Innovation in research and development (R&D) would help easy identification of plant sterols in fruits like cranberry. According to a panel of nutraceutical scientists, plant sterols are known for their health benefits.
Nutra India Summit’s ninth essay, which concluded in Bengaluru recently, featured a session on R&D innovation in ingredients. It was chaired by Dr V G Dhanakumar, director, Indian Institute of Plantation Management (IIPM), Bengaluru, and Dr Deepak Dave, medical director, Kasturba Health Society and Medical Research Centre.
The speakers for the session were Dan Souza, senior director, sales and marketing, Naturex-DBS, USA; Dr Jatinder Rana, senior principal research scientist, analytical sciences, Amway R&D, USA; Dr David Cai, senior regional manager, scientific marketing, regulatory and external affairs, BASF (Asia), human nutrition (ENH), nutrition and health, China, and Dr Jagadish Mittur, head, biotech facilitation centre, KBITS.
Speaking on the benefits of cranberry for prostrate and urinary tract health, Souza said that the fruit’s juice was known to control urinary tract infections. He added, “Cranberries inhibit the growth of the bacteria which inhibits the cause of the disease. DBS is the first company to use cranberry to promote health.”
“Cranberry extracts are not used because of the adulteration But it was found that several commercial extracts were approved after proof was provided that the extract used was cranberry,” he added.
“It should have the standardised Proanthocyanidins (PAC) value. The extract should be adhesive to E coli. It should clinically show the reduction of UTI and be safe,” Souza stated.
“A study was conducted on 319 college girls for a period of six months with the cranberry juice to diagnose UTI. The results showed that it did not have any effect on the bacteria. The effect was only seen when the PAC was removed from the extracts of cranberry fruit,” he added.
Dr Rana said technological advances have seen a sea change in the screening and extraction of the ingredients.
“For example, fresh herbs are modified to dried herbs, further modified to tincture herbs and finally standardised to a phyto-medicines. Globally, considerable focus is on the cultivation of botanical ingredients,” he added.
Dr Cai, who spoke on ‘Heart-healthy ingredients for Indians’, highlighted the use of plant sterols in controlling cholesterol levels.
“Plant sterols are natural components of the human diet. They are independent of the fat content of foods. They are used in cheese, yoghurt drinks, etc., which decrease the total cholesterol level,” he added.
An eight-week experiment was conducted in which 1.8g/d of plant sterols, along with physical exercises, resulted in a decrease in the cholesterol level.
Most Asian countries have approved the legislation of plant sterols, which would increase opportunities for value addition to foods.
