Medicinal power of NZ’s Kolorex Horopito extract in big demand
Press release, 19 April, 2016, Nelson, NZ:
Natural health product innovation company, Forest Herbs Research, is experiencing growing demand for its clinically proven anti-fungal products made from a single variety of New
Zealand’s ancient Horopito plant.
The company owns the world’s only sustainably managed commercial plantation of 30,000 native Horopito plants on the edge of the Kahurangi National Park in Golden Bay, and is preparing a third
piece of land with the aim to quadruple the number of mature plants by 2020.
At the Natural Products NZ Summit held in Nelson last month, Forest Herbs Research was recognised, together with
Auckland company Phytomed Medicinal Herbs, as a joint winner of The Cawthron Institute Innovation in Science & Technology Award. The judges were impressed with the company’s excellent use of New Zealand-grown herbs, and the
extensive research that was conducted, ranging from process improvements to in-clinic trials.
The natural products industry is a significant contributor to New Zealand’s economy with earnings of over $1.4 billion
per annum. For over 20 years, Forest Herbs Research has been conducting R and clinical trials on Horopito’s therapeutic effect in collaboration with research organisations, universities, naturopaths, and
distribution partners. Findings show that Horopito is a proven and effective natural treatment against numerous fungal
ailments including: chronic intestinal candidiasis, vaginal thrush, and athlete’s foot.
With a patent over the best method for extracting Kolorex Horopito, Forest Herbs exports and licenses Horopito products
under its Kolorex®brand to companies from Europe, USA and Australia through to places as varied as Dubai, Israel and South Africa.
Horopito is a native plant of New Zealand with a long history of traditional medicinal use. The leaves were either bruised,
steeped in water and used to treat skin diseases and venereal diseases, or they were chewed to relieve toothache. After
twenty years researching the properties of this plant, Forest Herbs Research found one specific high potency cultivar of
with up to five times the potency of all other Horopito populations. The team then spent several years of further R to work out how to grow the plant sustainably.
Dr Amanda Wiggins, Business Development Manager at Forest Herbs Research says, “Research and development has been a core
contributor to our ongoing success. The positive results of clinical trials on our Kolorex Horopito extract give us
enormous credibility, and we have attracted a number of new business customers as a result - including a large
multi-national pharmaceutical company that is now selling Kolorex® in South Africa. We’re also getting a lot of
enquiries from consumers in the Asian market and, with help from NZ Trade and Enterprise, we’re actively seeking
distribution partners in China.”
NZ Forest Herbs founder, Peter Butler, says it is the efficacy of Kolorex products rather than NZ's clean green image
that is driving demand. “Our distributors are looking for products that are scientifically formulated, batch tested and
carry some supporting clinical data.
“The natural personal care industry is also an increasing market, with strong evidence that growing consumer awareness
of synthetic chemicals in cosmetics and toiletries, and the desire for truly natural products, are propelling a 10% year
on year growth in the industry.”
Researchers expect the global organic personal care market to reach USD 15.98 billion by 2020.
“We’re about to launch a new hygiene product in a few weeks, which we are really excited about, and we will continue to
research and develop new products,” says Butler.
ends