R&D
Developing high value-added health functional food and functional
cosmetics using new natural materials.
Research area
Naturetech researches a wide range of functional materials derived from natural products materials, including aloe, and continuously conducts R&D on health functional food and functional cosmetics using these materials.
For the development of natural materials, our research institute has established the Phytologix infrastructure and is operating and expanding C&D (Connect & Development) networks through joint research with government-funded research institutes and university research institutes.
To commercialize health functional food and functional cosmetics, we systemically conduct efficacy evaluations, perform stability studies, and develop optimized formulations.
Direction of Promoting the Development of
New Natural Materials
Developing high value-added health functional food and functional cosmetics using new natural materials.
Research into Functional Materials
- Research into new materials in connection with C&D
- Research into functionality
- Research into action mechanism
- Acquiring specific authorization from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety
Evaluation of functionality and stability
- Human clinical trial
- Toxicity testing and safety research
Standardization of raw materials
- Research into raw material production process
- Research into raw material standardization
- Development of analytical methods for active ingredients
Research into new formulations
- Development of customized product formulations
- Research into formulation stability
Research into product quality improvement
- Research into the stability of product quality indicators
- Research into securing product safety
Objectives of New Natural Material R&D
Fuctional food Materials development
- Functional food materials development
- Development of materials and products for the prevention of metabolic diseases
- Development of functional composite materials
- Development of technology to enhance functionality
Fuctional Cosmetics Materials development
- Development of materials and products for patients with atopic dermatitis and for moisturizing cosmetics
- Development of whitening materials and cosmetics
- Development of functional cosmetics for hair-loss prevention
- Development of functional cosmetics for acne cleansing
Customized development by materials
- Development of stick jelly formulation
- Development of moisture-proof coating formulation
- Development of film-coating formulation
- Development of natural pigment coating formulation
- Development of enteric-coated tablet formulation
Phytologix
Phytologix is a technology platform that identifies and studies bioactive compounds in natural products
to develop proprietary ingredients for functional products.
What is Phytologix?
Research into natural products, which began with aloes, has expanded into various medicinal plants. The concept of ‘Phytologix’ was first introduced in 1999 when our existing library was screened to identify cyclooxygenase(COX) inhibitors for the development of materials supporting joint function.
Phytologix is a technological platform that identifies and researches unique bioactive compounds inherent in natural products. Through this platform, we develop natural products into our own proprietary standardized extracts and apply them as new materials for functional cosmetics, health functional food, and medicines.
Phytologix comprises three fundamental building blocks:
1. Natural product library
2. Dereplication and informatic database
3. Screening based on bioactive testing
Project
Using the Phytologix platform, we identified unique bioactive natural products and developed our own proprietary ingredients for functional cosmetics, functional food, and pharmaceutical products.
Through the first screening project, we discovered Univestin, a unique proprietary ingredient that is now produced and sold in eight countries around the world, including the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and the UK.
Supported by 52 global patents and 23 third-party validation publications, Univestin has been established as a key ingredient for world-famous joint improvement brands.
Over the past 15 years, more than 5 billion dosages of Univestin have been used across 36 brands of dietary products and health functional food produced by 28 companies.
The second project was to search more than 2,000 plant species to identify tyrosinase inhibitors. Through this exploration, 64 active extracts were obtained, and six active natural materials, along with the single compound UP302 (nibitol), which was one of the strongest tyrosinase inhibitors identified in 2003, were discovered.
An exclusive contract for UP302 was signed with Estée Lauder, and it was commercialized in 15 global skin-tone improvement brands. Nibitol became the first ingredient to be registered in China after the CFDA regulation changes in 2010.
