositions comprising Ficus serum fraction derived from Ficus cell juice of fresh Ficus leaves and a process of preparing the Ficus serum fraction. The compositions have biological activity capable of reducing skin hyperpigmentation.
1. A process for making a Ficus cell serum fraction composition, said process comprising:
a. separating ficus cell juice from harvested, un-wilted ficus leaves to obtain fresh ficus cell juice, wherein no exogenous liquid is added prior or during said separating;
b. filtering said fresh ficus cell juice to obtain fiber-free cell juice; and
c. fractionating said fiber-free cell juice to obtain Ficus Serum Fraction, wherein said fractionating comprises:
(1) removing chlorophyll from said fiber-free cell juice to obtain Supernatant I;
(2) removing pigments and proteins from Supernatant I to form Ficus Serum Fraction, wherein said removing pigments and proteins from Supernatant I comprises:
i. adjusting the pH of Supernatant I to about 7.5 to form pH-adjusted Supernatant I;
ii. separating pH-adjusted Supernatant I into Precipitate II and Supernatant II;
iii. adjusting the pH of Supernatant II to about 3.6 to form pH adjusted Supernatant II;
iv. separating pH-adjusted Supernatant II into Precipitate III and Ficus Serum Fraction; and
(3) adding stabilizer selected from the group consisting of antioxidants, chelating agents, preservatives and mixtures thereof, to said Ficus Serum Fraction.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein said stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of sodium metabisulfite, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, sodium methyl paraben, pentylene glycol, and mixtures thereof.
3. The process of claim 2 , wherein said composition is stable at room temperature for at least 6 months.
4. The process of claim 3 , wherein said composition is stable at room temperature for at least 12 months.
5. The process of claim 4 , wherein said composition is stable at room temperature for at least 24 months.
6. The process of claim 1 , wherein said Ficus leaves are selected from the group of Ficus species consisting of F. benghalensis, F. carica, F. elastica, F. microcarpa, F. trigonata , and combinations thereof.
7. The process of claim 1 , wherein said composition is substantially free of pheophorbides.
8. The process of claim 1 , wherein said composition is substantially free of proteins as measured by the Kjeldahl method.
9. The process of claim 1 , wherein said composition is water soluble.
10. The process of claim 1 , wherein said composition has a Gardner color value of less than 8.
11. The process of claim 1 , wherein said composition has a Gardner color value of less than 7.5.