Iprona has introduced a European blackcurrant extract for use in products that boost brain health. CurrantCraft is the product of the company’s extraction technique and work to reveal the effect of blackcurrant on cognition and other aspects of health and wellbeing.
Interest in blackcurrant products has increased in recent years, the company says, as researchers have linked the fruit, which is rich in anthocyanins, polyphenolic substances, antioxidants, and vitamin C, to a range of positive effects. Clinical studies have reportedly shown the fruit supports markers of cognitive performance and is associated with reduced anxiety and fatigue and increased alertness. Other studies have linked the fruit to effects on sport performance, cardiovascular health, and eye health. The evidence has created a need for standardised blackcurrant extracts that provide the consistent quantities of anthocyanins needed to deliver the desired effects, Iprona says. Using the expertise and infrastructure behind its successful ElderCraft and CherryCraft extracts, the company has now produced a blackcurrant extract.
“We have tracked the clinical validation of blackcurrant in recent years with interest,” said Stephan Breitenberger, CEO of Iprona. “The science has now advanced to the point that we see a clear need for a standardized extract manufactured using a solvent-free production method and vertically integrated European supply chain. We look forward to working with our customers to use the extract to create products that improve health and wellbeing.”
Production of CurrantCraft starts with the Blackdown variety of blackcurrant. The company works with a cooperative of French farmers in the Loire valley to procure the berries, which are extracted using a solvent-free proprietary process.
The resulting extract comes from a traceable supply chain and is suitable for use in dosage forms including capsules, gummies, sachets, and effervescent tablets. This formulation flexibility enables manufacturers to bring the benefits of blackcurrants to their customers in a range of dosage forms tailored to the needs of different consumers, Iprona says.
