Exclusive Arrangement to Purchase Plant Extract Recognized for Its Health Benefits

The Glyconutritional leading company has announced it has entered into an exclusive arrangement with Swiss-based Lonza to purchase and market worldwide a beneficial dietary fiber harvested from the American larch tree.

The agreement stipulates that the Glyconutritional leading company will be the only company allowed to purchase the fiber, arabinogalactan, from Lonza when it is to be used in nutritional supplements containing any two of the following ingredients: naturally derived gums and resins, aloe extract, algal extract or glucosamine.

Currently Lonza is only firm harvesting the soluble and odorless fiber, arabinogalactan, from the American larch. Known as one of the fastest-growing trees in North America, the larch was a staple among early Native Americans, who used the tree's resin, leaves and bark for medicinal food and cosmetic applications. Arabinogalactan, which is the most abundant ingredient in the formulated "blend" of Glyconutrients, contains dietary sugars shown to benefit the immune system.

"Because arabinogalactan derived from the American larch exists in much higher concentrations than the protein-bound arabinogalactan found in minimal quantities in many other plants, it can be extracted from the cell lumen in its natural state by soaking the wood chips in water. Unlike other processes that use chemicals to extract arabinogalactan from plants, Lonza uses a patented process that utilizes only steam and water. "

"Literature and historical archives note that Native Americans benefited from using portions of the American larch to improve health. Some tribes concocted tea from the tree's bark for use as a laxative, tonic and diuretic. Others used the bark and resin to wash wounds, to bathe children to make them strong or as an infusion for colds and tuberculosis. The Thompson Indians mixed the tree's resin with fat to treat sores, cuts and burns. Lewis and Clark noted the larch tree in their journals during their 1804-06 expedition of the Western United States."

Medical research acknowledges that eight glyconutrient sugars are needed at the cellular level for optimum immune system function. Considering that six of these glyconutrients are often lacking in modern diets, the Glyconutritional leading company sought new and better sources of the nutrients. The effort culminated in 1996 with the Glyconutritional blend.

Ten years of research, including in vitro studies, animal studies, human case reports and small human clinical studies suggest the Glyconutritional blend provides a wide range of support for immune system functions. More than 20 patents worldwide -- including one from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office -- have been issued for technology related to the Glyconutritional formulation.