IFF Health and DolCas Biotech have partnered together on the sale and marketing of Curcugen, a natural turmeric extract for both the dietary supplement and food and beverage industries, according to a press release.

“Curcugen has a great potential in key categories of food supplements and functional foods due to its versatile delivery system,” said Mark L. Dewis, Ph.D., President of Natural Product Solutions of IFF, in the press release. “We are happy to include this innovative ingredient in our portfolio of science-based natural ingredients. This enables us to expand our activities in the market for curcumin nutraceuticals in better-for-you products.”

Curgugen is a highly dispersible curcumin ingredient with a 50% curcuminoid concentration produced by patent-pending technology. It contains the three major curcuminoids in their natural ratios, turmeric essential oils, polar resins, and other natural turmeric constituents. A new human bioavailability study, the press release says, shows a significant increase of bioavailability compared to standard extracts.
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“The functional polar resins in Curcugen add significant value to the ingredient, avoiding the common practice of adding non-turmeric bio-enhancers or nanotechnology,” explained Dr. Shavon Jackson-Michel, Director of Medical and Scientific Affairs for DolCas Biotech, LLC, in the press release. “The polar resins are believed to increase the surface area of otherwise clustered curcumin molecules, enhancing their interaction with water. Based on human bioavailability data, this mechanism effectuates a significant increase in absorption. Compared to unformulated curcumin, this results in a bioavailability increase of 39 times for free curcumin, 52 times for total curcuminoids and 31 times for tetrahydrocurcumin, which is the most beneficial and active metabolite. This concept provides a complete picture on the bioavailability of curcumin.”

“We are very excited to team up with IFF Health in the promotion of our clean-label, turmeric-derived Curcugen,” said K.G. Rao, President and CEO of DolCas Biotech, in the press release. “DolCas and IFF Health are both strongly committed to the mission of ‘redefining how we live in and care for the resources of our world’. This mutual effort will not only meet the growing interest in curcumin throughout Europe, but support our commitment to reinvesting in the science behind our ingredients and pave the way to increased market confidence and brand exposure along the way.”