€200K Natac research project targets new ingredients from medicinal plants

26 Nov 2021 --- Natac Biotech is embarking on an almost €200,000 (US$225,694) project to garner new knowledge for the potential development of innovative ingredients.

“The key objective of the project is the investigation of new extraction and purification systems for bioactive compounds from medicinal plants of Extremadura [in Western Spain] origin, through the use of food surfactants,” says the Spain-based company.

The INNECIR project will be carried out in collaboration with the Centro Tecnológico Nacional Agroalimentario Extremadura.

INNECIR goals
The project seeks to study surfactants in the extraction processes, potentially substituting the use of organic solvents. The researchers will also explore the improvement of bioaccessibility and bioavailability of new compounds.

“The results to be obtained incorporated into the company will enhance the scientific knowledge of this surfactant-assisted extraction technique, its properties, and its behaviors and potential,” the company highlights.Innovative ingredients are the key focus spurring this research.

“This could facilitate its future attachment in the development of new bioactive plant ingredients with unique characteristics and improved properties.”

Investment in industrial research
The total budget for the project is €192,425.28 (US$ 217,210.85), of which €115,316.53 (US$130,170.02 ) corresponds to eligible investment for industrial research (70% co-financing by European Regional Development Funds). Furthermore, €27,687.38 (US$ 31,247.1) corresponds to eligible investment for experimental development (45% co-financing by ERDF funds).

INNECIR is financed through the call for industrial research and experimental development projects to companies in the autonomous community of Extremadura.

The company has also embarked on a Health4Brain project, for which it has teamed up with Precision For Health and public research institute IMDEA Food. Set to last three years, the Spanish partnership will investigate how personalized nutrition can impact cognitive function – which is especially important for the elderly.

Additionally, Natac Biotech is coordinating a three-year, EU-funded upcycling project called Oleaf4Value which began in July.

It aims to repurpose olive leaves, which are typically wasted throughout the olive oil production chain. It will use advanced isolation and extraction technologies to develop target products for the health, food, feed, cosmetic, pharma and chemical industries.

Edited by Andria Kades

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