<p>A method for the production of a cyclitol of increased purity is disclosed. The method includes extracting the cyclitol from a plant material with an extractant to form a cyclitol extract and forming a cyclitol source from the cyclitol extract and having a cyclitol purity P1. The method also includes (step b) contacting the cyclitol source with an extractant medium to form at least one solvent-rich stream with an increased cyclitol purity P2 and at least one solvent-poor stream with a reduced cyclitol purity P3 so that P2 is greater than each of P1 and P3. The method also includes subjecting the solvent-rich stream resulting from step (b) to an enrichment operation to form a cyclitol-enriched stream having a purity P4 and a cyclitol-depleted stream with a purity P5 so that P4 is greater than each of P2 and P5. A method for the production of a protein of increased purity and a cyclitol of increased purity is also disclosed. A method for increasing the purity of a cyclitol is also disclosed.</p>
