Botanicals

Cocoa, tea compound may slash heart disease mortality by 40%

10-Jun-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Long-term consumption of epicatechin, a compound found in tea, apples, and cocoa, may significantly boost heart health and reduce the risk of heart-related mortality, says a new study from The Netherlands.

Bulletin highlights adulteration of 'folkloric' star goldenseal

09-Jun-2016 By Hank Schultz

The American Botanical Council has extended its series on herbal adulteration with a bulletin focusing on goldenseal.

Ginger linked to healthier hearts: Study

08-Jun-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Daily consumption of ginger may reduce the risk of many chronic conditions, including high blood pressure and coronary heart disease, says a new paper from Chinese researchers.

CRN: Dietary supplements industry contributes $122 billion, 750K jobs to US economy

08-Jun-2016 By Stephen Daniells

The US dietary supplements industry’s contributes over $120 billion to the US economy, or 0.68% of GDP, says a new report.

Rosemary extract may improve brain trauma-induced cognitive deficits, rat study finds

07-Jun-2016 By Adi Menayang

By observing how well rats with mild brain trauma navigate through a maze after being administered with rosemary extract, researchers saw a relation between the extract and improved cognitive deficits.

Psyllium shows satiety benefits: P&G study

06-Jun-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Psyllium – a soluble, gel-forming, non-fermented fiber supplement – may help consumers stay fuller for longer, says a new study from scientists at Proctor & Gamble.

Protein bars to gummies: New supplement product launches in June

03-Jun-2016 By Adi Menayang

Three new gummies by Jarrow Formulas hint at the popularity of the candy-like delivery format, while pastry-like protein bars by sports nutrition brand Cellucor further confirm America's sweet tooth. Another trend seen in launches this month are...

HIA petitions DEA to remove industrial hemp from controlled substance list: ‘It has no potential whatsoever for drug abuse’

02-Jun-2016 By Elaine Watson

The Hemp Industries Association and the Kentucky Hemp Industry Council have filed a petition with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to remove industrial hemp plants from its list of controlled substances.

Sweet cherry anthocyanins support liver health... for rats at least

01-Jun-2016 By Adi Menayang

Anthocyanins from sweet cherries may protect against diet-induced liver steatosis, or excessive amounts of fat in the liver’s tissue, says a new study with rats. 

Tart cherry supplements may speed recovery and boost performance: Study

01-Jun-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Short-term supplementation with Montmorency Tart Cherry powder may reduce inflammatory stress and increase performance in aerobically trained individuals, says a new study.

Subpar rosaceae-derived supplements abundant, USDA researcher says

31-May-2016 By Adi Menayang

According to a new study published in the NFS Journal and funded by the USDA Agriculture Research Service, eight of the 33 dietary supplements derived from Rosaceae fruits had no detectable anthocynins or were adulterated with anthocyanins from unlabelled...

Sesame and rice bran oil blend lowers hyperglycaemia and improves lipids, study finds

31-May-2016 By Adi Menayang

In a study focusing on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, researchers found that in an 8-week, open-label  trial, using a blend of 20% cold-pressed sesame oil and 80% physically refined rice bran oil as cooking oil lowered hyperglycaemia and improved...

Flaxseed supplementation may aid metabolic syndrome management, study finds

26-May-2016 By Adi Menayang

Researchers in Iran found that 30-g brown milled flaxseed daily helped study participants lower their blood markers of metabolic syndrome more than lifestyle changes did alone.

Review supports safety of green tea extracts

25-May-2016 By Hank Schultz

A recent systematic review of clinical trials using green tea extract underscores the ingredient’s overall safety, despite some recent associations with liver damage.

Cranberry players unite

24-May-2016 By Shane Starling

Botanicals firm Diana Food has bought a Canadian start-up to expand its technology and footprint in cranberry and other fruits and pursue novel health domains.

ConAgra Foods strikes $340m deal to sell Spicetec flavors and seasonings business to Givaudan

24-May-2016 By Elaine Watson

ConAgra Foods has struck a $340m deal to sell its Spicetec flavors and seasonings business to Givaudan as it continues to reshape its portfolio.

TABS Analytics Vitamins & Minerals Study: Are heavy users in decline?

23-May-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Heavy buyers of vitamin and mineral supplement products are in decline, according to new research from the TABS Analytics.

Plant-based and transparent: How contract manufacturers innovate in a global market

19-May-2016 By Adi Menayang

The old adage “customer is king” rings true to most industries. But for companies working mostly in the B2B space, like contract manufacturers, the end consumer sits on an even higher throne.

Prunus mume extract significantly benefit liver functions over placebo

18-May-2016 By Adi Menayang

The Asian plum of the rosaceae family, has been studied for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and liver protecting properties. A study funded by Swiss company Stragen Pharma looks deeper into how this plum extract can benefit the liver.

Caraway extract shows slimming potential for women

18-May-2016 By Stephen Daniells

An aqueous extract of caraway seeds may suppress appetite and help slim waistlines and thighs in physically active women, says a new study.

WellWell founder: Cold pressed juices can be the future of sport drinks

18-May-2016 By Adi Menayang

The month-old organic beverage brand has won the hearts of New York City’s health and wellness enthusiasts, but founder Sagan Schultz is confident that his product can expand well beyond the big apple.

Scandinavian solvent-free berry player boasts nutrient boost

18-May-2016 By Lynda Searby

Danish biotech firm Asiros has launched a range of berry powders produced via a patent-pending solvent-free process that protects the nutrients and polyphenols, overcoming the shortcomings of ethanol and water extraction methods.

CV Sciences forges ahead with CBD development despite regulatory uncertainties

17-May-2016 By Hank Schultz

Ground breaking CBD firm CV Sciences is seeking to shed the stigma of what one executive called “the most controversial plant in the history of our industry.”

Ashwagandha root extract may boost cardiorespiratory endurance: RCT

17-May-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Supplements of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera [L.] Dunal) root extract may improve endurance during exercise, says a new study using the KSM-66 brand of Ashwagandha from Ixoreal Biomed.

DISPATCHES FROM VITAFOODS EUROPE 2016

The heart health market: All in the same vein?

17-May-2016 By Will Chu

Those that visited this year’s Vitafoods conference in Geneva would not have failed to notice the growing range of products claiming to support cardiovascular health, in one shape or another.

The Vitamin Shoppe launches AppeFit supplement for weight management

13-May-2016 By Adi Menayang

The powder will be among the few weight management products out there using the relatively new Appethyl spinach-extract ingredient.

Bonolive self-affirmed GRAS status for olive polyphenol ingredient

12-May-2016

An independent panel of experts has affirmed the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status of Bonolive, a unique clinically validated olive polyphenol ingredient for bone health by Ferrer HealthTech.

New ‘Botanical Adulterants Bulletins’ series launched to help raise awareness of herb adulteration

12-May-2016 By Stephen Daniells

The ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program has announced the publication of a new series of reviews on adulteration of botanical ingredients called the Botanical Adulterants Bulletins (BABs).

Harris Poll results found younger generations more likely to embrace ‘alternative’ treatments

12-May-2016 By Adi Menayang

After surveying 2,252 US adults, The Harris Poll found that 25% of Millennials are using alternative therapies for their health than conventional options.

RCT supports cardiovascular safety of Bitter Orange in healthy people

12-May-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Consuming extracts of bitter orange extracts do not (Citrus aurantium) do not detrimentally affect measures of heart function in healthy people, says a new double-blinded, placebo-controlled cross-over study.

Turmeric, matcha & mushroom among specialty teas that are engaging Millennials and driving sales

11-May-2016 By Elizabeth Crawford

Sales of tea in the US continue to climb steadily, thanks in part to a big push from interest in specialty tea – especially by millennials, according to the Tea Association of America. 

The rise of adaptogenic herbs: ‘These herbs help mitigate stress & we live in a stressful environment’

11-May-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Interest in adaptogenic herbs is increasing, but how does industry communicate the benefits to consumers, and which herbs work this way?

Grape juice giant Welch’s eyes supplements industry with FruitWorx

10-May-2016 By Adi Menayang

The company says that FruitWorx can offer a new way of delivering the nutritional benefits of grapes, as well as providing combinations with other nutrients through infusion.

FDA’s new dietary supplement office should focus on tainted products, GMPs & NDIs, industry leaders say

10-May-2016 By Elizabeth Crawford

With the recent elevation of dietary supplement oversight from a division to its own office at FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, the agency should renew its focus on reducing tainted supplements, improving compliance with good manufacturing...

Amaranth extract goes head to head with beet as nitrate source

06-May-2016 By Lynda Searby

Indian firm Arjuna Natural is launching its Oxystorm branded amaranth extract to the European sports nutrition market at Vitafoods, on the back of peer-reviewed clinical research and growing demand for nitrate for athletes.

The retail buyer’s guide to new products at the Healthy & Natural Show: Supplements

06-May-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Walking the floor at the Healthy & Natural Show and looking for the new and innovative? We round-up the new products in the supplement aisles.

Drinking cherry juice may lower high blood pressure: Study

05-May-2016 By Will Chu

Drinking cherry juice may be as effective as medication in reducing high blood pressure, researchers have discovered.

Maypro to market Afrigetics’ Zulu herbal testosterone ingredient

04-May-2016 By Adi Menayang

The Bulbine natalensis plant has been used by the Zulu for many generations to boost male virility. Afrigetics and Maypro are bringing the ingredient stateside, where demand from sports enthusiast and Baby Boomers make promising ground for new testosterone...

Resveratrol’s blood pressure benefits may pass from mother to child

04-May-2016

Hereditary hypertension may not pass the generations if the mother is given resveratrol supplements during pregnancy, suggests a new study with lab rats.

Horphag CEO: “Marketing alone won’t do it; we give more weight to education”

03-May-2016 By Adi Menayang

An already a familiar name in the supplements industry, Horphag is ramping up its consumer education efforts on Pycnogenol to appeal to the new wave of environmentally-conscious, well-researched, and clean-label oriented consumers.

Novel bitter melon extract show metabolic and anti-obesity effects: Study

03-May-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Oil extracts from the seeds of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) may help reduce body weight, suggests a new study from China.

The top picks from the education sessions at the Healthy & Natural Show

02-May-2016 By Stephen Daniells

The inaugural Healthy & Natural Show kicks off on Thursday, May 5 with a top quality education program. In this special gallery we trawl through the program and give you our top picks for the event at Chicago’s Navy Pier.

CBD firm CV Sciences posts sales gain, still struggles with net losses

02-May-2016 By Hank Schultz

One of the first companies to jump into the current CBD game, CV Sciences, Inc., reported $11.5 million in sales for 2015 as it continues to struggle toward profitability.

Fish oil, cocoa & plant sterols: The winning combination against heart disease?

28-Apr-2016 By Will Chu

Combining fish oil, cocoa extract and plant sterols food supplements could offer an effective defence against heart disease, a new study suggests.  

Olive-sourced hydroxytyrosol effective in biscuits: Study

27-Apr-2016 By Lynda Searby

Olive oil phenol hydroxytyrosol has been shown to be highly bioavailable and to lower oxidised LDL (low density lipoprotein) levels when incorporated into biscuits, suggesting functional food applications could be on the horizon for this EFSA-backed polyphenol. 

Review supports immune health potential of larch arabinogalactan

26-Apr-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Supplements of Larch arabinogalactan may support immune health and help reduce the incidence of common cold infections, says a new review.

Observers say Harvard anti-supplements article so poorly done as to be 'embarrassing'

25-Apr-2016 By Hank Schultz

A recent Harvard publication blasting supplements as ‘suspect’ and ‘useless’ was criticized by industry observers as ‘unbalanced’ and even ‘embarrassing.’

special edition: gender-specific nutrition

Supply eye: What gender-based nutrition means to the worlds’ biggest herbal player

22-Apr-2016 By Shane Starling

We asked Naturex what gender-based nutrition means to the French botanicals giant.

BGG to use new Mexico City office as springboard for Latin America expansion

21-Apr-2016 By Hank Schultz

Chinese supplier BGG is taking a big step to expand the global footprint of its ingredients with recent establishment of an office in Mexico City to go along with a new European site.

Tea for three: Asia’s leading tea companies

19-Apr-2016 By RJ Whitehead

Three out of the world’s five biggest tea companies are based in Asia, according to new market research by Technavio that predicts steady growth in the global market until at least 2020. We profile each of the leaders over the coming pages.