Under the agreement, Croda will examine the ability of Botaneco’s technology platform to improve the stability and versatility of Echium Plantagineum (Echium) oil. Botaneco will provide Croda with material for purposes of chemical and functional analysis, and to determine the viability of a commercial-scale manufacturing process.
Echium oil contains stearidonic acid, which is effectively metabolized to EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), which has been shown to promote heart health and provide anti-inflammatory benefits in both topical and oral formulations.
“This feasibility agreement with Croda demonstrates the breadth of products and opportunities we can offer our customers and partners with Botaneco’s technology platform,” said Andrew Baum, president and CEO of SemBioSys, which owns Botaneco. “We believe that the potential of our platform to improve the stability of oils and other labile materials expand the utility and opportunity for Croda’s Echium oil in food, dietary supplements and personal care applications. We expect to complete the study and provide Croda with a defined process for manufacturing commercial amounts of material by the end of 2008.”