Lime Peel Extract from Pukyong National University
Receives Official Recognition for Sleep Improvement
Lays Foundation for Global Expansion and Export
Pukyong National University (President Bae Sanghoon) announced that a product developed by faculty startup Nutrite Co., Ltd. (CEO Cho Seungmok, Professor of Food Engineering) has been recognized for its potential to improve sleep quality.
Pukyong National University stated on June 9 that its "Lime Peel Extract" has been officially recognized by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety under certification number 2025-26.
The Nutrite corporate research institute has been focusing on developing sleep-functional ingredients that can secure a competitive edge in the global health supplement market, with support from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' TIPS program. With this individual recognition, Lime Peel Extract has established a foundation for global expansion.
Since its founding in 2021, Nutrite has identified the growth potential of the sleep functionality sector and began developing K-sleep functional ingredients. From the outset, the research was conducted with global market entry in mind, aiming for superior efficacy compared to existing overseas products. The company placed particular emphasis on meeting the standards required for entry into advanced markets such as the United States.
The sleep-improving effects of this extract have been scientifically validated not only through cell and animal experiments but also through human clinical trials. It was found to act on the central nervous system by activating GABA receptors, thereby enhancing sleep quality.
Clinical trials using polysomnography confirmed significant improvements in key indicators, including an 8.5% increase in sleep efficiency, reduced sleep onset latency, increased total sleep time, decreased wake time after sleep onset, and increased deep sleep (Stage 2). The degree of improvement in sleep efficiency was evaluated to be comparable to that of standard sleep medications.
The research results have been published in top-tier journals in the field, such as those with impact factors of 6.9 and 6.7, earning academic recognition as well.
Prior to the individual recognition by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Nutrite signed a domestic distribution agreement with Greenstore Co., Ltd. (CEO Park Youngchang). Various sleep health supplement products containing Lime Peel Extract are scheduled to be released in the second half of this year.
CEO Cho Seungmok plans to focus on exporting Lime Peel Extract overseas, building on the domestic business. In January of this year, Nutrite signed exclusive supply agreements with distributors in North America, including the United States and Canada, and is currently in discussions with leading global health supplement companies. Recently, Lime Peel Extract has been featured in international industry media such as 'Nutraceutical Business Review' and 'NutraIngredients,' drawing attention in the global market.
Kim Sunghee, head of the research institute, stated, "Lime Peel Extract has demonstrated not only sleep-improving effects but also excellent efficacy in relieving stress and alleviating tension," adding, "We will further enhance the value of this ingredient through various functional studies in the future."
The domestic health functional food market continues to grow steadily, but dependence on imported ingredients remains high, and the export of domestically developed functional ingredients is still limited. With this individual recognition, Nutrite aims to contribute to enhancing the global competitiveness of domestic functional ingredients.
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