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The unique probiotic strain in Florastor, Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745, was discovered in1923 by Henri Boulard, a French agricultural engineer and microbiologist. This discovery occurredwhen he observed that individuals consuming certain tropical fruits in Southeast Asia wereprotected from digestive ailments, leading him to isolate the beneficial yeast.
Henri Boulard was passionate about studying yeasts and became a prominent expert on the matter.As early as 1912, he filed industrial patents on yeast fermentation methods. This early patentactivity demonstrated his commitment to innovation and practical application within the field ofyeast research. His foundational work laid the essential groundwork for his later, most famousdiscovery.
In the early 1920s, while on assignment in French Indochina (current day Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos), Henri Boulard tooka special interest in tropical diseases such as cholera which were prevalent in the region.
Henri Boulard observed the locals consume a drink made from two native tropical fruits, lychees and mangosteens, to help treat some of the digestive issues resulting from cholera.
Curious about the health benefits, Henri Boulard studied the compositions of the lychee and mangosteen skins and wasable to identify and isolate a specific yeast from the Saccharomyces family.
The properties of this unique yeast made it ideal as a probiotic given its ability to survive the harsh environment of stomachacids and provide digestive benefits.
Understanding the importance of this discovery, Henri Boulard named and registered this specificyeast after himself, thus the name Saccharomyces boulardi. This act of nomenclature permanentlylinked his legacy to the probiotic strain within the scientific and medical community. It establisheda lasting scientific identity that continues to be recognized worldwide.
Biocodex, a French pharmaceutical company, purchased the exclusive rights to Saccharomycesboulardii in 1953 and improved its culture medium and fermentation process to achievepharmaceutical quality. This strategic acquisition and subsequent refinement were crucial fortransforming the strain intoa standardized and reliable medicinal product.
Biocodex officially registered its unique probiotic strain in 1988 at the Pasteur Institute in Parisunder the name Saccharomyces boulardi CNCM I-745. This registration at the prestigious PasteurInstitute's Collection Nationale de Cultures de Microorganismes (CNCM) established the definitiveidentity and scientific reference for the proprietary yeast strain.
Biocodex introduced Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 in North America under the brandname Florastor in2002. This market entry established a dedicated brand identity for the probioticstrain in the region, making it widely accessible to consumers and healthcare professionals. Thelaunch marked a significant step in expanding the global presence of this specific probioticformulation.
In2023, Saccharomyces boulardiiCNCM l-745 celebrated 100years since its discovery and 70 years of safe use and researchas a probiotic under Biocodex.
Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 is the #lselling probiotic in its class worldwidet, is available in nearly 100 countries, andhas over 1,000 scientific publications.
Florastor is the only probiotic in North America withSaccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745.