Reliance Life Science, the biotechnology initiative of the Ambanis, has begun exports of herbal and aromatic oil extracts to Europe, Japan and South East Asia.
The products, which find application in cosmetic and nutraceuticals, are being exported under the brand name ReliCare.
The company has made its entry by exporting Aloe Vera in the $2 billion global cosmetic market.
Used globally as skin care product, Aloe Vera also has medicinal values that can be used as a good antidote for cancer and skin burns.
Currently, Aloe Vera is used in the form of gel, powder and juice as an active ingredient in the cosmetic products.
Though the achievements are still small compared to Reliance group's size, Reliance Life Science is working with other companies in finding application of medicinal and aromatic plants in drugs and cosmetic areas and the applications are being tested and studied at its research facilities in Jamnagar.
Company officials feel sprayed powder are highest standard of quality and has set up a steam distillation plant to process four tonne of biomass a day.
"This is a proof of concept. Once markets accept the product, there is a scope for larger scaling up of our initiatives," sources said.
Reliance Life is also extracting aromatic oils from Patchouli, Geranium and Lemon Grass under the brand names ReliCare Pa, ReliCare Ge and ReliCare Le respectively. The essential oils from these plants are anti-bacterial and anti-fungal in nature.
The group's approach towards development of this business is being summed up as an insider, "We are creating foundation for business and not business."
This will be achieved by outsourcing the requirements.
Although at the moment, Reliance is using planting material from its own farms. It has planted MAP across 130 acres at Jamnagar.
However, the company is also in basic research along with a score of vendors to find out ways and means of various applications.
Once the demand for Aloe Vera and other medicinal/aromatic plants picks up, the company will use its tissue culture facility to enhance its output as contract farming will not work.
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