ChromaDex Gains Rights to Pterostilbene

IRVINE, Calif.ChromaDex Corp. signed an agreement with the University of Mississippi and the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) Agricultural Research Service to commercially develop pterostilbene for the nutraceutical market. Pterostilbene is chemically related to resveratrol and is found naturally in blueberries, grapes and the bark of some trees; laboratory studies suggest it may help improve cardiovascular health, glucose levels and cognitive function.

Pterostilbene has the potential to be one of the most significant new ingredients the dietary supplement field has seen in a long time, said Frank L. Jaksch Jr., co-founder and CEO of ChromaDex. Based on the technology we licensed from the University of Mississippi and the USDA, ChromaDex will be announcing the commercial application of this ingredient, marketed as pTeroPure pterostilbene, in the coming weeks.

Researchers in the UM National Center for Natural Products Research (NCNPR) have been investigating pterostilbene since the 1990s, working in concert with researchers at other USDA-ARS research centers to determine how the compound affects cellular proteins.

The development of pterostilbene as a potential dietary supplement demonstrates the value of collaborations between the School of Pharmacy, NCNPR and USDA-ARS, said Barbara G. Wells, dean of the UM pharmacy school. These types of projects allow us to share expertise and help solve problems related to the health and well-being of people everywhere, Wells said. We actively seek partnerships with other academic institutions and state and federal agencies, and we are pleased that this particular partnership has yielded such encouraging results.

Walt Chambliss, UM director of technology management, said the licensing agreement with ChromaDex is a good example of how academic research can promote economic development. ChromaDex is just the kind of company we want to work with, Chambliss said. They know the value of our research, and thats the key ingredient in a partnership like this. UM and USDA-ARS researchers working at Ole Miss share a common desire to translate research into commercial products.