In addition, the company recently received recognition by the Council of Ecological Agriculture of the Region of Murcia (CAIRM) for an organic grade of Benolea available to its customers.
The olive leaves used for IFF’s unique formulation are harvested in Spain as a side stream of the olive oil industry. The extract is processed locally, at the company’s Murcia facility, to reduce the environmental footprint.
Laetitia Petrussa, PhD, Product Manager for IFF Health unit, says these new certifications endorse the ingredient as a trusted and transparently sourced all-natural product.
“We have focused significant R&D activities on researching the cardioprotective mechanisms of the botanical ingredient and optimizing the formula to promote cardiovascular support at the highest purity, quality, and sustainability standards."
Benolea olive extract is standardised to a potent concentration of polyphenols (30%), with 16-24% oleuropein — the most prevalent phenolic component of olives and extolled as a strong antioxidant that actively contributes to the protection of blood lipids from oxidative stress.
The ingredient undergoes IFF Health’s proprietary EFLA HyperPure technology to guarantee the absence of contaminants as well ensure a consistently concentrated and stable source of polyphenols.
A secondary metabolite of oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, is responsible for the potent antioxidant potential of olive leaves, and carries an Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) value that surpasses other natural antioxidants such as coenzyme Q10 and green tea.
The New York-based global firm says one daily 500mg dose of Benolea contains the equivalent of 20 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil-sourced polyphenols. It is also fully water-soluble and can be integrated into multiple applications, such as softgels, powders, and capsules. It also is certified kosher and halal.