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Sometimes referred to as vitamin P due to its ability to reduce capillary permeability, hesperidin is a bioflavonoid found in high concentrations in the whitish rinds of citrus fruits such as mandarin, orange or lemon.

Hesperidin has been the focus of many studies due to the numerous physiological functions it exhibits: improvement of capillary flow, reduction of cholesterol and body fat, alleviation of allergy symptoms, etc. Despite those functions, the low water and alcohol solubility of hesperidin has considerably limited its applications.

We have succeeded in developing and commercially producing Alpha Glucosyl Hesperidin (trade name: αG Hesperidin) using our enzyme technology that enables the transfer of a glucose molecule to native hesperidin. The result is a material that is 10,000 times more soluble in water than native hesperidin. This enhanced feature opens the door to skin care, food, beverage and supplement applications.

By improving capillary flow and protecting arterial walls, Alpha Glucosyl Hesperidin can be used in skin care formulations developed to promote skin rejuvenation. Alpha Glucosyl Hesperidin also helps lower blood cholesterol, reduce body fat, improve bone density and provide other health benefits.

The proper absorption of ascorbic acid (AsA) can be enhanced by combining it with Alpha Glucosyl Hesperidin. αG Hesperidin is essential for the proper absorption of AsA by increasing its stability and availability.

Using αG Hesperidin together with other substances makes it possible to solve nearly insoluble flavonoids. One such example is the addition of αG Hesperidin to mandarin orange juice or canned mandarin oranges. When added, αG Hesperidin helps inhibit the formation of crystal deposits of hesperidin on the skin, as well as prevent solutions from becoming turbid as a result of hesperidin precipitation.