ECOLOGICAL PROCESS FOR OPTIMALLY EXPLOITING THE BIOLOGICALLY-ACTIVE SUBSTANCE POTENTIAL OF TRIGONELLA FOENUM GRAECUM AND COSMETIC PRODUCTS WITH ESTROGEN-MIMETIC EFFECT PREPARED THEREBY

摘要

The present invention relates to a process intended for the optimal exploitation of the biologically-active substance potential of Trigonella foenum graecum (fenugreek) to obtain dermato-cosmetic phytotherapeutic products with estrogen-mimetic effects. The process consists in subjecting dry ground seeds of Trigonella foenum graecum to a four-stage extraction procedure, where each stage comprises three steps and where four different solvents are used, as follows: a first extraction with acetone, a second extraction of the remaining material performed with 80...96% ethyl alcohol, a third extraction with a 40...70% hydro-alcoholic solution and, finally, a fourth extraction with purified water heated to 30...60°C, the spent residual material being afterwards recycled as compost. The phytotherapeutic extracts obtained from each stage are processed and purified to result in fenugreek oil, standardized extract with steroidal saponins and flavonoids or only steroidal saponins, diosgenine and bioactive polysaccharide complex. The phytotherapeutic preparations are conditioned in various dermato-cosmetic forms to be employed in the therapy of aged cutaneous tissue or in the therapy of acne formations.