Vitiva launches new rosemary extract

03-Sep-2008 - Last updated on 04-Sep-2008 at 12:41 GMT

Slovenian herbal specialist, Vitiva, has debuted a high-concentrate rosemary extract it says is ideal for functional beverages.

The company says the high-antioxidant ingredient resolves many of the taste, odour and colour issues that have made it difficult for food and beverage makers to incorporate it into the food matrix.

The ingredient builds on Vitiva’s existing range of rosemary extracts that include an organic version that has proved popular cosmeceuticals manufacturers and a lower concentration version that has its biggest market in dietary supplements in the US.

Rosemary time

Its new offering - AquaRox80 – is also suitable for supplements and contains a minimum of 80 per cent rosmarinic acid and is allergen-free.

It is suitable for tablets, soft-gel, clear liquid applications and a variety of food applications.

“Material currently available on the market is usually 10 or 15 per cent,” Vitiva product manageress, Dushka Dimitrijevic, told NutraIngerdients.com. “Because AquaRox80 is highly concentrated it can be used in very small quantities and therefore presents less formulation problems. This is very important because rosemary is very sensitive in terms of where it can be used.”

She said AquaRox80 was better quality, purity and lighter in colour. It comes as a light beige powder but Dimitrijevic said when mixed with water “you get a perfectly clear solution”.

High activity

The fact the ingredient was high-concentration meant “high activity” doses could be attained without formulation issues.

Rosmarinic acid also helps extend shelf life, is used as a food preservative and has organoleptic properties.

Dimitrijevic said the ingredient was ideal for functional waters and juices. “This is where we see potential applications and a potential market. We have already had a lot of interest in the ingredient. We are dealing with clients globally.”

Vitiva launched its original rosemary version, AquaRox, three years ago. Its chief executive officer, Ohad Cohen, highlighted AquaROX80’s flexibility. "I believe our R&D team has designed a powerful antioxidant that can be used in a wide range of applications," he said.

Antioxidants such as those sourced from herbs, fruits and vegetables attack free radicals in the body, which have been linked with the causation of some cancers as well as atherosclerosis.

Vitiva’s rosemary offerings have captured attention because they offer a natural alternative to synthetic alternatives such as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and propyl gallate.