05.01.06
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent to Chr. Hansen, Milwaukee, WI, for the “Purification process for improving total yield of curcuminoid coloring agent” under the patent number 6,942,881. The patent pertains to a production process that improves the total yield of curcuminoids from turmeric and other curcuminoid-containing materials by 30-40%. Well-documented studies have found the health benefits of curcumin include anti-inflammatory activity, cancer prevention, antimicrobial properties, and heart health including the lowering of cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Turmeric, mainly grown in Southeast Asia, has been used for centuries as a treatment for wounds and injuries in the Chinese and Ayurvedic systems of medicine.