Ajinomoto Co., Ltd.

Masami Bito

Osamu Mori

Takashi Yamaguchi

Ikukazu Tashima

Satoshi Konishi

Fat-soluble trace constituents contained in plant tissues may be conveniently concentrated and/or purified by a method which involves extracting the fat-soluble trace constituent from a plant, to obtain an extract containing the fat-soluble trace constituent; adding a fatty acid ester to the extract, to obtain a mixture; and subjecting the mixture to molecular distillation. The method is particularly effective for the concentration and/or purification of fat-soluble constituents which are solids or viscous liquids at ambient temperature and ordinary pressure. The concentrated and/or purified fat-soluble trace constituent of a plant tissue prepared by the method may be combined with a food or drink to afford a food or drink product that contains the concentrated and/or purified fat-soluble trace constituent.

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Shizuoka, Japan

Masami Bito