Lecithin is a group of yellow-brown oily substances found in animal and plant tissues and egg yolk. Constituents include phosphoric acid, choline, fatty acids, glycerol, glycolipids, triglycerides and phospholipids. It is an important component of cell membranes, alveolar surface active substances, lipoproteins and bile; it is also a source of lipid messengers such as lysophosphatidylcholine, phosphatidic acid, diglycerides, lysophosphatidic acid and arachidonic acid. Known as the "third nutrient" alongside protein and vitamins, however, few people really understand lecithin. In 1844, the French Gohley discovered lecithin from egg yolks, and named it Lecithos (lecithin) in Greek, and the generic name of the medicine was Lecithin. Since then, its mystery has been unveiled.
Research history
Phospholipids were first discovered in the human brain by Uauquelin in 1812.
In 1844, scientist Golbley separated it from egg yolk and named it Lecithin (lecithin) after the Greek word lekithos (egg yolk) in 1850.
In 1861, scientist Topler discovered the existence of phospholipids from plant seeds.
In 1925, scientist Leven separated lecithin (phosphatidylcholine) from other phospholipids.
In 1930, soybean lecithin was discovered, which is by far the most abundant.
Since the 1990s, phospholipid research has achieved remarkable results in the fields of life sciences and brain sciences.
Basic dosage form
The main dosage forms of industrial lecithin are: liquid, granule and powder, the liquid concentration is about 60%, and the granule and powder can reach more than 95%.
The main dosage forms of popular lecithin products are: "soft capsules" and "granules", and a small number of products are tablets and powders.
Lecithin soft capsules are made of liquid lecithin as a raw material, diluted with glycerin or soybean oil, and then wrapped in gelatin. Although it is more convenient to take, the content of active ingredients is generally less than 60%, and more food additives are added. The price is lower, but the dosage needs to be increased. It is the dosage form used by most brands of lecithin.
Lecithin granules are mainly made by direct packaging of granular lecithin products, or by adding granulating agents to reduce the viscosity of the granules, because the effective content is usually greater than 95% (up to 98%), and Less or no food additives are used, so the absorption efficiency is higher, and it is healthier for the human body. Compared with the lecithin soft capsules that are low-purity, contain a lot of fat, and can only be swallowed, the lecithin particles have high purity, It has the unique advantages of being fat and chewing.
Production Process
The production of lecithin generally adopts the following processes:
Ethanol extraction: The principle is that lecithin is soluble in ethanol, and other phospholipids: cephalin and inositol phospholipids are insoluble in ethanol.
Layer column analysis: The principle is that the adsorbent has different adsorption capacities for cephalin, inositol phospholipids, and lecithin.
Co2 supercritical extraction: The principle is the abnormal balance behavior and delivery performance of Co2 and lecithin at the supercritical point. Separate different components while changing temperature and pressure.
Membrane separation method: the principle is to use different lecithin, cephalin, inositol phospholipids to form different molecular masses in different solvents to separate, such as phospholipid solution dissolved in ethane-isopropanol mixed solution through polypropylene semipermeable membrane , The lecithin content can be increased from 25% to 51%, and the solution flowing through the membrane is recovered and recovered, which can greatly improve the purity of lecithin. However, this method is not very mature and cannot distinguish components with similar molecular weights. Currently limited to laboratories.
People suitble
1. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stipulates that phospholipids must be added to infant milk powder.
2. Students, intellectuals and middle-aged and elderly people: Lecithin can enhance brain vitality, eliminate brain fatigue, enhance memory, and improve study efficiency. And it can repair damaged brain cells and prevent the occurrence of Alzheimer's disease.
3. Patients with long-term drinking, overnutrition and fatty liver: take 10-15 grams of lecithin every day. After 3-5 months, blood lipids can return to normal levels.
4. Diabetic patients: If you consume more than 20 grams of soy lecithin every day, the recovery speed of diabetic patients is quite obvious, and many patients do not need to inject insulin. It is more effective for patients with complications such as diabetes, gangrene and arteriosclerosis.
5. Patients with gallstones: Consistently taking soy lecithin every day can not only prevent the formation of gallstones, but also decompose and eliminate the formed gallstones to varying degrees.
6. Lady who loves beauty: Lecithin is a natural antidote that can decompose toxins in the body. By increasing hemoglobin, it provides sufficient water and oxygen to the skin to make the skin smooth and moisturized
7. People with constipation: Lecithin can promote gastrointestinal blood circulation and gastrointestinal motility, and help prevent and improve constipation.
8. Smokers should add more lecithin. The content of lecithin in the lungs of smokers is only 1/7 of that of non-smokers. Lecithin has very good hydrophilicity, which can keep the alveoli moist, thereby increasing the body's oxygen intake. Smokers generally have dry alveoli and insufficient oxygen uptake, so more lecithin should be added.
9. Children, pregnant mothers who are not overweight, or elderly people with weaker bodies can take lecithin together with milk, soy milk and juice to supplement their nutrition. The daily intake is 800-1000 mg.
About us
BOC Sciences provides a wide range of liposome products, including: anionic liposomes, clodronate, dopc lipid, liposome fluorescence dye, etc., as well as a variety of high-quality liposome preparation materials.