Medicinal Plants

Out of the wild: Increase of botanicals in cultivation not linked to conservation status

05-Jan-2023 By Asia Sherman

The number of medicinal and aromatic plant (MAP) species in cultivation is dramatically higher than previously thought, according to a new global estimate, but not because they are all facing extinction in the wild.

Sustainable Herbs Program launches comprehensive toolkit to help companies bolster sustainability efforts

23-Apr-2020 By Hank Schultz

The Sustainable Herbs Program has launched a comprehensive sustainability toolkit document that can help support a cultural shift at companies toward sustainability, traceability and environmental responsibility.

President of Mauritius recognized by ABC for contributions to medicinal plant research

15-Mar-2017

Her Excellency Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, PhD, President of the Republic of Mauritius, is the recipient of the American Botanical Council’s 2016 Norman R. Farnsworth Excellence in Botanical Research Award.

Bulletin highlights vegetable oil adulteration issues for saw palmetto extracts

06-Feb-2017 By Stephen Daniells

Low-cost vegetable oils are being used as adulterants for saw palmetto extracts, explains the latest Botanical Adulterants Bulletin from the ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program.

Minerals, botanicals, & Ayurveda: Lessons from 2016’s special editions

14-Dec-2016 By Adi Menayang

Supplements are sourced from many parts of our planet. This year, we dedicated some of our in-depth coverage to ingredients from the land: Minerals, botanicals, and the ancient South Asian system of Ayurveda. This is part of a series of our special edition...

Special Edition: Botanicals

What’s going on with the NY AG 7?

21-Sep-2016 By Stephen Daniells

The initial investigation launched by NY Attorney General Eric Schneiderman focused on seven herbs - Echinacea, garlic, Ginkgo biloba, ginseng, Saw Palmetto, St John’s wort and Valerian. We review the data to see what’s happened to these ingredients. 

Nature’s Way adopts 5 botanicals through ABC Adopt-an-Herb program

12-Aug-2016

Nature’s Way has adopted black cohosh (Actaea racemosa), hawthorn (Crataegus spp.), umckaloabo (Pelargonium sidoides), lavender (Lavandula spp.), and ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) through the ABC Adopt-an-Herb Program.

“There is significant opportunity for relaxation beverages," Traditional Medicinals manager says

24-Nov-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

Traditional Medicinals sees untapped potential for growth in the emerging calming beverage category, which consumers are turning to for help counterbalancing the effects of popular energy drinks and everyday stress.

Turmeric/curcumin supplement sales grow 26%, total herbal supplements sales top $6 billion for the first time

03-Sep-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Sales of herbal dietary supplements with turmeric/curcumin as the primary ingredient grew by 26.2% in 2013 to take the top spot in the natural channel, says a new report published in the current issue of the American Botanical Council’s HerbalGram.

Harvest data on top-selling herbs reveals tonnage rollercoaster ride

07-Mar-2012 By Elaine Watson

New data from the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) reveals that harvests of top-selling herbs black cohosh, slippery elm bark and cascara sagrada have been pretty volatile over the past decade, although goldenseal root has been far more consistent.

Advertising watchdog backs sleep supplement ads

25-Mar-2011 By Shane Starling

Sleep-promoting dietary supplements containing melatonine, L-Theanine, valerian, lemon balm, hops, chamomile and passion flower have been largely OK'd by the the National Advertising Division (NAD) of the Council of Better Business Bureaus.

Passion flower may boost sleep quality: Study

17-Feb-2011 By Nathan Gray

Drinking a cup of passion flower tea may boost sleep quality by around five percent, according to a new study.

AHPA takes Consumer Reports’ “Dirty Dozen” to task

06-Aug-2010 By Shane Starling

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) says the Consumer Reports article that this week criticized the dietary supplements industry for being under-regulated and named a “dirty dozen” of supplement ingredients to avoid, is guilty of the kind...

Industry groups defend against supplements attack

04-Aug-2010 By Shane Starling

The Consumer Reports attack on dietary supplements has drawn a stiff reaction from industry who have questioned the grounds on which the criticism has been based, but it could have been worse according to the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN).

Depression herb researched for other indications

07-Apr-2010 By staff reporter

St John's wort – best known for its ability to combat mild to medium depression – is being studied by the US Agricultural Research Service (ARS) for non-mental health benefits.

African extracts employ nanotech processing

31-Mar-2009

Fledgling South African ingredients firm, AfriNatural Corporation, is using a patented encapsulation process it says will improve the salability of its offerings in the North American market.

Climate change threatens medicinal plants, says ABC

20-Feb-2009 By staff reporter

A new review has found that changing weather conditions are threatening the existence of some species of medicinal plants, which could have a knock-on effect on supplies and prices of extracts used in dietary supplements.

Verdure launches organic botanical extracts

04-Dec-2008 By Lorraine Heller

Verdure Sciences has launched a line of USDA-certified organic fruit and plant extracts, designed for use primarily in dietary supplements.

AHPA survey to track latest herbal harvests

10-Sep-2008 By Lorraine Heller

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is calling for input into its sixth botanical tonnage survey, which tracks annual harvests of North American herbs used as ingredients in dietary supplements.

Bell releases top ten flavor forecast for 2008

14-Feb-2008 By staff reporter

Mango has come out as the top sweet flavor trend for 2008 according
to Bell Flavors and Fragrances.

AOAC call for ingredient priority for validated test methods

20-Mar-2006 By staff reporter

The AOAC Task Force on Dietary Supplements has issued a call for
industry, government or academia to prioritize ingredients that
need validated methods.

Herbalife halts sale of digestion product in Israel

14-Feb-2005

Leading supplements distributor Herbalife said yesterday that it
had stopped selling one of its products in Israel after an
investigation by health officials over complaints that it caused
liver problems.

Africa looking to raise standards for herbals

02-Feb-2005

A quality push for producers of African medicinal plants could help
bring more novel products onto Europe's herbals market, reports
Dominique Patton.

Weeds being overlooked as natural medicines

09-Jun-2004

Herbal companies looking for new products may not need to go far to
find new medicinal plants, according to a review, which finds that
weeds have produced more drugs and natural remedies than tropical
plants found in the rainforest.

Herbal labeling depends on brand, not benchmarks

07-Nov-2003

Different brands of the same herbal products available to US
consumers may vary substantially in recommended dose and listed
ingredients, researchers report in a new study, which appears to
suggest that doctors can do little to assess...

SupplySide West kicks off with botanical seminars

01-Oct-2003

The SupplySide West show begins today with a packed seminar
schedule delivered by National Institutes of Health researchers,
ahead of the main exhibition opening tomorrow.

Boosting botanicals at SupplySide West

25-Jun-2003

Scientists studying botanicals as dietary supplements will present
their findings at the expanded seminar program for SupplySide West
this October.

Linnea extends US product line

28-Mar-2003

Linnea, the Swiss manufacturer and distributor of botanical
extracts for the dietary supplement, pharmaceutical and cosmetics
industries, has extended the range of products available to
customers in the US.

Water gives boost to nutraceuticals market

24-Jan-2002

The growing importance of bottled water enriched with vitamins,
minerals and herbal ingredients means that the simplest of food
products has now become a major driver of growth in the
nutraceutical market.