The German group says Ferco's GRAP'ACTIVE range, which includes different types of grape seed and grape skin extracts for use in foods, will complement its current antioxidant product, Alipure alpha-lipoic acid.
Numerous studies show that polyphenols fight oxidative stress and protect against cardiovascular problems by avoiding the formation of blood clots or the oxidation of low-density blood lipoproteins.
"Numerous studies have shown that polyphenols have antioxidant effects and this specific product also has a published study supporting its effect on free radical scavenging," Dr Karl-Heinz Zirzow, marketing director of health and nutrition at Degussa Food Ingredients told NutraIngredients.com.
"But we are not reinventing these products, which are already well known. We are trying to target a specific market segment," he added.
Ferco's nutraceutical division extracts polyphenol and proanthocyanidin-rich fractions of quality grapes using a patented process based on water and without any organic solvent.
The gentle extraction process is said to preserve the active substances in grapes and offer a tasteless, highly wettable and completely water-soluble extract. This makes the range ideal for beverages, dairy products and various water-based foods.
"We are not competing with low-priced grape seed extracts for supplements that are extracted using solvents. Our target is primarily the food, and especially beverage market," added Dr Zirzow.
The extracts, which can be provided in colourless form, are well-suited to clear, functional beverages. They contain up to 95 per cent polyphenols, 85 per cent proanthocyanidins and 22 per cent OPCs.
Degussa is hoping to sell volumes of above 10 metric tons in the North American market.
Japan could prove more challenging given the high regulatory demands.