HighChem Strengthens Its Health Food Ingredients Business
Signs Exclusive Distribution Agreement with a Taiwanese Manufacturer and Launches Liposome-Based Functional Ingredients

HighChem Company Limited (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President and Representative Director: Yuichi Taka), a global chemical trading and manufacturing company, has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Ming Chyi Biotechnology Ltd. (“MCB”), a Taiwanese food additive manufacturer, and will begin exclusive sales in Japan of turmerSOL™, a turmeric extract powder that dramatically improves bioavailability through proprietary liposome technology.

Through more than ten years of experience in handling food additives, HighChem has built strong relationships of trust with major food and beverage manufacturers in Japan. By partnering with carefully selected leading manufacturers and maintaining rigorous quality and safety management systems, the company has consistently supplied products that meet Japan's strict standards.

In recent years, consumer demand in the health food market has shifted from basic nutritional supplementation toward products with enhanced functionality. In response to this trend, HighChem is strategically expanding into the higher-value-added health food ingredients sector by leveraging the quality control expertise and logistics network developed through its existing businesses.

The partnership with MCB represents an important step in this strategy. By combining MCB's advanced liposome technology, developed through more than 30 years of technical expertise, with HighChem's market knowledge and customer network in Japan, the two companies aim to support product development for Japanese health food manufacturers.

Liposomes are nanoscale microcapsules composed of phospholipids. Originally developed as a Drug Delivery System (DDS) to efficiently deliver pharmaceutical ingredients within the body, the technology is now widely applied in cosmetics and dietary supplements.

Ingredients whose absorption needs to be enhanced are encapsulated within a phospholipid bilayer consisting of a hydrophilic layer that interacts with water and a hydrophobic layer that interacts with oils. This structure improves the absorption of active ingredients within the body.

Liposome technology is a formulation technology designed to improve the absorption of functional ingredients in the body and is attracting attention as a next-generation solution for functional ingredients and health food products. Liposomal formulations of ingredients such as vitamin C, glutathione, and curcumin are becoming increasingly common, and the market is expected to expand rapidly.

HighChem aims to establish itself as a leading supplier of advanced functional ingredients to Japanese health food manufacturers within this growing market.

Curcumin, the primary active compound found in turmeric, has a long history of use in traditional medicine in countries such as India and continues to attract attention in modern medical research. In addition to studies related to liver health support, research has also been reported regarding immune function and joint health.

However, curcumin is poorly soluble in water and difficult for the body to absorb, resulting in most of the orally consumed ingredient passing through the body without being effectively utilized. This low bioavailability has long limited the ability to fully realize the benefits of curcumin.

turmerSOL™ successfully addresses this challenge by incorporating curcumin into a liposomal formulation, dramatically improving its absorption within the body. Utilizing MCB's proprietary liposome technology, the product contains more than 30% curcumin while maintaining solubility in cold water. According to testing conducted by MCB, turmerSOL™ achieves 112 times greater bioavailability compared with conventional curcumin powder (based on MCB test data).

• Improved water dispersibility enables application across a wide range of product formats, including beverages, snacks, tablets, and capsules.
• Easier cleaning of production equipment, helping reduce the yellow staining typically associated with turmeric.
• Can be manufactured using existing production facilities without the need for dedicated production lines.

• Company Name: Ming Chyi Biotechnology Ltd.
• Headquarters: No. 5, Dougong 1st Rd., Douliu City, Yunlin County 64069, Taiwan
• Established: 1987

MCB was founded in 1987 as a spray dryer design and consulting company and has since evolved into a globally recognized Taiwanese manufacturer of functional food ingredients, specializing in powderization technologies for functional oils and bioactive ingredients.

• More than 30 years of accumulated expertise and extensive industry experience
• Holder of multiple international food safety certifications
• Industry leader in emulsification, microencapsulation, liposome formulation, and spray-drying technologies
• Strong capabilities in developing diverse ingredients for both dietary supplement and conventional food markets

Building on its partnership with MCB, HighChem will continue to expand its portfolio of health food ingredients by incorporating advanced formulation technologies, including liposome technology.

Leveraging the strengths cultivated through its conventional food additives business, HighChem aims to become a trusted partner in Japan's health food ingredients market.

HighChem will further strengthen its proposals and solutions that support people's health, safety, and well-being in the life sciences field, while contributing to the continued growth of Japan's health food industry.

• Company Name: HighChem Company Limited
• Head Quarters: Tokyo Toranomon Global Square 11F, 1-3-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0001, Japan
• President and Representative Director: Yuichi Taka
• Business Areas: Chemical trading; technology licensing; catalyst development, manufacturing and contract production; green chemicals; and next-generation energy development.

Media Contact

• ＜HighChem Company Limited Public Relations office＞
• Contact: Eriko Kuroiwa Mobile: +81-90-6539-4213 Tel: +81-3-5251-8580 E-mail: koho@highchem.co.jp