Curcugen® Goes Beyond the Capsule into Two Formats Consumers Crave

DolCas Biotech's full-spectrum curcumin extract features in Mānukora® Mānuka  honey and Numin cognitive beverage

LANDING, N.J., Oct. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Nutraceutical leader DolCas Biotech, LLC is elevating curcumin supplementation beyond the pill by bringing its Curcugen® "full spectrum" curcuminoid complex into two new functional applications via two strategic collaborations. DolCas Biotech will present them at SupplySide Global 2026, Booth #6011.

DolCas Biotech teamed up with the New Zealand-based Mānuka honey company Mānukora®, Ltd. to incorporate Curcugen® into its "Body Recovery & Gut" formulation. The new functional honey combines raw MGO 850+ Mānuka honey with DolCas Biotech's proprietary, full-spectrum turmeric. The formula also includes concentrated ginger and Sicilian lemon oil.

"Honey and turmeric have a long history together," informs Benjamin Nahar, Head of Product Development and Herbal Science at Mānukora. "In Ayurveda, honey is traditionally described as a yogavahi, a medium that delivers and enhances the effects of the herbs it's combined with. Pairing turmeric with Mānuka felt less like inventing something new and more like bringing a traditional idea into a modern formulation."

Just a spoonful of Mānuka

"Curcugen lets us create formulations like this in a way that matches our philosophy," Nahar continues. "Curcugen is a full-spectrum extract that retains the plant's naturally occurring oils and constituents. It boasts substantially greater bioavailability compared to a standard 95% curcumin extract, allowing us to deliver meaningful potency without having to reduce it to isolated curcuminoids that are typically difficult for the body to absorb. The result is earthy and warming MGO 850+ Mānuka honey with a citrus-bright finish—a rich flavor consumers will actually crave."

Curcugen® is a 100% turmeric-derived, full spectrum curcuminoid complex made from the whole turmeric rhizome and clinically demonstrated to provide enhanced bioavailability. It requires no added bioenhancers and provides the naturally occurring curcuminoids curcumin, demethoxycurcumin (DMC), and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) as well as native turmeric essential oils and other bioactive components that have been retained through a proprietary manufacturing process.

No formulation limits

Human pharmacokinetic research demonstrates more than 50-fold greater bioavailability of total curcuminoids with Curcugen® compared with a standard curcuminoid extract, supporting its potential for low-dose formulation. Together with its demonstrated safety and tolerability, Self-Affirmed GRAS status for specified uses, mild flavor, water dispersibility, and versatile delivery characteristics broaden the possible applications of Curcugen® beyond conventional capsules and tablets to functional foods, beverages and other innovative delivery systems.

"For product developers, the conversation is changing," explains K G Rao, founder and CEO of DolCas Biotech. "It's no longer just about how much curcumin can you absorb, but what can you create with Curcugen®. Curcugen® is redefining what's possible with this powerful nutraceutical ingredient."

DolCas Biotech's goal in creating Curcugen® was to preserve turmeric's unique qualities while creating an ingredient that is highly absorbable, clinically meaningful, gentle, formulation-friendly, and versatile. "We're giving product developers the freedom to explore applications that are typically challenging for conventional turmeric extracts," adds Rao. "The future of curcumin no longer needs to be limited to pills. With Curcugen, it could be a spoonful of Mānukora's premium Mānuka honey, a morning beverage, a mid-morning ready-to-drink wellness shot, an on-the-go gummy or piece of chocolate, or an entirely new functional food."

Curcugen® in a new "decision fatigue" drink

Curcugen® also features as a key ingredient in Numin, a functional beverage by SLS Performance Pte., Ltd. developed to address "decision fatigue." Building on Numin's previously published human research, Numin's current formulation incorporates Curcugen® alongside complementary ingredients, leveraging its enhanced bioavailability, turmeric-derived profile and formulation versatility. Available in convenient orange-flavored, single-serve powder sachets that disperse readily in liquids, Numin's internal evaluations report improved mental clarity and sustained decision-making, with effects observed within approximately 60 minutes and lasting up to six hours.

"We didn't want to just stack trendy ingredients and call it cognitive support," says Arun Hozack, CEO of Numin. "We wanted a formulation validated on outcomes people would actually feel. Fewer reckless choices, fewer default choices, and sustained clarity late into the day. That meant building it around a real mechanism, and testing the finished product, not just its parts. Curcugen® stood out early for exactly that reason. It has strong clinical grounding, a clean turmeric-derived profile, and the bioavailability and formulation flexibility to actually perform inside a functional beverage."

Numin targets professionals such as executives, traders, consultants, and managers whose performance depends on sustained decision quality. It is ideal for formulators who recognize decision fatigue as an emerging opportunity at the intersection of cognitive performance, functional beverages, and human performance.

Curcugen® has been clinically investigated across areas including exercise and recovery, gastrointestinal wellness, knee joint health, bioavailability, and safety, while new and ongoing studies are exploring additional health categories and biological pathways. "Several exciting research programs are underway, some of which could take Curcugen® into new categories not traditionally associated with curcumin," concludes Rao.

Visit DolCas Biotech at SupplySide Global 2026 at Booth #6011 to experience Curcugen® applications, discuss the clinical science, and explore formulation possibilities. Brand owners and product innovators are invited to experience its flagship curcumin extract in new ways. Visitors are welcome to taste Morikol® marine collagen tripeptide in chocolate bites. recharge with a shot of Morikol® Espresso.

Taste it. Experience it. Discover what's possible.

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SOURCE DolCas Biotech