Archive for June, 2010
Jun
24 2010

NutritionalFinds to Sell Maritech’s Seaweed Extract Joint Blend in North America

NutritionalFinds.com, a division of Natural Discoveries LLC, announced that they have been granted the exclusive rights to represent Maritech® Joint Blend bioactive for nutraceutical applications in North America. Maritech® Joint blend is a proprietary, certified organic combination of 3 unique fucoidans extracted from seaweed which has been clinically proven safe and effective for reducing the symptoms of osteoarthritis. NutritionalFinds will promote Maritech® as a trademarked raw material for joint health in the U.S. and Canadian markets.

Recent human clinical research (Biologics: Targets & Therapy 2010:4 33-44) conducted at Southern Cross University NatMed Research Centre demonstrated that the natural seaweed extract can reduce osteoarthritis symptoms in some patients by up to 52%. Fucoidans are bioactive polysaccharides thought to be responsible for many of the health benefits attributed to brown seaweeds such as wakame.

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Jun
23 2010

New Department of Marine Biotechnology and Institute of Fluorescence at UMBC, Baltimore, Maryland

From: Freeman Hrabowski, President, and Elliot Hirshman, Provost

We are delighted to announce the formation of the Department of Marine Biotechnology and the Institute of Fluorescence within the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences.  These exciting additions, which stem from the reorganization of the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, enhance and expand UMBC’s capacity in the campus priority areas of research infrastructure and environment and sustainability. In addition, our students will benefit from wide-ranging educational opportunities within these innovative research programs.

Both groups will continue to be based at the Columbus Center in downtown Baltimore, and USM is transferring budgetary support for associated faculty, staff and operating costs.  The Columbus Center houses state-of-the-art research facilities, including a 16,200 m 2 fully-contained, recirculating marine aquaculture facility, a versatile high-volume fermentation facility, a fully functional Biosafety level-three suite and a wide array of advanced molecular and biotechnology instrumentation including digital holographic microscopy.

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Jun
23 2010

Chitin in anti-aging formulations

Technical paper by author Yash Kamath: Skin aging leads to decline in its functions such as increase in trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), decrease in the production of collagen,elastin and the extracellular matrix (ECM). The overall effect is the thinning of the skin, dryness, and wrinkling. The ECM acts as a material transport medium for the cellular entities like the keratinocytes in the epidermis and fibroblasts in the dermis. Environmental factors damage the skin chemically by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radicals.

The protection of skin from these insults requires a group of actives consisting of cell protectants, antioxidants, and immunomodulant compounds. In this technical paper the authors have found that the concoction of these ingredients in the form of an emulsion works much better when chitin nanocrystals (nanofibers) are added. A number of factors indicative of anti-aging effects, such as fibroblast proliferation, collagen increase, ATP production etc. are significantly improved by the addition of chitin. The effect is attributed to the biocompatibility of products of chitin breakdown. It can promote the synthesis of hyaluronic acid. Penetration of chitooligomers generate glucosamine and N-acetyl-glucosamine which are incorporated into the ECM by phosphorylation.

Source: “Cosmetic science in skin aging: Achieving the efficacy by the chitin nano-structured crystallites”, P. Morganti et al., SOFW-Journal, 136, 14-24 (2010)

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Jun
04 2010

Bayou La Batre Breaks Ground on Seafood By-Product Processing Facility

Members of the Gulf Coast Agricultural and Seafood Co-op, along with elected officials and guests, break ground today on an eco-friendly seafood by-product processing facility that will ultimately provide products for commercial application to the fertilizer, poultry and pharmaceutical industries. The facility will also create new jobs in Bayou La Batre, Ala.

In 2009, the U.S. Department of Commerce jointly awarded the Alabama Farmers Market Authority and the Mobile County Commission a $3.2 million grant to help pay for the facility. Total cost of the project due for completion in January 2011 is $6 million.

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Jun
03 2010

Seafood Byproduct Seminar in Ireland mid June

The Irish Farmers Assoiciation (IFA) Aquaculture and the Irish Sea Fisheries Board, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM)’s Aquaculture division will host a special seminar in the Sheraton Hotel, Athlone on June 16, starting at 11.00am.

The seminar will be open to all seafood processors and aquaculture operators and will look at the two main issues on by-products through specialist talks and discussions: 1. Regulationof by-products and 2. Options and opportunities for disposal / sale.

Options for the industry for alternatives to rendering of seafood by-products are gradually coming on stream, including incineration, composting, anaerobic digestion and transformation into technical products. All of these areas will be looked at in detail at the seminar.

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