DolCas Biotech is expanding the commercial footprint of its flagship Curcugen ingredient beyond conventional capsules, partnering with Mānukora and Numin to integrate the full-spectrum curcuminoid complex into functional honey and cognitive beverages.
The developments are being presented by DolCas Biotech at SupplySide Global 2026, highlighting how advanced bioavailability and water-dispersible formulation characteristics enable turmeric to move into mainstream food and beverage formats.
Curcugen Featured in Mānuka Honey Formulation
In a collaboration with New Zealand-based Mānukora, Curcugen has been incorporated into a new functional honey format titled Body Recovery and Gut. The formulation pairs raw MGO 850 plus Mānuka honey with concentrated ginger, Sicilian lemon oil, and DolCas Biotech's proprietary turmeric extract.
"Honey and turmeric have a long history together," said 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."
Curcugen is a 100% turmeric-derived complex processed to retain naturally occurring essential oils and bioactive constituents. Human pharmacokinetic research indicates more than 50-fold greater bioavailability of total curcuminoids compared with standard 95% curcumin extracts, allowing formulators to achieve high potency without relying on synthetic bioenhancers or unmanageable inclusion rates.
Cognitive Performance and Decision Fatigue Beverage
Curcugen is also serving as a core functional component in Numin, a cognitive support beverage developed by SLS Performance to combat decision fatigue among professionals. Available in single-serve orange-flavoured powder sachets, the formulation leverages Curcugen's water dispersibility and clean flavour profile to support mental clarity and sustained decision-making.
"We didn't want to just stack trendy ingredients and call it cognitive support," said 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."
Expanding Beyond Conventional Dietary Supplements
The dual commercial launches underscore a broader shift among product developers seeking to bypass the formulation limits traditionally associated with standard curcumin extracts. Because Curcugen maintains Self-Affirmed GRAS status, mild organoleptic properties, and high solubility, manufacturers can scale applications into everyday functional foods, ready-to-drink beverages, wellness shots, and confectionery.
"For product developers, the conversation is changing," explained 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. We're giving product developers the freedom to explore applications that are typically challenging for conventional turmeric extracts."
Attendees at SupplySide Global 2026 can examine the new Curcugen-enabled applications at Booth 6011, where technical data and ongoing clinical research initiatives covering joint health, sports recovery, and gastrointestinal wellness are also being showcased.
