OmniActive Health Technologies unveils sleep, stress and mood botanical nutraceuticals

OmniActive Health Technologies has debuted two specialty ingredients, Sleeproot and Zenroot, in select European markets, positioned toward sleep, stress, and mood products. The India-headquartered botanical ingredients and health solutions provider has also secured EU recognition for its Lutemax 2020.

Sleeproot is a plant-based, melatonin-free, low-dose valerian extract. Research has shown it increases sleep duration starting from the first day of supplementation. The extract is standardized to 2% valerenic acid — significantly higher than typical valerian products, which range from 0.4% to 0.8%.

This high potency, with no reported safety concerns, allows for lower dosing and greater formulation flexibility.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study published last year in Advances in Complementary & Alternative Medicine, daily use of Sleeproot also led to improvements in the time it takes to fall asleep from the third day. Participants woke up feeling refreshed and experiencing decreased feelings of occasional anxiety. The study demonstrated that Sleeproot significantly enhanced overall sleep satisfaction throughout the supplementation period.

Sleeproot is well-suited for both traditional formats, like tablets and capsules, and more challenging applications, such as gummies and ready-to-mix powders.

Alongside this launch, OmniActive’s Zenroot is a low-dose, root-only ashwagandha extract standardized to 1.5% with anolides using a USP method for consistent quality and reliability. This addresses quality challenges in the ashwagandha market. A 125 mg daily dose offers formulation flexibility for products like gummies and beverages.

Zenroot has been clinically studied to reduce feelings of occasional stress and anxiety, support a more consistent positive mood, and improve overall sleep quality. The company says its study will be published later this year.

“Bringing high-quality, clinically supported ingredients like Sleeproot and Zenroot to Europe is a key priority and further deepens our presence within this market,” says Kratika Gupta, senior VP of global marketing at OmniActive.

“These launches will allow us to meet consumer demand for holistic mental wellness while enabling our business partners to innovate confidently in one of the world’s most forward-looking markets.”

Formal recognition for Lutemax

OmniActive highlights the European nutraceuticals market was estimated at US$131.9 billion in 2024 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 6.9% from 2025 to 2030. The market growth is attributed to the increasing focus on preventative health and overall well-being, with European consumers seeking natural solutions to manage healthy aging, stress, and energy.

OmniActive is showcasing its expanded capabilities, branded ingredient solutions, and botanical actives at Vitafoods Europe 2025 in Barcelona, Spain (May 20–22).

The company also recently announced that its flagship ingredient, Lutemax 2020, received formal recognition as non-novel for use in food supplements by the competent authorities of an EU member state.

Lutemax 2020 is a patented, clinically studied ingredient sourced from marigold flowers. It delivers all three macular carotenoids — lutein, RR-zeaxanthin, and RS (meso)-zeaxanthin — in a similar 5:1 ratio to the diet.

The recent EU determination, made under the Novel Food Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, affirms the ingredient’s established history of safe use and paves the way for broader commercialization across the European market.

“This achievement reflects our commitment to rigorous compliance and scientific integrity,” says Arpita Tamhankar, director of regulatory affairs at OmniActive. “The non-novel status reaffirms Lutemax 2020’s established safety profile and reinforces its position as a leading macular carotenoid ingredient for European markets.”

Ten peer-reviewed clinical study publications have demonstrated its efficacy in supporting visual performance, blue light protection, cognitive health, and more.

“European customers can now confidently incorporate Lutemax 2020 into their products knowing it meets safety and transparency standards,” says Akhil Bajaj, divisional VP, Category Management.

In light of this milestone, OmniActive plans to expand its “Lutein for Every Age” campaign into the European market later this year. Originally launched in the US in 2023, the initiative aims to educate consumers and healthcare professionals about the lifelong benefits of consistent lutein and zeaxanthin intake for eye and cognitive health.

OmniActive will also showcase its globally available Lutemax 2020 product portfolio of ingredient solutions and botanical actives at Vitafoods Europe 2025.