The Industry's First and Only Proanthocyanidin (PAC) Standardized Cranberry Powder

02/08/06 Decas Botanical Synergies (DBS), a division of Decas Cranberry Products, Inc., today introduced PACran whole cranberry powder standardized to cranberry proanthocyanidins (PACs) using a proprietary manufacturing process and a superior "Early Black" cranberry cultivar. PACran is the first and only PAC-standardized product on the market.

Cranberries are widely known for their unique "anti-adhesion" activity that protects the body from harmful bacteria that cause urinary tract infections. This anti-adhesion activity is primarily due to a natural compound in the fruit called PACs. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Database for the Proanthocyanidin Content of Selected Foods, Cranberry PACs contain a unique A-type structure, while most other plants contain only the more common B-type PACs. It is cranberry's A-type PACs that are responsible for the anti-adhesion mechanism of action. PACran supplies no less than 1.5% of cranberry PACs measured via the only published and USDA-recognized HPLC analytical method.

A poster presentation of PACran clinical trial results will be presented at the 47th Annual Meeting of the American College of Nutrition in Reno, NV October 5-8, 2006.

Cranberry PACs Health Claim and NIH Studies

In 2004, cranberry became the only fruit in the world to hold a health claim. The French government's equivalent to the FDA or food safety authority, AFSSA (Agence Francaise pour la Securite Alimentaire), approved the claim that the North American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) can "help reduce the adhesion of certain E.coli bacteria to the urinary tract walls." Products must contain a minimum amount of cranberry PACs to warrant this claim. More than 11 million women in the U.S. and 2 million women in France experience urinary tract infections each year with 25% of these women encountering recurring infections.

Currently in the U.S., the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in conjunction the National Center for Complementary Medicine (NCCAM) are studying the health benefits of cranberry PACs in 14 separate studies including urinary tract infections, cardiovascular inflammation, oral plaque, and yeast infections. These studies are utilizing a standardized PAC powder and juice and are intended to further validate decades of cranberry research regarding cranberry's unique PACs and their health related properties.

PACran is the latest addition to DBS' popular family of cranberry-based specialty ingredients. Market applications for PACran include, but are not limited to, nutritional supplements, functional foods and beverages, and dental hygiene products.

"PACran sets the bar for all cranberry products on the market since it's the first and only product to guarantee the amount of the active compound responsible for the prevention of urinary tract infections. We developed PACran after years of research and development and through the selection of Early Black cranberries which are higher in PACs," said Doug Klaiber, DBS general manager. "While cranberries have long been associated with urinary tract health, there has been significant uncertainty in whether a person is obtaining the necessary amount of cranberry active compounds to maintain their health. PACran changes this scenario and will be the basis by which all cranberry products will be compared in the future."

P.L. Thomas & Co., Inc., is DBS' exclusive distributor and marketing partner for the U.S.A. Paul Flowerman, PLT's president, states: "PACran is a revolutionary cranberry development for which strong science and brand support will be provided. We believe PACran offers formulators of women's health products a new high quality brand that will be embraced by consumers."