SupplySide West 2024 live: Gencor presents fermented bioactive Rhodiola alternative

Gencor is showcasing Landkind Pure Salidroside at the ongoing SupplySide West trade show in Las Vegas, US (October 30–31). This ingredient is developed by Gnosis by Lesaffre in a fermentation process that bypasses the need to harvest endangered Rhodiola species. The first fermented salidroside bioactive has clinical data to support its efficacy in sports nutrition. 

On the show floor, Nutrition Insight meets with Christopher Bailey, Ph.D., Gencor’s director of Scientific Affairs, to discuss the ingredient and the company’s partnership with Gnosis by Lesaffre. 

“Landkind Pure Salidroside is not an extract of Rhodiola, but a salidroside powder produced via a proprietary fermentation process. The typical concentration of salidroside in Rhodiola extracts ranges from 1–6% while Landkind Pure Salidroside offers no less than 98%.” 

“This high concentration allows for a greatly reduced material input, with the human clinical trial finding benefits achieved with only 60 mg per day.” 

Although more work needs to be done to better understand Landkind Pure Salidroside’s potential in functional food and beverage applications, he notes that the material “shows promise” for use in capsules, tablets, ready-to-mix powders and stick packs.

Rhodiola alternative

Bailey explains that Rhodiola is recognized for two compounds commonly linked to most of the botanical’s benefits — salidroside and rosavin. The plant and its extracts are commonly marketed for cognition-boosting, relaxing and energizing benefits. 

“Traditionally, Rhodiola has enjoyed a long history of use as an adaptogen. Rather than relying on research in the public domain conducted on conventional Rhodiola extracts, this material boasts a human clinical trial of its own, which is currently being prepared for publication demonstrating improved oxygen uptake.”

However, growing demand and uncontrolled harvesting of the species have led to declining wild populations of the main Rhodiola species. As a result, it was added to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora last year to ensure sustainable harvesting and trade. 

Ramasamy Venkatesh, managing director at Gencor (right) and Christopher Bailey, Gencor’s director of Scientific Affairs (left).Meanwhile, Gnosis by Lesaffre’s fermentation-based alternative to Rhodiola rosea does not rely on wild-harvested plants. 

“Fermentation allows for consistent raw material supply without worry about climate factors that botanicals face, such as drought or extreme heat resulting in crop failure,” highlights Bailey. “Botanicals will continue to have a place in consumer products, but fermentation allows for a great alternative if the botanical supply proves too difficult or expensive.”

Gnosis by Lesaffre distribution deal

Gencor recently partnered with Gnosis by Lesaffre to distribute Landkind Pure Salidroside in the US. Bailey tells us that he had reached out to Gnosis by Lesaffre to learn more about the ingredient and make it available to Gencor’s customers. 

“The ingredient was originally part of a finished product brand that did not do any B2B ingredient sales. During that time, Gnosis acquired the company that had developed the material. Gencor has a longstanding business partnership with Gnosis in India, so it was a natural fit for Gencor to work with Gnosis to represent the material in the US.”

He notes that bioactives like Landkind Pure Salidroside can potentially change the nutraceutical industry. “Brands have a continued need for optimal inventory management-balancing forecasted demand and the ability to meet that growing demand promptly.”

“With climate change impacting the availability and consistent supply of various botanicals worldwide, the ability to readily meet that demand and keep prices stable will become challenging in the coming decades.” 

Gencor will showcase Landkind Pure Salidroside and its other ingredient solutions at booth 4129 at SupplySide West.Women’s health

Gencor is also unveiling newly published clinical data on its Levagen+ solution for women’s health at SupplySide West (booth 4129). 

Levagen+, Gencor’s palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) ingredient, shows promise for various health benefits, from joint health and recovery to stress management, sleep, cognition and skin health. PEA is naturally made in the body in response to injury and stress, but these levels decrease in response to age or exercise-induced inflammation.

“Gencor has continued to invest in research relating to the use of nutraceutical ingredients in women’s health,” adds Bailey. “Currently, Gencor is preparing to publish a study on using Levagen+ for menstrual health.”

The upcoming study on Levagen+ for menstrual health follows several other publications on its health benefits. Earlier this year, Gencor released clinical trial data showcasing its efficacy against eczema, stating that the PEA ingredient “significantly” alleviated dry, red, scaling and itchy skin in topical creams.

Another human clinical trial concludes that Levagen+ can help alleviate discomfort associated with migraine headaches, while research supports its use in active nutrition. A study found that the PEA ingredient significantly improves lower body power but does not interfere with skeletal muscle hypertrophy gains. 

With live reporting by William Bradford Nichols at SupplySide West Las Vegas, US