Dolcas and Olene tackle gut health with new ginger root extract
The high potency ginger root extract (Zingiber officinale roscoe), is formulated by Olene Life Sciences and branded as Ginfort.
Extraction process
Ginfort’s proprietary extraction process solves challenges formulators face. According to Dolcas, the ingredient achieves low dose actives, provides high clinical effectiveness, and maintains stability -- all common hurdles developers enclouncter when coming up with effective nutraceutical ingredients.
The bioactive’s blend of food-grade inactives are applied to a base material of solvent-free extracts of ginger oleoresins, which is how the high concentrations are achieved. Additionally, CO2 is used to isolate and enrich the gingeroids and other ginger actives.
“The unique extraction process for Ginfort optimizes the functionality and potency of the oleoresin and other actives in ginger, bringing the millennia-long medicinal uses of ginger to the forefront of science and market development,” said Vivek A. Parachur, co-founder and CEO of Olene.
Ginfort can be applied to powder fills, soft gels and liquid capsules. The possibility of integrating it into lozenges is also being looked at.
Ginger for the gut
Gingerol is the most predominate pungent bioactive compound of ginger. Research suggests that it stimulates digestive enzymes to help improve gastrointestinal issues.
It is also acclaimed for its spasmolytic activity on the gut wall and its capacity to normalize gut motility. The phenolic compound also is noted for its anti-inflammatory and protective role over gastrointestinal membranes and other tissue types.
The digestive health-supporting non-volatile oil components of ginger (gingerols and shogaols) make up less than 3% of fresh ginger. In dried extracts, these actives have only been successfully enriched by 5% to 10%. Higher concentrates have raised concerns over stability as heat exposure and lengthy processing methods irreversibly convert gingerols and shogaols into lesser active paradols.
However, Ginfort’s patented production process is able to concentrate the highly lipophilic gingeroids to 26% standard and simultaneously stabilize them in their respective concentrations without compromising on the free-flowing material.
Dolcas said a new study endorsing Ginfort’s beneficial role in digestion is set to be published in the coming months. “This upcoming study on digestive health will be among many studies trials to be performed on Ginfort, as the clinical possibilities are endless,” said K.G.Rao, DolCas President and CEO.
Teamwork
“An internal commitment to keep our brands commercially relevant through expanding and evolving science portfolios are key elements of our mission, but foundationally it begins with pioneering collaborations — such as we have developed with Olene,” added Rao.
“Given our success with Dolcas in turning Curcugen and Fortiquin into world leaders within the innovative supplement market, it seemed a natural fit to partner with them to bring our Ginfort high purity ginger extract powder into the digestive health market,” explained Parachur.
Dr. Shavon Jackson-Michel, Director of Medical and Scientific Affairs at Dolcas, told NutraIngredients-USA that while no discussions regarding collaborations in 2021 have come up, they’re not ruling it out: “With Olene’s innovation and formulation genius at work and DolCas’ proven track record with positioning these novelties for success – and returning value on the mutually-vested interest – a busy, and ever-evolving market makes the prospect of further collaborations both possible and anticipatable.”
Jackson-Michel added “In the fourth quarter of a tumultuous 2020, and at the crossroads of the most festive, food-centered season, we decided to launch Ginfort as DolCas’ newest patented active, bringing our solution for digestive health to people across the globe.”
Fun fact
Gingerbread dates back to the 15th century, with some historians crediting Queen Elizabeth I of England with the Christmas tradition. The first documented instance of figure-shaped gingerbread biscuits was at the court of Elizabeth I when she had the gingerbread figures made and presented in the likeness of some of her guests.
