Technology

Discovery

Cura discovered that Koji has the ability during fermentation to absorb and store high amounts (up to 10% of its biomass) of minerals, including iron, zinc, copper, chromium, calcium, selenium, manganese, and molybdenum alone or together in any combination. For example, more than 90% of the elemental iron present in the Ultimine™ Iron, ( 8-10%), is stored within the cell structure (picture below). The BBC documentary titled “The Kingdom: How Fungi Made Our World” by by Simon Nasht, Annamaria Talas, 2018 stated that “Fungi may hold the key to our future”.

Orthogonal projection of a 3D confocal microscope Z-stack of live Koji mycelia stained with zinc sensor (green) showing internalization of Zn+2 ions into intracellular organelles within the hyphae of Koji (red). Dr. Matthew Kofron, Confocal Imaging Core, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Division of Developmental Biology

The composition of Ultimine™ with 30-40% protein and 25-30% carbohydrate is a whole-food mineral source. The ability of Koji to encapsulate high amounts of minerals, provides an innovative approach. For example, slow release bioavailable iron, with no NTBI (non transferrin bound iron) caused oxidative stress. Furthermore, it is possible with this technology to deliver in one product at least 30% DV of main trace minerals.

Patent Portfolio

The following Koji Fermented Mineral products branded as Ultimine™ are subject to patents and pending patent rights in jurisdictions listed in the table below. This document is provided to satisfy patent marking provisions of various jurisdictions. In particular it is intended to serve as notice under 35 U.S.C. § 287(a).