A new Austrian company has developed powerful antioxidant ingredients from germinating cereal seeds. Panamol, exhibiting for the first time at Vitafoods, is introducing a natural vitamin E, vitamin B complex and a wheat germ nutrient.
The company has developed a patented process involving the germination of cereal seeds in an aqueous solution enriched with nutrients. During germination, nutrients are produced in high concentration.
"During the germination process, plants are like a power engine, producing lots of nutrients," explained Sonja Mayer, scientific affairs manager at Panmol. "The energy involved in germination is what makes the ingredients bioactive.You could say our products are living, compared to synthetic ones."
Redox is an oily extract rich in essential fatty acids and natural vitamin E. It is said to have higher antioxidant potential than synthetic vitamin E.
The Panmol B-Komplex is derived from wheat grass and the freshwater algae Spirulina platensis. It contains all the vitamins of the B complex, including B12, as well as trace minerals. Panmol claim to have a monopoly on the market for such a compound.
The products are already available in a number of functional foods and OTC products in Austria, including an immune-boosting supplement made by pharmaceutical company Madaus. Panmol is seeking product developers in other European markets.
"We have had lots of interest from R&D people at the show and made some good contacts here," said Rudolf Dietrich, international business development. "We think our entirely natural and very effective antioxidants have lots of appeal for the functional foods market."
Panmol was established two years ago, following the award of patents and a scale-up on production to produce the ingredients.