Evening Primrose Oil - a rich source of GLA

What is the history of the Evening Primrose plant?

The Evening Primrose plant (Oenothera spp) originated in Central America some 70,000 years ago. It reached Europe in the eighteenth century via the soil used as ballast in ships carrying light cargo such as cotton. The seeds germinated readily, colonising waste areas around ports and railway lines where the ballast was discarded. Even today Evening Primrose is most commonly found growing wild along roadsides and in bloom is an attractive yellow flower.

The Efamol Difference

Think that all Evening Primrose Oil products are the same? Think again. Wild varieties of Evening Primrose vary greatly in quantity and quality of GLA. In pursuit of superior quality, Efamol has become world's leading authority on the cultivation of new breeds of Evening Primrose, and over the last 20 years our breeding programme has focused on delivering the best possible plant varieties. Because of this, we feel justified in saying that our products are of superior quality and purity compared to others.

So what makes our Evening Primrose Oil so special?

The fact that it contains 33% more GLA than most other commercially available strains - but to understand the significance of this, you have to first understand the significance of Evening Primrose Oil.

Unlike vegetable oils like sunflower, olive and safflower, Evening Primrose Oil is a rich source of Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA), a nutrient that is just as important to the body as vitamins, minerals and proteins. The body takes GLA and converts it to hormone-like substances called prostaglandins. These are particularly important as they play a role in many bodily functions such as the beating of the heart and the communications within the brain. You can learn more about the role of GLA in the section of this site called 'The Importance of Fatty Acids'.

After twenty years' of research, our scientists have developed strains of Evening Primrose plant that produce the finest quality oil, with a consistent percentage of vital GLA. Indeed, we have been granted the equivalent of plant 'patents' for 6 varieties of our plants, the most recent of these being for the variety 'Rigel'. Rigel Evening Primrose Oil is unique to Efamol and contains 33% more GLA than many other commercial strains - which makes it one of the most potent Evening Primrose Oils currently available.It takes 5,000 seeds from Rigel Evening Primrose plants to make one Efamol 500mg capsule. That is the equivalent of about one and a half plants to make one capsule.

The Efamol Extraction Process

GLA is an unstable substance, highly sensitive to oxidation by exposure to the air, so the way in which evening primrose oil is processed can significantly affect its stability and biological activity. Efamol has developed its own gentle extraction technique, called hexane extraction, which preserves the oil in a similar condition to that found in the seed, ensuring that it's both pure and of premium quality. The oil does not need further chemical purification or refining, greatly reducing the likelihood of oxidisation and degradation.

Many other evening primrose oils are extracted by a process called 'cold-pressing', in which seeds are squeezed at very high pressure. However, this is only really suitable for seeds containing 40 or 50% oil and has an extremely detrimental effect when applied to seeds like Evening Primrose, that contain only 20 - 25% oil:

• While the seeds themselves aren't heated prior to pressing, the process raises the temperature of the oil extracted to over 150°C, which is very damaging.
• The oil emerging from the press is 'dirty' and readily deteriorates when in contact with air.
• The oil must be refined prior to use, which strips it of valuable minor components and further increases the risk of oxidation.

Whereas our unique extraction process preserves more than integrity of the oil. Efamol Pure Evening Primrose Oil contains 4 times as many anti-oxidants like vitamin E, phospholipids and sterols than pressed and refined alternatives.

Efamol Marine Oils

The EPA, and AA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Docosahexaenoic Acid and Arachidonic Acid) found in our products are all derived from marine oils, using carefully refined raw materials to ensure they are of the highest quality and free of potentially harmful contaminants.

Fish oils vary in composition according to species, geographic origin and season. Efamol products use only fish body oils from wild not farmed fish and they do not utilise liver oils. Efamol marine oils are tightly specified to ensure they contain the correct fatty acids in the correct ratios for their specific applications and are of the purest sources available. Each batch is routinely tested to ensure that it meets the company specifications and those set down by EU authorities.

In general, high DHA oils containing some AA are used in applications relating to development of learning, cognitive and visual systems whereas high EPA oils are utilised in products for cardiovascular and inflammatory conditions.