Beyond color & flavor: Akay introduces Spiceuticals range for functional foods

By Stephen DANIELLS

- Last updated on GMT

Beyond color & flavor: Akay introduces Spiceuticals range for functional foods
India’s Akay Group believes it has made a “breakthrough with spices” and it tries to move the ingredients beyond flavor and color into health and wellness.

Gopi Menon, chief scientific advisor for Akay USA LLC told us: “We want to showcase spices as more than just flavor or color, and with our in-vitro, in-vivo and clinicals (where possible/economical) what we have shown in the five new products is ground breaking.”

Using patent-pending technology the company has developed a blend of functional spice ingredients called ‘Spiceuticals’​, including a curcumin-fenugreek blend, de-coumarinated cinnamon with procyanidins, capsaicinoids, a clove extract, and a gingerol extract.

The ingredients, which are patent-pending and trademarked, said Menon, can be used in a range of food applications, from beverages and bars to nutrition supplements.

According to the company, the ingredients are made from traceable supply-chain sources either grown on Akay’s farm in Cambodia or sourced with traceability and authenticity. The extracts are deodorized, non-spicy, water-soluble, standardized, and GRAS (generally recognized as safe).

The ingredients

The curcumin-fenugreek blend is branded CurQfen, and is a “unique formulation of curcuminiods from turmeric along with galactomannans from fenugreek to enhance bioavailability”​, said the company. The ingredient is formulated for slow release in the colon/intestine.

The de-coumarinated cinnamon with procyanidins ingredient, branded procynCi, is described as a “novel class of cinnamon extract enriched with type A & B Procyanidin oligomers”​.

The capsaicinoid ingredient, Capsifen, is positioned for the weight management market and is claimed to enhance fat metabolism. The sugar-free 100% vegan beadlets of capsaicinoids are safe for intestinal delivery and better absorption, said Akay.

Clovinol – an ‘innovative’ bioavailable antioxidant from clove is position for the oral health market. It may also support liver health, said the company.

The fifth ingredient in the range is Ginginoll, described as a “highly potent anti-inflammatory 6-gingerol extract that may help inflammation, cardiovascular health, immune health, joint health and digestive health”​.

What next?

Menon told is that the company is having initial discussions with US finished product manufacturers, but couldn’t predict when a product containing the ingredients will be launched.

“It depends on interest by consumers,”​ he said. 

Related news

Related products

show more

Revitalize the Citrus Narrative with Corefold™

Revitalize the Citrus Narrative with Corefold™

Content provided by ADM | 02-Sep-2024 | White Paper

Capture the true essence of citrus with ADM's Corefold™ technology! Discover how your brand can create authentic flavor profiles suited for a diverse...

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars