NPEW 2025 preview: Sabinsa and Pharmactive Biotech feature targeted botanical health solutions

At next week’s Natural Products Expo West (NPEW) trade show (March 5–7) in Anaheim, California, US, the nutrition and food industries will showcase their latest innovations in functional foods, health, and wellness. Ahead of the show, Nutrition Insight meets with Pharmactive Biotech and Sabinsa to explore the companies’ natural and botanical health offerings at NPEW.

Carlos Rodriguez, communication manager at Pharmactive Biotech, says the company will showcase its science-backed solutions for the nutraceutical sector at booth #3611. 

“We’ll highlight how our high-quality, standardized ingredients enhance formulations with efficacy, safety, and consumer trust while strengthening partnerships and promoting responsible innovation.”

Rodriguez highlights the importance of combining scientific validation, personalization, and sustainable innovation to meet the expectations of more informed and conscientious consumers. 

“The nutrition market is evolving toward greater personalization and precision as advancements in research and technology enable brands to create tailored health solutions based on individual needs. Personalized nutrition, microbiome research, and AI-driven health recommendations are expected to shape the industry’s future.” 

At the same time, he observes sustainability becoming “a defining standard,” influencing everything from ingredient sourcing to packaging and production methods. “Consumers are not just looking for efficacy but also for responsibly developed products that align with environmental and ethical values.”

Meanwhile, Sabinsa will showcase its portfolio of sustainably sourced, natural, and well-researched ingredients supported by clinical studies. 

Shaheen Majeed, the company’s global CEO and managing director, highlights that many of Sabinsa’s offerings to be on display at NPEW booth 4239 received generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status, “making them appropriate for being incorporated into functional foods or beverages.”

At a separate booth (#4547), the company will showcase its recently acquired Ayurvedic brand, Nature’s Formulary, which is integrated into its Consumer Goods division. Majeed says this division will focus on wellness products, such as “America’s Finest, Nature’s Formulary, and Sanutra Wellness brands.”

Targeted solutions

Rodriguez says consumer demand for effective natural solutions drives a shift from generic botanical claims toward scientifically validated formulations, highlighting that “consumers and regulatory bodies demand stronger clinical support.” 

He also spots a continued focus on preventive health, specifically in mental well-being and cardiovascular health, where leading brands seek natural ingredients with measurable benefits. 

Majeed observes a growing popularity of the Ayurveda traditional health system and its botanical ingredients.“Sustainability is also a key factor, with companies prioritizing ethically sourced, eco-conscious formulations,” Rodriguez adds. 

“Affron and Abg+ are perfectly aligned with these industry shifts, offering premium, clinically supported botanical extracts that meet the demand for transparency, efficacy, and sustainability in today’s competitive market.” 

Ayurvedic inspiration

Sabinsa highlights that botanical ingredients used in the Ayurveda traditional health system fuel innovation across the global nutraceutical industry. Majeed observes the growing popularity of Ayurveda. 

“As consumers seek out safe and natural ways to restore balance, Ayurveda has thousands of years of knowledge on wellness routines. Companies like Sabinsa have studied textbooks on Ayurvedic treatments and confirmed and expanded upon the clinical benefits.”

“We take a meticulous, scientific approach in identifying the active compound or molecule, extracting it safely and naturally, and unlocking the great health benefits first documented thousands of years ago,” he adds. “Sabinsa’s products are used by brands that formulate with ingredients backed by published clinical studies.” 

At NPEW 2025 next week, the company will showcase a range of botanical ingredients, such as LivLonga, a formulation of three scientifically validated ingredients: Curcumin C3 Complex, Livinol, and the bioavailability enhancer BioPerine.

Curcumin C3 Reduct is an antioxidant for maintaining organ health, which shows “cumulatively stronger activity compared to parent curcuminoids,” says Majeed. Containing calebin A, an analog of curcumin, CurCousin is a patented and clinically studied brand for metabolic health and healthy weight management. 

At NPEW, Pharmactive Biotech will highlight its Abg10+ black garlic extract for heart health formulations.The company will also feature Sagandha for stress and anxiety, an ashwagandha root extract containing 2.5% withanolide, phytochemicals found in the plant. Majeed adds that Sabinsa will present Sabroxy for healthy cognitive function. This ingredient is “a patented extract of Oroxylum indicum bark extract, bio-standardized to a unique set of compounds, Oroxylin-A, baicalein, and chrysin.” 

Moreover, Sabinsa will present biotics, such as LactoSpore, Heyndrickxia coagulans MTCC 5856, a popular clinically-validated, GRAS, and shelf-stable probiotic. It will also showcase PoZibio, a patent-protected postbiotic composition of lipoteichoic acid that is isolated from the cell walls of a heat-treated strain of Lactobacillus paracasei.

Heart and mental health

Meanwhile, Pharmactive Biotech will highlight Affron and Abg10+, details Rodriguez. 

“Affron, our clinically-backed saffron extract, is a leader in the emotional well-being and sleep market, trusted by brands looking for proven efficacy.”

Research indicates that the saffron extract has stress-relieving potential in animal subjects. Last year, Pharmactive Biotech introduced new affron gummies to meet consumer demand for convenient delivery formats. These gummies deliver 15 mg of affron each.

Rodriguez adds: “Abg10+, our advanced aged black garlic extract, is designed to support cardiovascular health, offering a natural and science-backed solution for heart-focused formulations.”  

The company recently conducted a study to address adulteration and mislabeling risks among botanical supplements. The research supports this aged garlic extract’s purity, potency, and natural claims.