Effective Introduction of Herbals in Functional Foods

National Symposium on Nutraceutical, Herbals and Functional Foods

Hotel Shangri-La,New DelhiJuly 22nd 2015

Presentation by Arun KelkarManaging DirectorHexagon Nutrition Pvt. Ltd. India

• 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?

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)

• "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?

• 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

Dietary Supplements

Single nutrient product

Complete Nutritional Product

Vitamins/ Minerals/

Amino AcidsHerbal/ Natural

ingredients

Functional Foods

Vitamins/ Minerals/

Amino AcidsHerbal/ Natural

ingredients Functional Foods

Macronutrients (carbohydrate, protein & fat)

• 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?

Green Tea

Active constituent-Polyphenols,

Catechins, EGCG

Function Benefits related to

heart health, cancer prevention and

weight loss

Part used-Leaves

Boswellia Serrata

Active ConstituentsBoswellic 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

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

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 ConstituentGymnemic Acid

FunctionLowers 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

• 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??

• 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??

• 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

Adding a herbal extract with a focused function is a value addition which will enhance the efficacy of the productFor 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

of

in

1) The Herbal ingredient should be well studied and the efficacy should be validated: Case Study 1

Effective Introduction of Herbals in Functional Foods

1) The Herbal ingredient should be well studied and the efficacy should be validated: Case Study 2

Effective Introduction of Herbals in Functional Foods

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

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

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

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

• 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

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

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