What’s blooming in botanicals: Potent extracts for plant-based solutions targeting brain health, immunity and digestion

20 Oct 2021 --- Botanical extracts are maintaining their hold in the natural supplements arena as consumers’ holistic well-being remains top of mind. Segments with significant growth in launches include products positioned for brain, mood and immune health, along with products containing CBD, hemp and cannabis.

The most common forms for new product launches are capsules and caplets in North America, according to Innova Market Insights. Gummies launches have notably been rising while chewables launches have declined.

Botanicals for the brain
According to Innova Market Insights research, brain and mood health claims make up the largest percentage of botanical and herbal supplement launches in the North American market and are growing quickly.

NutritionInsight recently attended Vitafoods Europe, in Geneva, Switzerland, where botanical product development targeting these health areas was in key focus.

Sideritis scardica extract is said to benefit concentration and memory.Finzelberg was on the show floor exhibiting its signature ingredient, Concental. The branded botanical is an extract of Sideritis scardica, which is used to make Greek mountain tea. It is dubbed as one of the company’s “power extracts.”

“It’s good for concentration and memory, but also for mental health and stress management,” says Andrea Schid, senior marketing expert at Finzelberg.

The ingredient regulates blood flow in the brain in high-stress situations for a calming effect. It is targeted toward caffeine-free plant-based solutions formulated for cognitive health.

“I feel like the industry is now working very intensively on the topic around mental health, which will continue into a post-COVID world,” says Schid. “Everyone’s trying to take care of their mental health and trying to maintain a healthy mental state.”

Stress and anxiety relief have also been the target areas in the clinically studied botanical ingredients KSM66 ashwagandha and saffron, which are blended together for synergistic effects in launches such as Solgar’s Stress And Anxiety Relief Dietary Supplement.

Synergies of turmeric
Turmeric has retained its health halo in consumer perception for some time due to its Ayurvedic heritage. The popular botanical is often infused with other potent botanicals, as in the case of the Garden of Life’s Multi-Sourced Collagen Turmeric.

The supplement is a blend of collagen peptides from grass-fed bovine collagen and clinically studied, undenatured chicken collagen. Its 500 mg fermented organic turmeric root delivers 50 mg curcuminoids to further support joints and mobility. 

Synergies of ginger root and artichoke leaf help move food along the digestive tract.Nexe Innovations, the parent company of Xoma Superfoods, also leverages the potency of botanicals to optimize brain health and body performance.

“The Xoma Turmeric Golden Milk contains turmeric, which in Indian culture is considered sacred and auspicious. Turmeric milk, or haldi doodh in Hindi, is a traditional health food drink,” says Ash Guglani, president of Nexe Innovations.

“Turmeric is well-known for its health benefits as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory and contains curcumin, which may have antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and anticancer properties. The beverage also contains ginger, which supports digestion, cinnamon, which may lower blood sugar levels, and contains no milk making it lactose-free.”

Xoma’s other offerings include the Xoma Mindful Mushroom Coffee, which contains potent chaga, cordyceps and Lion’s Mane mushrooms. They offer a low-calorie source of fiber, protein, and antioxidants to support digestion, energy, mental clarity, mood, relaxation and sleep, and the immune system.

Plant-powered gut health
Digestive supplements containing botanicals are targeting various gastrointestinal issues, highlights Innova Market Insights.

For instance, ginger root is marketed in supplement blends as helping relieve gastrointestinal discomfort. It is traditionally used in herbal medicine to help relieve digestive upset including lack of appetite, nausea, digestive spasms, indigestion, dyspepsia and flatulent colic (carminative).

In the case of Life Extension’s Bloat Relief Dietary Supplement, synergies of artichoke leaf and ginger root extract combination help move food along the digestive tract, while fennel seed oil helps reduce gas production. The addition of turmeric extract also helps promote digestive health and function.

Starlight Nutrition Colon Cleanse Dietary Supplement is a herbal blend that includes psyllium husk, rhubarb roots, aloe vera and other botanicals to offer a “thorough cleansing and detoxification of your gut and colon.”

Psyllium husk is particularly popular as a fibrous ingredient that effectively cleanses waste and toxins from the digestive tract to detoxify the body, ridding the body of excess waste built-in overtime.

Adaptogenic hemp power
Hemp is continuing on its growth path as a credible and potent ingredient in the plant nutrition space. 

“Whether being leveraged as protein or as a source of healthy omega 3 and omega 6 fats, hemp has predominantly been consumed as seeds – “hemp hearts” – or as hemp oil,” comments Michael Aucoin, CEO of Eat Beyond, which holds hemp drink brand Daydream Drinks in its portfolio.

“We increasingly see a more sophisticated use of hemp as a functional ingredient in food and beverages.”

Daydream is an Ontario-based beverage company that recently launched Canada’s first sparkling water infused with hemp extracts and adaptogens. Made without sugar, chemicals, or caffeine, Daydream has developed a 10-calorie functional drink with plant-based herbs to support the body’s natural endocrine system, boosting energy, focus and mental acuity.

By Benjamin Ferrer