PLT Health brings water-soluble Rhodiolife ingredient to North American market

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PLT Health Solutions Inc. (Morristown, NJ) is now offering a water-soluble version of its Rhodiolife Rhodiola rosea ingredient in North America. Based on a full suite of applications and shelf-life testing conducted by PLT innovation partner, Nektium Pharma, the ingredient will not impact the color or flavor of formulations and the active components of the adaptogen remain stable through processing and ultimate consumer use.

“Beverage formulation is challenging. Nektium Pharma's studies with Rhodiolife and beverage formulations show that it meets industry standards for performance in processing and that color, flavor and the bioactives content are shelf-stable. This means we can now deliver the benefits of Rhodiolife in beverages and other delivery systems," said Devin Stagg, chief operationg officer of PLT Health, in a press release. "The real innovation of this new water-soluble Rhodiolife is that it allows a premium Rhodiola rosea – containing the rosavins and salidroside found in the actual plant root – to be formulated into challenging beverage systems easily and consistently. This will allow faster and more cost-effective product development and ultimately a better consumer experience.”

In studies conducted by Nektium, the firm used a low pH orange flavored formulation, and the introduction of Rhodiolife did not affect the Brix or pH of the orange beverage. They also observed that there was no change in the total rosavins content. Rosavin is one of the main bioactives found in Rhodiola rosea. Previous studies have shown that Rhodiolife’s bioactives – rosavins and salidroside – are resistant to thermal degradation in both powder and aqueous solutions. In Nektium’s latest study, pasteurization had no effect on the physical and sensory properties of the orange beverage.

“Successful beverage formulations require very special performance parameters from their ingredients. Our testing has shown we have accomplished this task,” said Deborah Thoma, marketing manager of Nektium Pharma, in a press release. “We feel that this new form of Rhodiolife can deliver adaptogen benefits into virtually any beverage product – and also into foods that feature the use of aqueous phase production.”