Freemen Nutra and Rawga, Inc. have partnered to launch VC-H1, a plant-based bioactive peptide, in the North American Market.

The ingredient is sourced from organically-grown hibiscus, and is comprised of bioactive peptides from a collagen-like protein, along with hibiscus polyphenols. VC-H1 has been shown to support collagen production in the skin, with additional skin health benefits, and is positioned as an alternative to animal-based collagen peptides.

“We are excited to be working with Freemen Nutra to bring VC-H1 to the U.S. and Canada,” said Raw Kim, founder and CEO of Rawga, Inc. “This partnership marks a significant milestone in our quest to create more healthy, safe, and sustainable food systems.”

“We see this as a tremendous opportunity to bring our customers, especially those with a focus on sustainability, a research-backed ingredient in a high demand category,” said Hanks Li, president of Freemen Nutra. “VC-H1 is not only an innovative option within the collagen market, but with a 1.5-gram dose, many if not most of our customers will also see a cost savings. That is truly a rare opportunity.”

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences found that, compared to a placebo, VC-H1 significantly improved skin hydration; bounce and firmness; measures of skin health at the surface; and beneficial changes in age-related measures.

“The key to the efficacy of VC-H1, and any collagen really, are the short two-to-four amino acid length peptides that stimulate collagen production in the body,” said Eric Withee, director of innovation at Freemen Nutra. “VC-H1 has a very low molecular weight, meaning it is made almost entirely of these collagen-boosting peptides.”