The Canandaigua Wine Company has received a patent, in connection with its Polyphenolics business, for its new manufacturing extraction process. The process is designed to give its MegaNatural Gold Grape Seed Extract greater bioavailability and solubility.
Canandaigua claims its process - patent no. 6,544,581 - gives the extract a much lower average molecular weight than any other grape seed extract on the market, therefore increasing its heart-healthy benefits.
The company also claims the lower molecular weight makes MegaNatural easier for the body to absorb, improving its bioactivity and its ability to prevent LDL oxidation. In addition this attribute is claimed to make the extract highly water soluble, making it well-suited for beverage applications.
"We are extremely pleased with this innovation," explained Anil Shrikhande, president of Polyphenolics, "since this process allows us to use an aqueous extraction of procyanidins from grape materials without the use of organic solvents used by other processors."
Ron Martin, vice president of sales, added: "This puts us in the unique position of being able to provide our customers with a consistent, high quality product that yields better cardiovascular protection per gram than other similar products on the market."
The patented process isolates and concentrates the bioactive phenolic and flavonoid substances in the rubired and white varietal grape seeds used in the process. This powdered extract reportedly contains phenols at a concentration several times that found in commercial concord grape juice.
Polyphenolics markets its ingredients to the pharmaceutical, nutritional and beverage industries.