Capros®

The Indian gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica), also known as amla, has been used for thousands of years in traditional Indian medicine as an effective detoxifier and rejuvenator. Harvested in the autumn, this ancient superfruit has a bitter-sour taste and is widely recognized as one of the most important fruits in Ayurvedic medicine.

To assist consumers around the globe in realizing its health benefits, Natreon Inc. (NatreonInc.com) developed Capros®, a patented ingredient (U.S. Patent No. 6,124,268; other U.S. and foreign patents and patents pending) derived from a highly purified and standardized extract of Indian gooseberry. The fruit undergoes a rigorous selection and quality control process to ensure the highest bioactive components and antioxidant levels are maintained; extracts are taken using a patented water-based process, which yields an amla product distinctively different in composition, activity, stability and consistency.

Capros is standardized to deliver at least 60 percent bioactive tannins, which provide the ingredient’s cascading antioxidant effects—its metabolites themselves have antioxidant properties. Research conducted at Natreon’s India R&D Center explored the cascading antioxidant effect of Capros, finding in three different radical generation systems that the hydrolysable gallotannin Emblicanin-A could be transformed into Emblicanin-B during radical scavenging, without altering the antioxidant profile. Further, the transformation was dose-dependent with increasing radical concentrations.

The antioxidant activity of Capros is also covered under U.S. patent (No. 6,362,167 B1), which discusses a method of blocking free radical processes in animals without deleterious pro-oxidant side reactions, as can be seen with compounds such as ascorbic acid. In fact, another U.S. patent (No. 6,235,721 B1) noted Capros can stabilize vitamin C in a synergistic composition. Interestingly, while amla has been promoted as a rich source of vitamin C, Natreon research has established the fruit is, in fact, devoid of vitamin C, with its bioactive emblicanins providing the antioxidant activity.

Natreon has also done comparative research looking at the antioxidant activity of Capros compared to other amla ingredients and other nutritional compounds. Two such investigations explored the influence of gallic acid on the antioxidant impact of Capros and generic amla. For the in vitro trial, the research team compared low-molecular-weight, hydrolysable tannoids (LMwHT) and gallic acid content and antioxidant effects; Capros had lower levels of gallic acid and higher LMwHT, while the inverse was true for the generic amla extracts, with the gallic acid supporting high ORAC test results. However, there have been concerns about the bioavailability of gallic acid and efficacy in vivo, which was tested by Natreon’s team in an oxidative stress model in rats. Capros had significantly greater antioxidant protection, increasing levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) to a greater degree than regular amla across all antioxidant assays tested.

Additional studies at Natreon’s R&D center in Kolkata, India, compared the antioxidant effects ex vivo and in vivo of Capros, French maritime pine bark extract, grape seed extract and pomegranate. In three ex vivo experimental models, Capros showed similar results to pomegranate; in two models, it had better antioxidant capacity than the pine bark and grape seed extracts. In the in vivo chronic oxidative stress mouse model, animals treated with Capros showed distinct improvement in antioxidant status compared to mice treated with the other ingredients. A follow-up study explored possible antioxidant synergy between Capros and pomegranate extract, uncovering a moderate synergism in four in vitro screening systems (ABTS assay, DPPH assay, FRAP assay and ORAC); there was also moderate synergism in some ex vivo experiments.

Further Natreon studies show Capros exerts antioxidant activity in a number of areas, including: as a general antioxidant; chelating iron- and copper-induced oxidative stress; inhibiting matrix metalloproteases; stimulating dermal protein synthesis; inhibiting tyrosinase and peroxidase activity (topical); and inhibiting aldose reductase activity.

Additional trials also support Capros’ antioxidant effects in the body. In one randomized, open-label, parallel-group controlled study, adults (n=58) with type II hyperlipidemia received Capros (250 mg/d or 500 mg/d) for six weeks. At study’s end, researchers found intervention positively influenced the lipid profile, reducing both serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, with no significant dose-dependent effect. Capros was well-tolerated at both levels of intake.

The most recent trial examined whether prolonged administration of Capros could improve the antioxidant profile of rats that were chronically exposed to cigarette smoke and had altered health status. Capros exerted more powerful antioxidant effects than a combination multivitamin/mineral intervention, and also helped increase systemic levels of glutathione-S-transferases (GST), a powerful endogenous antioxidant.

Published research also supports the use of Capros in cosmeceutical products, where it can help protect the skin from the damaging effects of free radicals (Skin Pharmacol Appl Skin Physiol. 2002;15:374-80). It appears suitable for use in anti-aging, sunscreen and general-purpose skin care products.

As Indian gooseberry is one of the original “superfruits,” including it in formulations can help marketers tap into consumer interest in the burgeoning superfruit category. Capros can be used in a range of applications, including dietary supplements and cosmeceutical products. It is also highly water soluble, easing its inclusion in functional foods and beverages, and is self-affirmed GRAS (generally recognized as safe). Moreover, Capros has excellent stability as seen when tested in aqueous systems for 12 months at 45°C.