Natreon, a nutritional ingredient company, was granted U.S. Patent (US 9,901,596) for 3-hydroxy-dibenzo-α-pyrone (3-OH-DBP), also known as Urolithin B, a natural bioactive present in shilajit, for prevention and/or treatment of body weight gain. International patents are pending.  
 
Natreon was also issued a U.S. patent (US 8,894,993) in 2014 on a combination of 3,8-dihydroxydibenzo-α-pyrone (3,8-(OH)2-DBP), also known as Urolithin A, or 3-OH-DBP (Urolithin B) and CoQ10/Ubiquinol, as mitochondria-targeted antioxidants for treatment of mitochondrial disorders. 
 
Both DBPs (urolithins) are bioactive components of shilajit, and the fulvic acids in shilajit have the core nucleus made up of DBPs. Shilajit is a mineral-rich substance found in Himalayan and Altai mountain areas and used in Ayurvedic medicine. DBPs are present in shilajit in free form as well as in conjugation with chromoproteins.  
 
There has been a significant amount of research conducted on urolithins recently. One of the most recent theories prevailing is that the ellagitannins from the diet, especially fruits such as pomegranate, are converted to urolithins by the microbiome in the GI tract, which are then absorbed into the blood stream, providing immunity. Natreon’s research at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center has shown that DBPs are present in animal tissue and have significant mitochondrial activity. Natreon is planning clinical studies on these compounds. 
 
Natreon’s scientific research includes process optimization, development of chromatographic analytical methods such as HPLC, HPTLC, GC-MS and LC-MS-MS for standardization, development of marker compounds, and pharmacological studies. Its R&D team is headed by Prof. Shibnath Ghosal, a Fulbright scholar and an eminent natural product chemist with hundreds of publications in scientific journals and a group of Ph.D. and master’s degree level scientists.