Naturex gets US patent for Fraxinus excelsior seed extract for MetS

27-Nov-2012 - Last updated on 28-Nov-2012 at 14:08 GMT

The US Patent and Trademark Office has approved a patent for Naturex for its Fraxinus excelsior seed extract for combating metabolic syndrome by improving blood sugar regulation.

US patent number 8,293,292, “Extract of Fraxinus excelsior seeds and therapeutic applications therefor”, relates to novel secoiridoids that have been isolated from the seed extract of Fraxinus excelsior (common name Ash).

Fraxinus excelsior is a tree in the Oleaceae family and is more commonly known as “common ash” or “European ash” in the countries of temperate Asia and Europe. This tree is also widely distributed throughout the south-eastern region of Morocco where Naturex operates a large extraction facility.

MetS

The French company has developed FraxiPure, and launched it in 2007. The ingredient supplier is positioning the extract as an ingredient for supplements targeting metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a condition characterised by central obesity, hypertension, and disturbed glucose and insulin metabolism. The syndrome has been linked to increased risks of both type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Fifteen percent of adult Europeans are estimated to be affected by MetS, while the US statistic is estimated to be a whopping 32%. Obesity is established to be the main risk factor for MetS.

Marc Roller, scientific director, Naturex, told NutraIngredients-USA they are conducting scientific studies, and a paper was published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology (Vol. 126, pp. 226-232), which reported that FraxiPure reduced the glycemia by 9% in a double blind, randomized, crossover, placebo controlled study in healthy volunteers.

“Our patent describes a unique extraction and isolation process to obtain an extract mainly standardized to two novel compounds: nuzhenide and GI3,” said Roller.

“It also discloses the significant effect of FraxiPure to control glycemia levels in people suffering from metabolic syndrome. People with metabolic syndrome have an increased long-term risk for developing type-2 diabetes.”

Roller added that the ingredient is not listed GRAS, “however it is listed in several lists of ingredients sold in the American market before October 1994 and are therefore it is not considered as ‘new dietary ingredient’.”

Indeed, the ingredient can be formulated into capsules, tablets, softgels as well as functional ingredients and comes as a powder, said the company.