Sibelius Natural Products unveils new chamomile sleep aid
Sibelius used SupplySide West as a launchpad for their latest chamomile supplement. The UK-based ingredient developer debuted its second branded extract, a new chamomile offering positioned as a better sleep aid.
Charting new product development territory
Using a proprietary assay, Sibelius formulated a special raw material for a new chamomile extract for the US market. Sibelius said their chamomile supplement is a scientifically evidenced, high-quality Roman Chamomile extract (Chamaemelum nobile L. All.) specially formulated to support restful sleep and maintain immune health. It is derived from a proprietary, non-GMO cultivar of Roman chamomile, grown in the UK for Sibelius Natural Products. Research has shown that Roman chamomile provides potent support for a healthy inflammatory response and can deliver muscle-relaxing effects.
Sibelius product manager Loukiana Chatzinasiou said the company used proprietary screening technology (branded as Chronoscreen) to determine the precise bioactivity of candidate compounds and raw materials like the Roman Chamomile. This ability to precisely delineate what these bioactive ingredients are doing at the cellular level sets the company’s product development approach apart. Chatzinasiou added that this platform allowed them to screen over 300 herbal ingredients.
Roman Chamomile > German Chamomile
The company notes that their ingredient is of the Roman species, not to be confused with German Chamomile (M. camomilla L.). Sibelius maintains that Roman Chamomile’s therapeutic effects are considered more efficacious due to its exceptional safety profile, source of flavonoids, and azulene compounds for enhanced immune support.
“The benefits of balanced sleep will help improve overall well-being, and we are thrilled to make Sibelius Chamomile available to US manufacturers to further address society’s need for aging healthier,” said Chris Holland, vice president of sales at Barrington Nutritionals. “Sibelius developed a scientifically-validated, proprietary extract from Roman chamomile, which offers consumers support for better sleep and improved immune health. Due to the stressors of everyday life, the market for sleep support has continued to increase.”
Sweet dreams for sleep aid market
Analysts expect sleep support spending to skyrocket, with consumers spending $101.9 billion in the sleep aid category by 2023. While insomnia and sleep deprivation aren’t anything new, the approach to treating them is evolving. With the so many experiencing pill fatigue, consumers are opting for non-prescription remedies. The University of Pennsylvania’s Dr. Michael Grandner has spent much of his career studying sleep. He previously told NutraIngredients-USA, “As the growth of standard products, like ZZZQuil, begin to plateau, more consumers may turn back to natural products that they perceive to be less addictive and have fewer side effects like residual drowsiness and grogginess.”
“Sleep plays an essential role in maintaining proper mental and physical health and emotional wellbeing,” said Chatzinasiou. “Society today is overwhelmed with work, social, and home life which makes it difficult to disconnect and unplug. Because of this, sleep deprivation and herbal sleep aid sales have increased. Sibelius Chamomile is a chance to help consumers relax and give their bodies some much needed rest.”
More options to come
A spokesperson for Sibelius told NutraIngredients-USA that their botanical ingredient is currently only available in the form of a tincture (aqueous ethanolic extract, 68% ethanol). However, the company plans to develop a dry powder from the extract to make it easier for clients to formulate other delivery formats. She said it is a work in progress and Sibelius expects to have more details early next year.
