Author: Manuelito R. Putong

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FPRDI to develop incense from forest product residues

FOREST PRODUCTS. This undated photo shows barks, leaves, and resins of forest species after oil extraction that will be used by the Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI) in developing incense products using hydrosols and solid residues in Laguna. The FPRDI will also study the incense products' ability to repel insects. (Photo courtesy of FPRDI director Romulo Aggangan)

MANILA – The Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI) is currently developing incense products using residues from extracted and processed forest materials, its chief announced Friday.

“We are targeting to develop incense cones and incense sticks, using hydrosols and solid residues from barks, leaves and resins of raw materials or forest species after oil extraction,” FPRDI director Romulo Aggangan told the Philippine News Agency in an interview.

Aside from being fragrant, the incense products will be assessed to determine their ability to repel insects such as mosquitoes, flies, and ants.

“Once the prototype products are developed and optimized, their ability to repel insects will be tested. After filing for IP (intellectual property) protection, (product) piloting and technology adoption will follow,” he said.

Aggangan pointed out that these products are both fragrant and may also be used as an insect repellant. Hydrosols will be used as a liquid ingredient instead of plain water, thus making it aromatic.

He added that the product’s ability to repel insects is likely since the raw materials to be used are known to have that capability.

The FPRDI has allocated PHP612,000 this year for this study, which started in January 2022 and will run until December 2023.

This study is part of the FPRDI’s Flavors and Fragrances from the Forest Technology Program (F3TP) that seeks to explore and utilize non-timber and timber forest products, by conducting and producing research and development (R&D) innovations and products.

Through the F3TP, the FPRDI has been exploring healthcare and aromatherapy products such as essential oils, salves, bar, and liquid hand soaps, spray mist, massage oils, foot deodorants, and lotions using extracted cinnamon oils and hydrosol.

Aggangan said trial production of soaps, lotions, massage oils, and foot deodorants is ongoing. By the second quarter of this year, the FPRDI will start the sensory testing for these products.

In a taped report aired on Friday, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato de la Peña said that through the F3TP, the FPRDI will be developing by-products that will not only lessen waste accumulation but also become a potential source of income for local communities and industries.

“The anticipated volume of process residues is greater at the commercial scale, thus the need to explore other possible uses for these wastes. If not managed properly, the accumulated wastes can pose possible environmental problems,” De la Peña said.

Original news post found on this link https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1170137

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Aromatic vanilla in your perfumes and ice creams

The highly aromatic, cured pod (or “bean”) of the vanilla orchid (Vanilla planifolia) is the primary product. Vanilla owes its properties to vanillin, a compound that is formed during pod maturation and in the curing process. Vanillin is believed to be one of most popular scents in the world. Natural vanillin is expensive by weight, but when used as a flavoring it is affordable.

Vanilla is used extensively to flavor ice cream, chocolate, bev- erages, candies, cakes, puddings, custards, and many other confections. In Hawai‘i, chefs add it to seafood dishes and other non-dessert dishes. Commercial products include:

  • Whole cured vanilla beans
  • Extractions (usually in a minimum 35% alcohol)
  • Powder of ground, cured beans
  • Paste (minimum 12.5% ground cured beans with sugar syrup, starch, or other ingredients)
  • Seeds

As an aromatic, vanilla is included in products such as perfumes, cosmetics, lotions, detergents, fabric softeners, air fresheners, aroma therapy, and many others. It is also widely used in rubber manufacture and in the fabrication of other items with unpleasant odors.

While the traditions surrounding vanilla are filled with references of the ritualistic and healing powers of this spice, there are few well documented studies to verify these characteristics. Recently, some evidence of anticarcinogenic (interference with cancer formation) and anticlastogenic (promotion of chromosome repair) activity of vanillin has been found.

The anticlastogenic effect of vanillin has been documented in the protection that it provides to cells that are exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and X-rays. When vanillin was added to cell cultures, mutation was significantly reduced following exposure to radiation. This study clearly provides evidence that there are antimutagenic properties of vanillin.

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P229.5-M eyed for R&D on fragrances, flavors from forest

FRAGRANCE. Using extracted cinnamon oils and hydrosol, the Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI) was able to develop liquid soap, foot deodorant, and massage oil. The Institute eyes allocating PHP229.5 million to explore on fragrances and flavors from forest products. (Photo courtesy of FPRDI Director Romulo Aggangan) 

MANILA – For the next five years, some PHP229.5 million is being eyed as budget for research and development (R&D) to explore on fragrances and flavors from forest products.

“We embark on exploring and utilizing non-timber and timber forest products, by conducting and producing R&D innovations and products,” Director Romulo Aggangan of the Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI) told the Philippine News Agency in an interview over the weekend.

The goals, he said are to develop flavors and fragrances from forest products; establish R&D facilities; and develop protocols for sustainable and responsible harvesting of these forest products for flavors and fragrances.

Further, sensory and chemical evaluation of non-timber products, socio-economic study, and technology piloting and adoption are also in the pipeline.

“Among the forest species to be studied include the Philippine cinnamons, eucalyptus, Canarium species, select species from the families of Myrtaceae and Fabaceae, as well as some fruit trees and agroforestry crops that have potentials for flavors and fragrances,” Aggangan said.

Also part of the program are studies on propagation techniques and proper harvesting of barks, leaves and other plant parts to ensure the sustainable supply of raw materials, he added.

The program, dubbed as “Fragrances and Flavors from the Forest Technology Program” (F3TP), is currently exploring on healthcare and aromatherapy products such as essential oils, salves, bar and liquid hand soaps, spray mist, massage oils, foot deodorants, lotions using extracted cinnamon oils and hydrosol.

The FPRDI has also started developing teas, flavor-infused beverages and confectioneries using bamboo and cinnamon flavors, Aggangan said.

“To achieve the above targets, the proposed budget of F3TP for the next five years or 2022-2026 totals to PHP229.5 million,” he continued, adding that upgrading the Institute’s R&D facility and capacitating its researchers will be prioritized for the next two years.

Meanwhile, Aggangan shared that based on market research firm, Lucintel, the flavor and fragrance market is expected to reach an estimated USD35.7 billion by 2025.

Likewise, in a taped report, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato de la Peña said that the flavor and fragrances industry “is one of the very profitable niche markets”.

“Both timber and non-timber forest products provide a multitude of flavors and fragrances. Among these include gums, resins and oils which are commercially important; and non-timber forest products and tannins which can also be extracted from barks, leaves and wood and re-used to enhance flavors of beverages like wine, beer, fruit juice and teas,” de la Peña said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1150615

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DOST-made soaps can be shared to possible adoptors

MANILA — The technical know-how on the antimicrobial soaps developed by the Department of Science and Technology-Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) will be shared with entrepreneurs or possible adopters.

The FPRDI-developed products include hand soaps with natural ingredients like plants or forest products that give different scents, DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in a message Thursday.

These products include soaps with bamboo charcoal and eucalyptus, natural-based coco liquid soaps with different scents, and antimicrobial hand mist with scents, he added.

“They (products) are now undergoing sensory evaluation and laboratory tests. Maybe these (tests) will last until end of June. By that time, (these) will probably be ready for technology transfer, most likely non-exclusive,” he said.

De la Peña said non-exclusive means more than one enterprise could acquire the technology under the DOST guidelines for technology transfer.

“The availability of the technologies for transfer will be announced. There will be criteria in selecting the adoptors,” he said.

Information on the process and raw materials sources will be given to adopters.

“That includes training on manufacture. Dermatological tests and FDA (Food and Drug Administration) will be the responsibility of enterprise adopters,” he explained.

De la Peña also clarified that the DOST will not compete in selling these FPRDI-developed products.

“Our institutes develop technologies and products. The commercial production and product selling are done by enterprise adopters,” he said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1103577