History of 'Zosterin Ultra'

In the 1950s, Prof. Melnikov (Russia) began the research on the extraction of pectin from marine plant named Eelgrass (Latin name: Zostera marina). Pectin was isolated from this raw material by various methods, but some major constituents of its structure appeared to be lost during the procedures. Later, at Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry (ТИБОХ), the group led by Prof. Ovodov developed a technology of isolation of Zosterin - pectin from Zostera, which allowed obtaining a relatively high quality product. That technology, however, was based on a chemical extraction principles that incurred significant costs of reagents and setting up the manufacture (compliance to environmental regulations). The pectin produced by the method mentioned has got the name "Zosterin Plus". Its content of low-molecular weight fractions did not exceed 8%.

Many specialists have been attracted by the idea of isolating pectin from eelgrass. It took about 40 years to develop a proper isolation and purification technology. Zosterin has been a subject of many research and clinical works, with the greatest contribution from the Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Vladivostok. Major results of the studies have been described in the monography "Zosterin" published by this Institute in 1997. However, further development of research in improving the manufacture technologies in this region has been unfortunately suspended. In the beginning of 1990s, those works were forcibly initiated in St. Petersburg by Drs. O.D. Dolgiy and S.K. Onikienko, both disciples of Prof. Brehman. Their works on revealing and characterising immunomodulating activity of vegetable and animal extracts became a basis for the development of an original technological process of manufacturing of food supplements. Further, the initiative group consisting of O.D. Dolgiy, M.V. Petrov, A.I. Pahomov and V.P. Ognev. That team, based on all findings obtained before, developed a new technology of isolation and purification of pectin that got the name of "Zosterin Ultra". Then a Joint stock Company "Bentos" was created, with the Director General being M.V. Petrov, his Director of Research being O.V. Dolgiy, the Vice Director being A.I. Pahomov and the Head of Chemical laboratory - M.Y. Turkina. A group of experts from Research Institute for High Frequency Currents (St. Petersburg) has begun developing laboratory equipment for the extraction of the pectin. For research and promotion of Zosterin Ultra, Mai Company Ltd. was founded, which was directed by S.V. Shpynov and A.S. Zelenko and employed Dr. S.L. Burova, a consultant physician. This company initiated clinical studies of Zosterin Ultra in some research medical institutions. Since then, Zosterin Ultra has got excellent references from physicians of St. Petersburg. After a three-year cooperation, Joint stock company "Bentos" and "Mai Ltd". merged forming a new Joint stock company named "Akvamir" that started the construction of an industrial manufacture of Zosterin Ultra. M.V. Petrov became its Director General. In 1999, the company was awarded the Diploma of IV International Exhibition and Congress "High technologies. Innovations. Investments" for the development of pectin Zosterin Ultra from the marine herb. In 2000, Zosterin Ultra became a formal winner of the State competition of new technologies. In 2001, Zosterin Ultra project became a leader of the 500 projects competing, and the product was awarded a Diploma and the I.I. Mechnikov`s Gold medal of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences "For the practical contribution to the strengthening of the nation`s health". At the same time, the project won the formal competition at the Ministry of the Nuclear Industry. It was granted two interest-free State credits for the construction in St. Petersburg of a large-scale industrial manufacture. In 2002, formal "Guidelines for the application of pectin "Zosterin Ultra" in the treatment and prevention purposes at the enterprises of a nuclear fuel cycle and the territories polluted with radioactive compounds" coded МР-12.07-02 were issued by the Ministry of Health. State Research Institute of Radiation Hygiene of the Ministry of Health confirmed and approved the data on accelerated elimination of plutonium and other heavy metals from the body by Zosterin Ultra (statement of the expert committee N 111/2, dated 24.10.02).