New Material "Igusa Extract Powder SH" Leading to Brain Function Improvement to Exhibit at Health Food Ingredients & OEM Exhibition 2026

Hagihara Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture; President: Hideyasu Hagihara) will exhibit at the Health Food Ingredients & OEM Exhibition 2026, held on April 16 (Thursday) and 17 (Friday), 2026, at the Tokyo International Forum. At this exhibition, we will introduce new Igusa-derived materials expected to improve brain function, aiming to build new partnerships with companies engaged in the development of health foods and supplements.

Background of Exhibition For many years, our company has explored the potential health benefits of Igusa and successfully commercialized our unique health food ingredient, "Igusa Extract Powder SH." In a super-aging society where interest in "brain health" is rapidly increasing, we are confident that this material can contribute to enhancing the value of new products for companies developing health foods and supplements. We decided to exhibit at this exhibition to directly introduce this groundbreaking new material to industry professionals and create opportunities for business collaboration.

Exhibition Content At our booth, we will showcase 'Igusa Extract Powder SH,' which supports brain health.

Birth of Igusa Extract Powder SH As a manufacturer handling Igusa materials, Hagihara Co., Ltd. meticulously analyzed each component of this plant to uncover its true power. As a result, we discovered previously unknown Igusa-specific components: "efusol" and "dehydroefusol." These components possess a very unique structure (a phenanthrene skeleton, similar to the analgesic morphine). Given their high lipophilicity and low water solubility, our research began with the hypothesis: "Could these components reach the brain via oral intake and act on nerves?" Igusa has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine under the name "Toshinso" (lamp wick grass), known as a crude drug to calm irritation and soothe night crying in children. Furthermore, overseas studies have reported anxiolytic and sedative effects. We hypothesized that it could be effective for neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, and conducted animal model experiments in joint research with Professor Emeritus Atsushi Takeda of Shizuoka Prefectural University. The results exceeded our expectations. In groups administered efusol and dehydroefusol, neuronal cell death was significantly suppressed, revealing the potential to protect brain health. After many years of research, we elucidated its mechanism of action and finally commercialized this Igusa-derived component as a health food ingredient.

Details: https://e-hagihara.co.jp/ourbusiness/igusapw/

Message to Visitors This is an excellent opportunity to provide valuable information to companies considering the development of health foods and supplements, or those aiming to enhance the added value of existing products. Please visit our booth.

Exhibition Name: Health Food Ingredients & OEM Exhibition 2026 Booth Number: J09 Dates: April 16 (Thursday) - 17 (Friday), 2026, 10:00 - 17:00 Venue: Tokyo International Forum Organizer: Health Business Media Co., Ltd. Target Visitors: Professionals in the health food and supplement industry

Hagihara Co., Ltd. is a company with a 134-year history, founded in 1892 and based in Okayama and Kurashiki. Leveraging its deep expertise cultivated over many years as a manufacturer of Igusa materials, the company is currently engaged in the research, development, and provision of health food ingredients derived from Igusa.

[Hagihara Co., Ltd. Official Website] https://e-hagihara.co.jp