In Florida, Valensa International announced an agreement with Algal Scientific Corporation to commercialize Algal’s PureAlgal branded ingredients – whole dried Euglena gracilis microalgae and purified beta-1, 3-glucan – to offer immune health support for the human health and nutrition markets. Valensa has conducted pilot studies with both ingredients and plans to develop a full-scale, gold-standard clinical trial in early 2017.
PureAlgal Euglena gracilis is a golden yellow powder produced from U.S. grown, non-GMO Euglena gracilis that is free of allergens and contains about 50% beta-1, 3-glucan along with numerous micronutrients, minerals, and vitamins. The Euglena gracilis microalgae are grown indoors in sterile stainless steel tanks with purified water and food-grade fermentation nutrients. Once the algae accumulates 50% beta-glucan by weight, it is filtered and separated from the fermentation broth.
Algal Scientific also produces PureAlgal Beta-Glucan 95% through a water-based, non-solvent, and low temperature extraction process for a 95% concentration of beta-1, 3-glucan.