Australian Patent Issued to CreAgri® for Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR) Protection by its Hydroxytyrosol-Based Formulations

HAYWARD, Calif., Aug. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- CreAgri, Inc.® announced today that the company has received a Patent by the Australian Patent Office, Patent Number 2003249719, which covers the protective effects provided by Hydroxytyrosol against skin damage caused by UV exposure.

The patent claims are very broad and include formulations containing the two most important olive polyphenols, Hydroxytyrosol and Oleuropein, whether delivered orally and/or in conjunction with topical applications.

"We believe that products containing Hydroxytyrosol, whether orally ingested and/or topically applied, will provide an effective protection against the edema and erythema produced by excessive sun exposure, especially in areas of the world where skin problems are aggravated by the depletion of the ozone layer like Australia," declares Dr. Roberto Crea, CreAgri's President and CEO and author of the patent. "Increased exposure to UV rays in humans and animals has been linked to many severe diseases, including melanoma, carcinoma and immune diseases," adds Dr. Crea.

"The scientifically proven activities of Hydroxytyrosol in decreasing levels of TNF-alpha and in scavenging free radical molecules may partially explain the protective effect on skin," adds Dr. Cathy Bitler, CreAgri CSO and first author of a peer-reviewed publication that describes the anti-inflammatory properties of HT.

Together with its immune-balancing activity, Hydroxytyrosol, provided in high concentration by CreAgri's proprietary formulation, Hidrox®, directly blocks the effects of UV-induced free radicals in skin and other tissues of the body, and thereby, decreasing the concomitant inflammation.

Hidrox® provides the highest amount of Hydroxytyrosol in its natural environment, as in the juice of olives. Hidrox® is the only Hydroxytyrosol–rich formulation in the world produced from organic olives that does not involve extraction by solvents or other chemical separations.

The product is certified Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) and has been successfully tested in several human trials in many countries of the world, including USA, Japan and Malaysia.

About CreAgri® (www.creagri.com)

CreAgri® is the world's leading developer and supplier of antioxidant olive polyphenols for functional foods and beverages, dietary supplements, cosmetics and skincare applications. For ten years, CreAgri® has been the research leader in providing consumers and industry with the highest quality free radical-scavenging olive polyphenols. CreAgri's®' internationally acclaimed product, HIDROX®, has been formulated for dietary supplements, cosmetics, and skin-care products; all featuring the antioxidant power of natural HYDROXYTYROSOL, the olive active bio-phenol with the highest free-radical scavenging activity of any known natural or synthetic antioxidants.

About HIDROX®

HIDROX® is CreAgri's® trademarked hydroxytyrosol formulation, a powerful polyphenol scientifically recognized for its anti-oxidant properties and efficacy in heart and joint health. HIDROX® is the only olive polyphenols formulation with GRAS certification, meaning that it has been subjected to the most comprehensive set of safety and clinical efficacy tests. HIDROX® is also covered by the largest number of international patents for applications that include hydroxytyrosol and olive polyphenols. It is available in three forms to fulfill a variety of applications: HIDROX® 12% Total Polyphenols (6% hydroxytyrosol) freeze dried powder, HIDROX® 6% Total Polyphenols (3% hydroxytyrosol) powder and HIDROX®0.5% Total Polyphenols liquid.  All products are available in volumes ranging from kilograms to metric tons and can be ordered directly from CreAgri®.

About Skin Cancer

Each year more than 1,200 Australians die from skin cancer and in the US, more than 1 million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year. (1) The American Cancer Society estimates that there are currently 480,000 cases of melanoma in the US alone today and that there are 7,700 deaths per year from the disease. Melanoma incidence rates in Australia and New Zealand are around four times as high as those found in Canada, the US and the UK. (2) Overall, melanoma is the fourth most common cancer in Australia. (3)

For more information about CreAgri®, visit www.creagri.com. For media related inquiries, contact Paolo Pontoniere (510) 732-6478 ext. 107, [email protected] or Gillian Christie at Christie Communications,www.christiecomm.com (805) 969-3744 or [email protected].

(1) theozonehole.com, American Cancer Society's 2007 Facts & Figures

(2) Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and Australasian Association of Cancer Registries. Cancer in Australia 2001. 2004.

(3) Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) & Australasian Association of Cancer Registries (AACR). Cancer in Australia: an overview, 2006. Cancer Series Number 37. Canberra: AIHW, 2007.

SOURCE CreAgri, Inc.