AUSTIN, Texas (November 8, 2016) — VDF FutureCeuticals, Inc. has adopted coffee fruit (Coffea spp., Rubiaceae) through the American Botanical Council’s (ABC’s) Adopt-an-Herb program. This program provides support to ABC’s HerbMedPro database, a comprehensive, interactive online tool that provides access to important scientific and clinical research data on the uses and health effects of more than 250 herbs.

Distinct from traditional coffee bean preparations, coffee fruit contains higher levels of phenolic acids and antioxidative compounds than other so-called “super fruits.” Through FutureCeuticals’ generous support, ABC ensures that new, up-to-date scientific publications related to coffee fruit are entered into the extensive HerbMedPro database in a timely manner.

“For many years, ABC has been a major thought leader and contributor to a higher road within the natural foods and dietary supplement industries,” said John Hunter, FutureCeuticals’ executive vice president. “We have long respected and admired Mark Blumenthal, whose groundbreaking crusades for better standards to test botanical identity and improved manufacturing practices are well known to us all. His campaigns against botanical adulteration have led to important industry changes. Naturally, when we were invited to participate in the Adopt-an-Herb program by sponsoring coffee fruit, we were very pleased.”

“ABC is deeply grateful to the folks at FutureCeuticals for adopting coffee fruit on ABC’s HerbMedPro database,” said Mark Blumenthal, ABC founder and executive director. “This adoption will allow ABC compilers and database editors to stay abreast with any and all recent scientific publications on coffee fruit, the abstracts for which are publicly accessible.”
 

About Coffee Fruit

Coffee fruit, which is the fruit of the coffee tree, provides low levels of caffeine, high levels of phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity, and riboflavin. Coffee fruit refers to the whole cherry, which includes the bean. Research on coffee fruit currently explores its antioxidant properties, effects on brain function, and effects on athletic performance. Preliminary clinical studies have shown that an extract of coffee fruit stimulates the production of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), a neuroprotein known to be central to brain health. Additionally, a whole coffee fruit powder was shown to increase levels of Nrf2, a transcription factor known to regulate expression of antioxidant proteins that promote healthier aging and protect against oxidative damage.

About FutureCeuticals, Inc. 

Built upon deep agricultural roots, FutureCeuticals supplies and manufactures ingredients for the dietary supplement, functional foods, and cosmetics industries. The company is committed to creating a simplified supply chain, which includes being a leader in research and development, delivering the highest-quality raw materials, and providing material transparency via customer-centric quality programs. FutureCeuticals owns a number of brands including its proprietary Coffeeberry brand line of powders, extracts, and concentrates made from coffee fruit.
 

About Adopt-an-Herb and HerbMedPro

FutureCeuticals is one of 40 companies that have supported ABC’s educational efforts to collect, organize, and disseminate reliable, traditional, science-based, and clinical information on herbs, medicinal plants, and other botanical- and fungal-based ingredients through the Adopt-an-Herb program. This program encourages companies, organizations, and individuals to “adopt” one or more specific herbs for inclusion and ongoing maintenance in the HerbMedPro database. To date, 45 herbs have been adopted.

Each adopted herb is continuously researched for new scientific articles and pharmacological, toxicological, and clinical studies, ensuring that its HerbMedPro record stays current and robust. The result is an unparalleled resource not only for researchers, health professionals, industry, students, and consumers, but for all members of the herbal and dietary supplements community.

HerbMedPro is available to ABC members at the Academic level and higher. Its “sister” site, HerbMed, is free and available to the general public. In keeping with ABC’s position as an independent research and education organization, herb adopters do not influence the scientific information that is compiled for their respective adopted herbs.