# What is Collagen? Collagen from Plant? Real?

> Source: https://furleybio.com/blog/what-is-collagen-collagen-from-plant-real/
> Published: 2015-04-06 | Updated: 2017-02-03
> Author: Furley Bio
> Language: en-US

# Collagen from Plants?

Recently meaning this year, there have been a variety of new products claiming to be plant based **collagen** heck some even claimed to be from algae. Personally I am not too sure if such a thing exists I always thought **collagen** originated from mammals and fish.

Essentially what I understood was that manufacturers of per say this plant **collagen** hydrolyze several forms of gluten or wheat proteins to achieve a so called **collagen**. Due to the nature of processing plant **collagen** is inactive and has no bioactive activity rending it similar to consuming fried egg white (albumin).

Another question given to us from numerous customers was the taste and smell of **collagen** be it from a variety of sources predominately bovine and marine. My usual response to most customers is based on the following:

> Garbage in garbage out

If your raw material is low quality in this case aged, oxidized, fermented and spoilt for example. Either you purify it further or you literally create a “garbage” raw material.

## Instinctive role of smell

Instinctively smell plays an important role in food and for centuries we humans have yet to get it wrong. Let me paint you a simple scenario, when fruit or meat is spoilt it gives off an unpleasant odor indicating spoilage. How much can this differ from a raw material used for food products?

Through my own opinion, I will agree a certain degree of off odors are expected due to the nature of the product. But a strong pungent smell would indicate a low quality product which is true in all instance for **collagen**.

## Terminologies

**Hydrolysed Collagen** – Should originate from a source of gelatin longer chained **collagen** where water is removed from the compound to make a smaller molecule of **collagen** as measured in Daltons (Da).

Collagen – Describes a group of **amino acids** which encompass several types.