Herbs & Botanicals

Strong sales growth and promising research make boswellia and turmeric two of the most promising Ayurvedic herbs to watch this year.

Fruit d’Or Nutraceuticals and Complete Phytochemical Solutions share new study results that explore the bacteria-disrupting mechanism of action of cranberry proanthocyanidins (PACs).

From the stellar growth of boswellia and branched-chain amino acids, to declining sales of whey protein and valerian, here are the supplement ingredients that surprised market experts from SPINS this year.

Microalgae producer Allmicroalgae Natural Products S.A. says it is moving to the next stage in its efforts to scale up production of an EPA-rich omega-3 oil derived from the algae species Nannochloropsis oceanica.

Kancor’s OxiKan CLS, a rosemary extract designed to extend shelf life in beverages, recently won a World Beverage Innovation Award at BrauBeviale 2016.

Eric Steenstra, executive director of the Hemp Industries Association, says the news that the DEA is creating a new drug code for marijuana extracts has “been blown completely out of proportion.”

The DEA clarified last week that hemp CBD does indeed fall into Schedule I drug classification of the Controlled Substances Act.

OmniActive’s capsicum and Salacia extracts have both received self-affirmed Generally Recognized as Safe status by an expert panel.

Horphag Research’s Robuvit was found to improve several markers of liver function in patients with moderate functional hepatic failure due to alcohol.

The boswellia extract was found to significantly improve knee pain in healthy adults in a new study, possibly by inhibiting secretion of hyaluronic acid into the blood.

Many of the public comments sent to FDA this week include specific examples of processes that may or may not result in chemical alteration.

In comments responding to FDA’s revised NDI draft guidance, industry trade associations challenge the agency’s stance on nature-identical botanical ingredients.

Frutarom Health’s Portusana was found to induce translocation of glucose transporter protein type 4, which may help decrease elevated blood glucose levels in diabetes patients.

The program’s newest educational tools keep stakeholders up to date on botanical adulteration.

By leading the charge on carbon-dating curcumin, the supplier is helping to guard the natural-curcumin supply chain from adulteration. 

Industry leaders offer mixed responses to the DEA’s proposal to reschedule kratom into schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act.

Superfruits may not be as trendy as they were ten years ago, but market experts share five key strategies for keeping the category ripe.

Ixoreal Biomed’s ashwagandha root extract was found to produce a significant increase in telomerase activity, which may help ameliorate the effects of aging.

A recent study found cranberry supplementation did not significantly reduce the presence of bacteria in urine in older women, but cranberry experts warn against drawing broad conclusions from the results.

The ingredients supplier has added six new “trending ingredients” to its line of botanical ingredients and extracts.

The New Dietary Ingredient notification for Algae Health Sciences’ AstaZine natural astaxanthin is the first in the industry to exceed a dosage of 12 mg per day, the firm says.

FDA has indicated it may reject vinpocetine’s status as a dietary ingredient, but leading industry trade associations argue the agency is reversing past positions in an “unprecedented” move.

Consumer demand for natural and clean-label is driving natural sweeteners like stevia. But there’s still lots of opportunity for growth.

A new animal study finds Sabinsa’s Curcumin C3 Complex combined with EPA omega-3s may attenuate weight loss in mice with colon tumors.

The supplements manufacturer pegs strain-specific probiotic identification, adaptogens, vegan products, and more as innovation trends to watch in 2017.