Singapore, Aug 27, 2010: CreAgri, US, has received a patent by the Australian Patent Office, covering the protective effects provided by Hydroxytyrosol against skin damage caused by UV-exposure.

The patent claims are said to be 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," said 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," added 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.

According to the company, Hidrox provides the highest amount of Hydroxytyrosol in its natural environment, as in the juice of olives. Hidrox is also said to be 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 human trials in many countries, including US, Japan and Malaysia.