New cucumber extract product Cuvitus to aid muscle and joint health
Several studies on the phytochemical and therapeutic potential of cucumbers have been published in the past decade, and these findings were the basis of XSTO Solutions’ Cutivus, a powder ingredient due to launch next week at Engredea.
“Cuvitus offers a nutritional pathway (from a fruit source) to address aches and pains from temporary overexercise. Well beyond a simple cucumber extract, Cuvitus comes from a proprietary process to capture and deliver the actives for the optimum benefit,” VP of Business Development at XSTO Solutions Dan Murray told NutraIngredients-USA.
An ingredient for tablets
The company partnered with Naturelea of Switzerland—who originally launched the product in Europe and was met with great success—to bring the ingredient stateside.
The product is marketed as an ingredient for capsules and tablets, Murray said. The company is also looking to develop it beyond its current fine liophilized powder format. “We are evaluating various carriers for powder applications to add into beverages, such as a sachet,” Murray added. “We do intend to see a liquid form for use in soft gels in the near future, meaning the next twelve months,”
Murray also said that he can see the neutral-flavored product being used for a finished functional beverage because of its water solubility, “but that’s still down the road and not this year.”
Supplements for active people
Among the studies cited by XSTO Solutions on the efficacy of cucumber extract is a mice study published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine that found that a dose of cucumber inhibited an inflammatory mediator.
“The mode of [Cuvitus’] action involves reducing cytokines like TNF-alpha and several Interleukins,” Murray said, talking about the cytokine known to cause inflammation in the human body when dysregulated.
“We will encourage our marketing partners to stick to the allowable claims involving ‘pain from temporary over exercise’ or ‘temporary strenuous activity,’ meaning activity that would generally be outside of normal daily routine,” Murray added.
“Cuvitus has tremendous potential in sports applications as well as active lifestyle products for adults who may not be in a competitive sport league but may still temporarily exert themselves with travel, gardening, and exercise.”
