Beyond Seeds patents the use of Argan fruit to prevent diseases such as diabetes and obesity
Beyond Seeds -through its companies Agrointec, specialized in agronomic engineering, and Cellbitec, specialized in biomedicine and nutrition- has been developing in the last 4 years research on the adaptation of the argan tree to the Iberian Peninsula, especially in the south of Andalusia. Likewise, it has been developing biomedical research on the part of the fruit that corresponds to its mesocarp or pulp, where the biotech company has discovered a high nutritional content and an exceptional medicinal value, unknown until now.
The discovery of this high medicinal value of the species has culminated in the granting of patent number P202131112 relating to the use of argan fruit powder as a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, capable of regulating the intestinal microbiome and providing a preventive effect in the development of diseases such as metabolic syndrome, obesity and insulin resistance.
These results are the fruit of years of work in several collaborative projects such as the operational groups of the Junta de Andalucia (GOPG-AL-20-0005) to recover the genetic diversity of argan existing in Spain and establish an integrated program for the exploitation of its cultivation, as well as public-private collaboration of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (CPP2022-009890) for the revaluation of the pulp as a new functional ingredient that can have an application in the biomedical and biotechnological industry, in which the biotech company participates together with the University of Granada (UGR) and the Biological Research Center “Margarita Salas” of the CSIC.
The argan tree.
Con estas líneas de financiación, “Beyond Seeds sigue investigando sobre el argán como nueva y prometedora fuente de compuestos bioactivos con el fin de desarrollar futuros nutracéuticos y obtener nuevas moléculas que puedan ser usados en la prevención de enfermedades metabólicas y neurodegenerativas” explica Francisco Bermúdez, CEO de Beyond Seeds. Además, paralelamente, la biotecnológica impulsa la formación de jóvenes investigadores con el programa de Doctorados industriales del Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (DIN2022-012869).
Parte de estos resultados han sido publicados en revistas científicas de alto impacto como “Journal of Functional Foods” dónde han demostrado además el poder hipoglucemiante e hipolipemiante que presenta esta pulpa.
With these lines of funding, “Beyond Seeds continues to research argan as a new and promising source of bioactive compounds in order to develop future nutraceuticals and obtain new molecules that can be used in the prevention of metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases” explains Francisco Bermúdez, CEO of Beyond Seeds. In addition, in parallel, the biotech company promotes the training of young researchers with the Industrial PhD program of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (DIN2022-012869).
Part of these results have been published in high impact scientific journals such as “Journal of Functional Foods” where they have also demonstrated the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic power of this pulp.
This work describes for the first time new bioactive compounds that had not been identified to date. In the words of Dr. Ana Guzman, biopharma division head of Beyond Seeds, “The results of the experimental trials have shown that the intake of the pulp of this fruit causes a decrease in body weight without reducing food intake, as well as a potent hypoglycemic activity, in addition to the reduction of various markers of inflammation and oxidative stress”.
What is Argan and its origin
Argan (Argania spinosa) is a tree endemic to southeastern Morocco, traditionally used by the Berber population to produce oil from its seeds in its original distribution areas in Agadir, although it is also used in food products and cosmetics.
