Mibelle gains EFSA safety approval for skin beauty ingredient

Published: 3-Aug-2023

Produced by an in-house developed callus cell culture technology, the ingredient is now available across Europe for use in food supplements

Mibelle Biochemistry's skin beauty ingredient PhytoCellTec Md Nu has gained EFSA safety approval as a novel food. This ingredient is now made available across Europe for use in food supplements. 

PhytoCellTec Md Nu is a biomass from cultured callus cells derived from an edible Swiss apple variety, Uttwiler Spätlauber. This powder ingredient is produced by using a breakthrough sustainable in-house developed technology. 

The first seedling of this Uttwiler Spätlauber apple (Malus domestica) was planted in the middle of the 18th century. What makes it special is the excellent storage characteristics this apple has. Over the long winter months, the skin of the Uttwiler Spätlauber does not shrivel, in contrary to other apple varieties. This apple may have some special anti-aging and longevity factors that lead to this incredible storage characteristics (up to 9 month) and anti-ageing properties. 

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The name "Spätlauber" (Spät= late, Lauber = foliage) is derived from the ability of this old apple variety not to shed its leaves and fruits until winter. Uttwil is the name of a Swiss village where this special variety has been discovered first. 

Today there are only few Uttwiler Spätlauber trees left. This variety has in fact been put on the list of endangered plants by the Swiss National Action Plan for the Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources in Food and Agriculture (NAP-PGREL). It is also on the preservation list of the Swiss foundation ProSpecieRara, an organisation dedicated to the preservation and promotion of endangered plants and animal species. 

Mibelle Biochemistry has developed the unique ingredient PhytoCellTec Md Nu using the unique characteristics of this apple variety. As the limiting factor is the availability of the apples, this innovative, highly sustainable technology called PhytoCellTec has been developed. It allows to produce larger quantities of high-quality biomass with the use of only one tiny piece of apple. 

The water-soluble product will be available in the European markets soon and is a great addition to the existing beauty and anti-aging portfolio of Mibelle Biochemistry. It allows a new approach within the anti aging and skin-beauty space, which is different to the so far established ingredients such as collagen peptides, polyphenols and vitamins. 

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