Kerala-based firm holding trials to make turmeric a food supplement

Kochi: Arjuna Natural Extracts Ltd is pinning its hopes on clinical trials of the value-added properties of turmeric for its usage as a food supplement.
The Kerala-based company is carrying out human clinical trials on this spice with the support of Spices Board to promote its value-addition.
PJ Kunjachan, Chairman and Managing Director, said that he is confident of positive results and this would give a major boost to turmeric in developed countries in the food supplement category, which is growing at 15 per cent every year.
He said that turmeric was used usually as a natural colour pigment for food applications and there was no value addition even in the traditional ayurveda due to lack of awareness among people.
However, the good response received by the company for its turmeric extract – BCM 95 – from developed countries has prompted to go for clinical trials, he said.
BCM 95 is a patented formulation of curcumin, the bio active concept of turmeric with anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, he said.
Turmeric can be converted as an ideal health food supplement with some value addition. Even the clinical trials conducted on BCM 95 in association with American and Australian universities have got good response for its usage in pharma and neutraceuticals, he said.
Apart form turmeric extracts, the company also developed amla , green tea, pomegranate, ginger, Omega 3 fatty acid from fish oils, red spinach and mustard. Arjuna is the only company in India to develop Omega 3 fatty acid catering to the requirements of pharmaceutical companies both in India and overseas, he said.
The company has invested Rs. 10 crore at its Keezhmadu R&D centre for the extraction of medicinal values for various botanicals included keezharnelli (Phyllanthus Niruri), insulin plant (Costus Pictus), Bosewellia Serrata.
Arjuna was established in 1992 for spice-related products. Eventually it moved into studying medicinal value of spices and other botanicals.
Today, it has 18 patented products out of which 11 have been commercialised globally. He said 95 per cent of the extracts have been exported to around 40 countries. On future plans, he said that the vision is to convert promising botanical extracts into drugs in association with big pharma companies.