Italian botanical ingredients specialist Indena has announced it will present new science-backed healthy ageing solutions at Vitafoods Europe 2026, as demand grows for nutraceutical ingredients that support both longevity and healthy appearance.
The company will use this year's event to showcase Centextra and Purebkale, alongside its established ingredients Quercefit and Ubiqsome.
Together, the portfolio reflects rising market interest in products designed to extend healthspan (the years lived in good health), rather than simply lifespan.
According to Indena, consumer demand is increasingly centred on proactive solutions that support vitality, cognitive function, skin quality and long-term cellular health.
This is creating opportunities for botanical extracts with clinically validated bioactive compounds and targeted delivery technologies.
Centextra will be a key focus at the show. Developed as a Centella Indena Phytosome, the ingredient is designed to support skin firmness, elasticity and restoration.
Derived from Centella asiatica, it contains triterpenoid acids associated with collagen synthesis, antioxidant protection and wound healing support.
Indena added that its proprietary Phytosome delivery technology was used to improve bioabsorption and preserve the activity of these triterpenes.
Preclinical studies showed that Centextra demonstrated enhanced antioxidant activity against reactive oxygen species (ROS), supported a balanced inflammatory response by reducing intracellular IL-6 release, improved cell migration linked to wound healing and helped restore collagen levels following oxidative stress.
The company will also highlight Purebkale, a food-grade botanical extract developed from Brassica oleracea seed samples with naturally high glucoraphanin levels.
Produced exclusively using water as a solvent and supported by an Italian supply chain, Indena added that it is positioning Purebkale for healthy appearance applications.
Clinical evidence shows the ingredient can help protect skin against oxidative stress, contributing to smoother, more radiant-looking skin.
Alongside the two new launches, visitors will also be able to explore Quercefit, a bioavailable quercetin formulation designed to support cellular ageing management and Ubiqsome, a CoQ10 ingredient formulated with Phytosome technology to support cellular energy production and antioxidant defence.
Sustainability will also be central to Indena's Vitafoods message. The company said Centextra is responsibly sourced through supply chains in Madagascar and Sardinia, with full traceability, supplier qualification and environmental risk management embedded across operations.
At the event, Serena Tongiani, Chief Portfolio Officer at Indena, will present "How nature nourishes your inner health and makes it glow: Centextra and Purebkale new allies to preserve your healthy appearance" on 6th May at the New Ingredients Theatre during Vitafoods Europe 2026.