Nutraceutical leader DolCas Biotech, LLC is elevating curcumin supplementation beyond the pill by bringing its Curcugen “full spectrum” curcuminoid complex into two new functional applications via two strategic collaborations. DolCas Biotech will present them at SupplySide Global 2026.
DolCas Biotech teamed up with the New Zealand-based Mānuka honey company Mānukora, Ltd. to incorporate Curcugen into its “Body Recovery & Gut” formulation. The new functional honey combines raw MGO 850+ Mānuka honey with DolCas Biotech’s proprietary, full-spectrum turmeric. The formula also includes concentrated ginger and Sicilian lemon oil.
“Honey and turmeric have a long history together,” informs 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 lets us create formulations like this in a way that matches our philosophy,” Nahar continues. “Curcugen is a full-spectrum extract that retains the plant’s naturally occurring oils and constituents. It boasts substantially greater bioavailability than a standard 95 per cent curcumin extract, letting us deliver meaningful potency without reducing it to isolated curcuminoids that the body typically absorbs poorly. The result is earthy and warming MGO 850+ Mānuka honey with a citrus-bright finish—a rich flavor consumers will actually crave.”
Curcugen is a 100 per cent turmeric-derived, full-spectrum curcuminoid complex made from the whole turmeric rhizome and clinically demonstrated to improve bioavailability. It requires no added bioenhancers and provides the naturally occurring curcuminoids curcumin, demethoxycurcumin (DMC), and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) as well as native turmeric essential oils and other bioactive components that have been retained through a proprietary manufacturing process.
Human pharmacokinetic research demonstrates more than 50-fold greater bioavailability of total curcuminoids with Curcugen compared with a standard curcuminoid extract, supporting its potential for low-dose formulation. Together with its demonstrated safety and tolerability, Self-Affirmed GRAS status for specified uses, mild flavor, water dispersibility, and versatile delivery characteristics broaden the possible applications of Curcugen beyond conventional capsules and tablets to functional foods, beverages and other innovative delivery systems.
“For product developers, the conversation is changing,” explains K G Rao, founder and CEO of DolCas Biotech. “It’s no longer just about how much curcumin you can absorb, but what you can create with Curcugen. Curcugen is redefining what’s possible with this powerful nutraceutical ingredient.”
DolCas Biotech’s goal in creating Curcugen was to preserve turmeric’s unique qualities while creating an ingredient that is highly absorbable, clinically meaningful, gentle, formulation-friendly, and versatile. “We’re giving product developers the freedom to explore applications that are typically challenging for conventional turmeric extracts,” adds Rao. “The future of curcumin no longer needs to be limited to pills. With Curcugen, it could be a spoonful of Mānukora’s premium Mānuka honey, a morning beverage, a mid-morning ready-to-drink wellness shot, an on-the-go gummy or piece of chocolate, or an entirely new functional food.”
