Popularly known as the hot garnish wasabi that accompanies sushi, wasabi japonica in its original form is grown in remote regions at exact temperatures and elevations. BioCell claims its ingredient version is particularly high in isothiocyanates (15,000 ppm), which stimulate antioxidative activity and have also been found to promote healthy cellular replication.
"We feel that i-Sabi will find its way into a variety of formulations designed for liver health, detoxification, and immune enhancement," BioCell vice president Suhail Ishaq told NutraIngredients-USA. Biocell Technology has not yet published clinical studies on i-Sabi, but Ishaq said that there are some in the pipeline.
Also known as Asian horseradish, wasabia japonica, is a member of the cruciferous plant family and is a potent source of long chain isothiocyanates. These are natural compounds found in foods such as broccoli, cabbage and watercress, which support phase I and II detoxification in the liver and promote certain immune functions. It has also been suggested that the active ingredients in these foods may increase bone density.
BioCell intends the ingredient for use in dietary supplements and functional foods in the global market.
"I-Sabi is available immediately for purchase as a raw material. said Ishaq.Several leaders in the dietary supplement industry are developing products that contain i-Sabi."The manufacturer says it has taken careful measures to ensure i-Sabi is made from a carefully selected harvest. The root is concentrated and freeze dried to preserve the maximum level of beneficial constituents in i-Sabi.
The wasabi that accompanies sushi in North America is seldom derived from the real, and very expensive, wasabia japonica. Instead, it is usually imitated from a preparation of horseradish, mustard seed, and green food coloring.BioCell's offering is not the first wasabi ingredient to be available to the supplements industry. For instance, Soft Gel introduced its WasabiSol product on an immune system and detoxification platform in 2004. The product, called WasabiSol, is