New study demonstrates bioavailability of novel curcuminoid ingredient Curcugen

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DolCas Biotech LLC (Landing, NJ) announced the results of a pharmacokinetic study¹, demonstrating the bioavailability of its Curcugen ingredient. The patent-pending curcuminoid formulation, 98.5% of which is derived from turmeric and concentrated to 50% curcuminoids, was compared to a standard curcuminoid product which is a 95% extract of curcuminoids. Curcugen is touted for its improved absorption kinetics because the curcuminoids in the product are co-extracted with turmeric-native polar-resins. Not highly purified from the semi-solid oleoresin states wherein curcuminoids, resins, and essential oils naturally cohabitate, the curcuminoid analogues (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin) present in Curcugen reflect a preserved “food state” ratio.

In the randomized double-blind, 2-way crossover, single oral dose, comparative bioavailability study, 17 healthy male subjects were given either Curcugen or the standard curcuminoid product over two study periods. Blood samples were taken one hour prior to product administration and right before product administration, then 00.25, 00.50, 01.00, 01.50, 02.00, 02.50, 03.00, 03.50, 04.00, 06.00, 08.00, 12.00, 16.00 and 24.00 hours post dose. These blood samples were tested for free curcumin, total curcumin, total demethoxycurcumin (DMC), total bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC), and total curcuminoids respectively; and the bioactive metabolite of curcumin, total tetrahydrocurcumin (THC) to determine the products’ absorption.

Results showed that maximum concentration (Cmax), area under the curve (AUC0-t) of free curcumin was 16.1 times and 39 times higher, respectively, for subjects taking Curcugen compared to those taking the standard curcuminoid product. The free curcumin analysis is a direct measurement of the proportion of curcumin ingested that is absorbed across the intestinal barrier and found intact in the plasma. “While Curcugen is not the first curcuminoid ingredient to assess for free curcuminoids, it is one of the first to assess it within the context of a pharmaceutically-aligned study protocol,” said Shavon Jackson-Michel, ND, director of medical & scientific affairs for DolCas, in a press release. “Dispersion was the principle mechanism enacted to overcome the challenge of curcuminoid absorption.”

AUC0-t for total curcumin, total DMC, total BDMC, and total curcuminoids was 49.5-, 43.5-, 46.8-, and 52.5-fold higher in subjects taking Curcugen, compared to the standard curcuminoid product, and total THC was 31 times higher for subjects taking Curcugen. “Curcuminoid bioavailability also was assessed over a 24-hour period — a rarity among studies backing other bioavailability-enhanced curcumin formulations on the market,” Jackson-Michel points out. “The 24-hour assessment, evidenced a primary peak of enhanced free curcumin at approximately 1.5-2 hours after intake; a moderately high second peak at about 8-hours post intake; and low but notably higher plasma levels over the duration of the 24 hours when compared to [the standard curcuminoid product].”

“With peer-reviewed scientific evidence of enhanced bioavailability for a clean, full-spectrum formulation patented by Olene Life Sciences, plus recently acquired expert conclusion of safety for use in foods and combined with a native turmeric-derived dispersion mechanism, Curcugen is positioned to be among the leading brands in the turmeric category for food, beverage and dietary supplement actives,” said DolCas CEO K. G. Rao, in press release.

Reference

1. Panda SK et al. “The enhanced bioavailability of free curcumin and bioactive-metabolite tetrahydrocurcumin from a dispersible, oleoresin-based turmeric formulation.” Medicine, vol. 100, no. 27 (2021)