French nutraceutical company Seppic has launched a new functional ingredient, CHAGADVANCE.
The standardised organic chaga ingredient is formulated to support a user's immune health, while reducing inflammation and protecting against oxidative stress.
Derived from Inonotus obliquus, CHAGADVANCE is harvested from the forests of Lapland and obtained via a gentle water extraction process.
The nutraceutical is rich in immune health-boosting bioactives — including beta glucans and polyphenols — which are often associated with chaga's anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immune-activating properties.
Functional mushrooms/fungi on the rise
Touted for their wide-spanning benefits in immune health and cognition, functional mushrooms such as lion's mane and reishi have become highly popular amongst consumers.
Chaga, a fungal canker that grows on birch trees, has also soared in popularity, being packed with nutrients and bioactives that support a user's overall health.
In recent years, mushroom extracts have been included in everything from coffees to functional foods and beverages, chocolate bars and supplements — with chaga being a popular ingredient within supplement formulations primarily due to its unpleasant flavour.
However, Seppic has overcome this by creating CHAGADVANCE, which is available in a powder form.
Since the ingredient is efficacious at a low dose, supplement manufacturers can use it in a range of galenic formats and product concepts.
“We created CHAGADVANCE to meet the growing consumer demand for natural and effective immune support solutions," noted Alice Barbier, Seppic's Active Ingredients Product Manager.
"By complementing our current portfolio of nutricosmetics, CHAGADVANCE will help us cater to the lucrative beauty and wellness markets," he concluded.