CELEXT07 a new botanical agent for grey mold;
Mondias to target small fruit cultivation market

MONTREAL, Dec. 5, 2018 /CNW/ - Mondias Natural Products Inc ("Mondias" or "NHP"), (TSXV: NHP), updates the market on results after the completion of a second NSERC ENGAGE funded research project with McGill University on its innovative botanical agent CELEXT07. The studies demonstrated that CELEXT07 when used as a soil drench agent at a single dose or repeated doses significantly reduced Grey Mold (Botrytis cinereal) lesions on two horticultural plants, tomato and lettuce.

Large scale greenhouse trials evaluating the efficacy of CELEXT07 extracts in disease suppression of Grey Mold were performed on two horticultural plants. The infection from Grey Mold on non-detached leaves of soil-drenched plants was significantly reduced. Compared to control treatment, disease index decreased by almost 90%. Other experiments demonstrated the ability of CELEXT07 to significantly reduce Grey Mold lesions on detached leaves (P <0.05). The study also showed that from an economical point of view, a single dose treatment was sufficient.

Grey Mold is a plant pathogen that causes significant devastating diseases on over 500 plant species (including fruits and vegetables). These infections result in annual economic losses between $10 billion to $100 billion worldwide (L. Hua et al. 2018). In addition, about one-third of the food produced worldwide for human consumption is lost after harvest (Gastavsson et al., 2011).  Infections by fungus are a major factor of food wastage and Grey Mold is considered one of the most important postharvest decays of fresh fruit and vegetables (Romanazzi et al., 2016).

Mondias' research will pave the road for the commercialization of a new botanical-based agent for prevention and management of Grey Mold infections in horticultural crops as well as the prevention of lesions on harvested crops. The corporation plans to collaborate with agricultural product firms to develop and commercialize products aimed at reducing food wastage. Being a natural botanical extract, the CELEXT07 agent will readily decompose in the environment and such agents are considered low risk by pesticide regulators due to their natural origin.

Mr. Jean-Philippe Gravel, CEO of Mondias Naturals Inc stated, "For the last 4 years Mondias has been studying the properties of CELEXT07 as well as preparing for its commercialization. We are now targeting partnerships for the commercialization of natural products to bring the CELEXT07 botanical agent to the market in 2019." According to Allied Market Research, the global fungicide product market had revenues of $11 billion dollars in 2015 and is expected to grow to approximately $17 billion dollars by 2022. Mr. Gravel added, "With its commercialization and partnership strategy, Mondias intends to become a key player in this fungicide market offering a natural solution to the prevention of Grey Mold while helping stimulate plant growth."

About Grey Mold
Grey Mold (Botrytis cinerea) is a fungus that affects many plant species. It is well known for its infections in wine grapes. In viticulture, it is known as "botrytis bunch rot". The fungus affects more than 200 plant species and can result in serious economic losses to both field and greenhouse grown crops. The fungus can infect mature or senescent tissues, plants prior to harvest, or seedlings. Horticultural crops include vegetables such as lettuce, broccoli, and beans and small fruit crops such as grape, strawberry, and raspberry.

About Mondias Natural Products Inc.
Mondias specializes in the commercialization and development of evidence based botanical products for the health care and bio agriculture markets. The company is already selling both oral and topical botanical agents to help manage unmet medical needs through Holizen Laboratories, one of its divisions. Mondias is also developing botanical based specialty fertilizers for use on household plants, urban gardens, lawns, golf courses, nurseries or greenhouses in collaboration with McGill's Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. 

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking statements
Some statements in this release may contain forward-looking information. All statements, other than of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding potential acquisitions and financings) are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words "may", "will", "should", "continue", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "intend", "plan" or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict, that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, without limitation, the inability of the Company to obtain sufficient financing to execute the Company's business plan; competition; regulation and anticipated and unanticipated costs and delays, the success of the Company's research and development strategies, the success of this joint venture, the ability to obtain orphan drug status, the applicability of the discoveries made therein, the successful and timely completion and uncertainties related to the regulatory process, the timing of clinical trials, the timing and outcomes of regulatory or intellectual property decisions and other risks disclosed in the Company's public disclosure record on file with the relevant securities regulatory authorities. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results or events not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. While no definitive documentation has yet been signed by the parties and there is no certainty that such documentation will be signed. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake an obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless required by applicable securities legislation.

www.mondias.ca 

SOURCE Mondias Natural Products Inc.

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