In a groundbreaking discovery, New Zealand's cGP Lab has identified a dipeptide, cyclic glycine-proline (cGP), in the country's blackcurrants that is showing promise in enhancing brain health. This finding positions New Zealand blackcurrants ahead of their international counterparts in terms of potential health benefits, particularly in cognitive support. However, the benefits are not derived from consuming the fruit directly but through a specialized extraction process.
The cGP Lab, a New Zealand-based enterprise, has developed three products that incorporate cGP from local blackcurrants, aiming to improve cognition, energy, and alertness. Jim Grierson, a former grower and co-founder of cGP Lab, emphasized the unique properties of New Zealand blackcurrants in supporting brain health through these products.
This innovation stemmed from over three decades of research by Auckland University's Jian Guan, who, after meeting with Grierson and co-founder David Eder, embarked on a quest to explore the relationship between blackcurrants and cGP. Their research not only pinpointed the location of cGP within the fruit but also identified the optimal method for extracting it to achieve the greatest efficacy.
Comparative studies involving blackcurrants from major producing regions, such as Ukraine, Poland, and other European countries, alongside 31 different fruits and vegetables, have shown New Zealand blackcurrants to contain the highest levels of cGP. Guan's research further demonstrated the ability of cGP supplements to cross the blood-brain barrier, offering potential benefits to Parkinson's patients.
The superior efficacy of New Zealand blackcurrants is attributed to the country's unique growing conditions, including its climate, soil quality, and the specific challenges posed by its environmental conditions. These factors collectively contribute to the fruit's high antioxidant activity and anthocyanin content, essential for the production of cGP supplements.
Despite the small volume of fruit required for cGP extraction, this has generated a specialized demand, enhancing the value for growers. Blackcurrants NZ's Hamish McFarlane highlighted the climatic advantages New Zealand offers, leading to blackcurrants with unmatched color, flavor, and health-promoting properties.
The industry, while currently modest in size, sees potential for growth through the exploration of new health benefits associated with blackcurrants, fostering a more stable market. The majority of New Zealand's blackcurrant harvest is exported, with significant portions going to Japan and China, and the domestic market utilizing the fruit for concentrates, extracts, and powders.
Source: Farmers Weekly