An Overview of How Herbals and Herbal

1. Effective Introduction of Herbals in
Functional Foods
National Symposium on Nutraceutical, Herbals
and Functional Foods
Hotel Shangri-La,
New Delhi
July 22nd 2015
Presentation by
Arun Kelkar
Managing Director
Hexagon Nutrition Pvt. Ltd.
India

2. • The term “Nutraceutical” was coined
in 1989 by the Foundation for
Innovation in Medicine (New York,
US), to provide a name for the rapidly
growing area of biomedical research.
• A Nutraceutical was defined as any
substance that may be considered a
food or part of a food and provides
medical or health benefits including
the prevention and treatment of
disease.
(Ref:-Andlauer W et al (2002) Nutraceuticals: a piece of history, present status
and outlook. Food Research International. 35 (2002): 171-176)
What are Nutraceuticals?

3. What are Herbals?
• A botanical is a plant or plant part valued for
its medicinal or therapeutic properties, flavor,
and/or scent. Herbs are a subset of botanicals.
Products made from botanicals that are used
to maintain or improve health may be
called herbal products or botanical products
(National Institute of Health. USA.gov)

4. • "Functional Food is a Natural or processed food that
contains known biologically-active compounds which when
in defined quantitative and qualitative amounts provides a
clinically proven and documented health benefit, and
thus, an important source in the prevention and
management of chronic diseases of the modern age".
• Functional food play a specific role. These foods are not
intended only to satisfy hunger and provide humans with
necessary nutrients, but also to support prevention of
nutrition-related diseases and increase physical and mental
well-being of consumers.
• For e.g.- DHA/ EPA, Isoflavones,
FructoOligosaccharides, etc.
• For e.g. phytoesterols to reduce cholesterol
prebiotic for better gut function
What are Functional foods?

5. • Dietary supplements are micronutrients
(vitamins, minerals), herbs and
macronutrients (carbohydrate, protein, fat)
and fibre meant to supplement the diet. They
are available in the form of pills, capsules,
powders and liquids.
• Dietary Supplements can be further
categorized as single nutrient supplements
and complete nutrition products
Dietary supplements

7. Dietary
Supplements
Single nutrient
product
Complete Nutritional
Product
Vitamins/
Minerals/
Amino Acids
Herbal/
Natural
ingredients
Functional
Foods
Vitamins/
Minerals/
Amino Acids
Herbal/
Natural
ingredients
Functional
Foods
Macronutrients
(carbohydrate,
protein & fat)

8. • In herbs, there are active and inactive
components. In certain cases, the inactives may
lead to harmful effects.
• A standardized herbal extract is an herb extract
that has one or more active components present
in a specific, guaranteed amount, usually
expressed as a percentage.
• Herbal ingredients in the form of extracts
are used in the dietary supplements to
enhance value and efficacy of the
product.
How are herbs different from herbal
extract?

9. Green Tea
Active constituent-
Polyphenols,
Catechins, EGCG
Function
Benefits related to
heart health, cancer
prevention and
weight loss
Part used-Leaves
Boswellia
Serrata
Active Constituents
Boswellic Acid
Function
Anti-inflammatory,
anti arthritic effect
Part used- bark
Soya
Soya Isoflavones
Functions
Phytoestrogens and
antioxidant properties
Part used-beans
Fenugreek
Saponins
Functions
Blood Glucose Control
Part used- seeds and
leaves
Herbal extracts

10. Milk Thistle
Extract
Active constituent-
Silymarin
Function
Hepatoprotective
properties
Part used-Leave,
fruit and seeds
Brahmi or
Bacopa
Monnerrie
Active
Constituents
triterpenoid
saponins
Function
Improved
Cognitive
processes
Part used- leave &
stem
Glyzyrrhiza
Glabra
Active
Constituents
Glyzyrrhizin
Function
Expectorant
Part used- taproot
Withania
Somnifera
Active
Constituents
Withanolides
Function
Anti-inflammatory
and Antioxidant
properties
Part used-root
Herbal extracts

11. Garcinia
Cambogia
Extract
Active constituent-
Hydroxycitric Acid
Functions-
Aids in Weight loss
Part used- Fruit
Cranberry
extract
Active Constituents
Proanthocyanidin
Prevents Urinary
Tract Infection (UTI)
Part used- Fruit
Gymnema
Sylvestre
Active Constituent
Gymnemic Acid
Function
Lowers blood
glucose levels
Part used- Leaves
Ginkgo
Biloba
Active Constituents
flavonoid glycosides
and terpene
lactones
Improves memory
and antioxidant
effect
Part Used-
Leaves
Herbal extracts

12. • Some of the single ingredient herbal extract supplements
are so easily available over-the-counter that there is no
control on consumption levels and pattern leading to over
dosage and side effects at times.
• Being over-the-counter, they are displayed on the shelf and
people tend to buy it because no prescription is required.
• Moreover, the manufacturers do not guarantee any claims.
• For e.g. a diabetic subject under medication sees an
advertisement for fenugreek capsules to be taken thrice a
day, takes it without prescription along with the medication
and ends up having hypoglycemia.
Is Herbal extract as a single ingredient
supplement effective??

13. • Green tea extract is promoted for weight loss.
Green tea being rich in polyphenols have antioxidant properties and
are beneficial but Scientific studies have proven that green tea alone
does not help people to lose weight without diet, exercise and other
lifestyle modifications.
Obesity is the result of long term energy imbalance wherein an
individual has had excess energy intake and very little energy
expenditure. In order for an individual to lose weight, there needs to
be a shift to a negative energy balance.
Similarly Garcinia Cambogia (known for weight loss) alone will not help
in weight loss.
Is Herbal extract as a single ingredient
supplement effective??

14. • When a herbal extract is added to a
functional food, it will have a better efficacy
than taken singularly.
For e.g.-Boswellia Serrata combined with
calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D will have a
better efficacy on bone health
Herbal Extracts taken as a combination

15. Adding a herbal extract with a focused function
is a value addition which will enhance the
efficacy of the product
For e.g. Garcinia Cambogia (active constituent-
hydroxycitric acid) added to a low calorie, high
protein supplement for weight loss
Addition of herbals in functional foods

17. 1) The Herbal ingredient should be well studied and
the efficacy should be validated: Case Study 1
Effective Introduction of Herbals in
Functional Foods

18. 1) The Herbal ingredient should be well studied
and the efficacy should be validated: Case Study 2
Effective Introduction of Herbals in
Functional Foods

19. 2) To be used as or in a functional food, an
herbal ingredient must be ‘Generally Recognised
as Safe” (GRAS status)
Effective Introduction of Herbals in
Functional Foods

20. 3)Standardization of the herbal ingredient
• Standardization of herbal ingredients is another
relevant issue. Herbs are grown under different
environmental conditions, at different location
and different seasons of the year. These
geographical and environmental differences
result in variation in the levels of active
compounds .
• For an effective incorporation of herbal
ingredients in functional food, it is important to
use standard percentage of active components
Effective Introduction of Herbals in
Functional Foods

21. 3)Standardization of the herbal ingredient
(contd..)
• Herbs being an agro product, it is important
to control the content of heavy metals in the
extract. For e.g. lead, arsenic etc.
• Caution and control needs to be exercised to
evaluate the content of heavy metals like lead,
arsenic etc. in the herbal extracts.
Effective Introduction of Herbals in
Functional Foods

22. 4) Percentage of active compound required for a
beneficial effect should be ensured for it to be
an effective functional food
• For e.g. the ingestion of 45-75 mg per day of
soy isoflavonoids has demonstrated benefits
in the management of menopausal symptoms,
bone density support and modulating female
reproductive health, including menstrual cycle
regulation.
Effective Introduction of Herbals in
Functional Foods

23. • Herbal extracts or botanicals can prove to be
promising when added to functional foods if
they have:
• Validated studies supporting the efficacy of the
extract
• FDA approved status
• Standardization of percentage of active
compounds
• Checked for the presence of heavy metals
• Percentage of active compound required for a
beneficial effect should be ensured in the final
formulation
Summary

24. • Herbal extracts are more effective than raw
herbs owing to standardized percentage of
the active ingredients.

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