Bacopa monnieri, an herb known as brahmi or water hyssop, has a long history of use in Ayurveda for its cognitive health benefits, which include concentration, memory and visual impression processing. The perennial creeper is found in marshy wetlands throughout South and Southeast Asia.
Bacopa already exists as ingredient in a wide range of cognitive support and nootropic supplements on the market today. Ebel.One is standardized to ebelin lactone (bacogenin A4), the ultimate endpoint metabolite of bacopa’s well known bacosides. The ingredient is patented worldwide for its process and composition.
“Ebel.One is an activated bacopa concentrate, delivering ebelin lactone in a standardized form, and therefore ultimately ‘leap-frogging’ the digestive process that bacosides typically must endure in the human system,” Ryan Gorman, brand Director at Network Nutrition, told NutraIngredients.
“Ebelin lactone’s low molecular weight relative to its parent bacosides and bacoside aglycones means improved intestinal absorption and blood-brain barrier permeability.”
Reported to be one of bacopa’s most active constituents, Network Nutrition notes that ebelin lactone exhibits the highest binding affinity to serotonin receptors 5HT1A and 5HT2A, as well as the M1 muscarinic receptor.
“The end result is a fast-acting, great tasting bacopa concentrate,” Gorman said. “Taste is important as brands explore a variety of innovative dosage formats such as gummies, fast melts, chewable tablets, effervescents, RTM and RTD beverages. Bacopa is renowned as one of the more offensive tasting herbs due to its intense bitterness. Thanks to the innovative process for making Ebel.One, those challenges around taste have been dealt with.”
Nootropics boom
The global nootropics market was estimated to be worth over US$21 billion in 2024 and is forecast to exceed US$73 billion by 2034, according to Precedence Research. That equates to a CAGR of 14.74%.
“We already have presence with Ebel.One across multiple markets, however the Middle East represents a gap in our footprint for this product,” Gorman said. “The Israeli market is advanced in terms of its regulatory settings and consumer demands. We’ve already had early interest from several Israeli supplements brand and manufacturers. The MOH approval was key to providing access to these potential customers and paves the way for them to advance to commercialization.”
Gorman described the Israeli regulatory system as “unique”, noting that it strongly observes the EU regulations for food supplements but with an overlay of its own specific requirements.
“The MOH approval process is quite involved with respect to the depth and breadth of detail required by the regulator,” he said.
“For Network Nutrition, this first approval process has been a very positive learning experience that we look forward to applying to numerous other products, with several already on the path to approval. There is essentially no route to market without MOH approval, so it represents a critical juncture in product preparedness and ultimately access to this ingredient by Israeli consumers as well as exporters of Israeli-made dietary supplements.”
The approval also means Israel-based supplement manufacturers and brands will be able to export their finished products containing Ebel.One from Israel to third countries, providing new export opportunities for industry participants, the company stated.
The MOH approval is held on Network Nutrition’s behalf by IMCD Israel acting as the market liaison and coordinating all Ebel.One in-country commercial activity.
