SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwire - Feb 29, 2012) - Plandaí Biotechnology, Inc. (OTCBB: [ PLPL ]) Chief Executive Officer, Roger Duffield, announced today that Dr. Ming Hu, Professor of Pharmaceutics at the University of Houston, has accepted a position on the company's scientific board. Dr. Hu has published more than 76 peer reviewed journal articles and 13 review articles and book chapters, and is widely considered a leading expert in the field of drug metabolism and natural dietary chemicals. His book titled "Oral Bioavailability" was published in 2011 by Wiley and Sons.

With Dr. Christina Nance from the Baylor School of Medicine, Dr. Hu is the co-investigator in a US government-funded clinical trial NCT01433289, to determine the safety, dosing and antiviral effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in capsule form with HIV-1 infected, clinically stable individuals that are not on concomitant antiretroviral (ARV) Therapy.

Dr. Hu has extensively studied the absorption of chemicals in the upper intestines, as a process for effectively delivering flavonoid nutrients, such as those found in green tea extract; and has proposed a method of understanding the coupling between conjugating enzyme and efflux transporters. Conjugating enzymes are traditionally recognized as one of the major biological barriers to the entry of xenobiotics (drugs) into systemic circulation. Drugs that undergo extensive conjugation generally have poor bioavailability properties. Dr. Hu has also pioneered the concept of using lipozyme as a powerful, fat-digesting complex that aids digestion and enhances absorption of nutrients.

Dr. Hu's extensive published research extends to improving the bioavailability of natural, organic compounds with cancer fighting properties including both phenolics and ginseng; purifying anticancer ingredients of herbal materials and decreasing the bioavailability of dietary carcinogens.

Roger Duffield, Chief Executive Officer of Plandaí, commented, "In his role on Plandaí's scientific board, Dr. Hu will be able to apply his specific expertise to the development of highly effective, bioavailable products that are easily metabolized in the body. Having a researcher of his caliber and background on our team is a huge benefit as we continue building Plandaí into a leader in the field of biotechnology."

About Plandaí Biotechnology, Inc.

Plandaí Biotechnology, Inc., through its recent acquisition of Global Energy Solutions, Ltd. and its subsidiaries, focuses on the farming of whole fruits, vegetables and live plant material and the production of proprietary functional foods and botanical extracts for the health and wellness industry. Its principle holdings consist of land, farms and infrastructure in South Africa.

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