Project description
Dietary antioxidants to reduce oxidative stress
Oxidative stress occurs when the human ability to counteract the harmful effects of reactive oxygen via antioxidants is decreased. It is implicated in many diseases including cancer, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. Astaxanthin is the most effective natural antioxidant found in some algae and in the yeast strain Phaffia. Its market uptake is poor due to low concentration limiting its efficacy coupled with an unpleasant flavour and odour. AstaFerm™ is a proprietary process for producing high-quality concentrated astaxanthin crystals with low odour and neutral flavour from the fermented biomass of yeasts. With EU funding, AstaFerm project members will optimise the extraction process and scale it up for clinical studies along with a commercialisation strategy and supply chain set-up.
Objective
Oxidative stress is an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species and the ability of the human body to counteract their harmful effects through neutralization by antioxidants. Oxidative stress is the major cause of the cellular damage at the basis of age-related diseases, such as atherosclerosis, cancer, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, chronic inflammations, stroke and other degenerative diseases. The best way to reduce oxidative stress is the intake of antioxidants. Astaxanthin (AST) is the most effective natural antioxidant used to quench oxidative stress. However, the efficacy of AST currently available on the market is very low, due to its poor concentration, and only suitable for a limited number of applications due to its unpleasant flavour and odour.
NextFerm offers AstaFerm™, the most effective anti-oxidant dietary supplement made of natural Astaxanthin. AstaFerm™ is an ingredient for dietary supplement composed of an Astaxanthin-rich extract derived from the fermented biomass of yeast strain. AstaFerm™ proprietary process represents the most efficient, innovatory, and sustainable way to produce a natural, high quality and bio-available form of Astaxanthin, with a neutral flavour and odour. The results are highly concentrated AST crystals that can be refined in multiple applications which today are not available on the market.
During the phase 1 project, a go-to-market strategy and a supply chain will be established, as well as further development plan will be drafted. Within the overall innovation project NextFerm will optimise the extraction process of AstaFerm™ before scaling up and perform clinical studies.
Fields of science
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinerheumatology
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinecardiologycardiovascular diseasesarteriosclerosis
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineendocrinologydiabetes
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncology
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicineneurologystroke
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
2069208 YOKNEAM ILIT
Israel
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.