Some of the digestive health category’s challenges today are the bioavailability of ingredients and compliance, according to Ron Yaffe, ND with Novel Creation Dietary Supplements (Neve Yarak, Israel). “In order to experience the benefits of the ingredients consumers have to keep taking the supplements,” he said. “The trends that we are noticing in the... more...
Eating Fatty Fish Benefits Younger Women, Study Shows
Eating fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as cod and salmon, may significantly lower a young woman’s risk of developing heart disease, researchers reported in Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association. In the first population-based study in women of childbearing age, those who... more...
The American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP) has released its quality control standards and therapeutic compendium for the botanical dietary supplement American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius). Each AHP monograph establishes standards for assuring authenticity, purity and quality control of the monographed botanical and represents one of the most comprehensive reviews of the botanical in the English language. Each monograph addresses the historical use of the botanical along with multiple methods of analysis for ensuring botanical authenticity that include both physical and chemical tests appropriate for individual dispensaries or small or large companies. The identification section provides detailed photographs and images with which to develop internal company identification specifications.
Accompanying the standards is the AHP Therapeutic Compendium, which provides a complete and critical review of the pharmacological and safety data currently available, including information on pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, actions, medical indications, historical and modern and traditional use, structure and function claims, dosages, interactions, side effects, contraindications, toxicology and more. All of this information can be used as part of a company’s product substantiation files in supporting structure-function statements as well as establishing the safety of their product.
“American ginseng is one of the most widely adulterated herbs available on the Western herb market,” said AHP Executive Director Roy Upton. “We have found leaf material marketed as root, exhausted marc being sold as crude root and materials cut with 45 percent dicalcium phosphate. Suppliers should know if the price is too good to be true, it probably is not good material. The monograph provides all the characterizations that any quality control team requires for making an authentic and quality product.”
The Therapeutic Compendium was begun several years ago by the late Professor Yingjie Chen, a noted Chinese pharmacologist and specialist in traditional Chinese medicine, to whom the monograph is dedicated.
For more information, visit www.herbal-ahp.org.
Mintel Opens Office Locations in Asia Pacific
Market research company Mintel has announced that it has opened three new offices in the Asia Pacific region in Mumbai, India, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The offices are now open and will act as a base for all future operations within that territory—alongside established offices in Shanghai, China; Sydney, Australia; and Tokyo, Japan.
“With the rapid growth and increasing global relevance of the Asia Pacific region, Mintel is committed to providing its unique brand of consumer insight and market intelligence to its clients,” said John Hore, managing director of Mintel Asia Pacific. “In addition, we are extending and expanding our coverage of India, Malaysia and Singapore—from greater report coverage and more breadth and depth to the industries covered. We see Asia Pacific as a key area for the future and as such, we are now focusing significant investment in the region.”
The Singapore office, which opened January 1, will serve Mintel’s existing and new clients in Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. It will be headed up by Ian Wilson, general manager for Southeast Asia while Director of Research Matthew Crabbe will oversee the Kuala Lumpur office. The Mumbai office has been operational since October and falls under the direction of Matthew Nelson, sales head of India. The rapid growth of interest in Mintel’s products and services in these markets has led the company to expand its coverage significantly by opening new centers and expanding its analyst team across the region. Mintel now has 10 offices worldwide.
For more information, visit www.mintel.com.
Opextan Olive Fruit Extract
Opextan® from Indena (Seattle, WA) is a non-caloric standardized olive extract from the olive pulp of a specific Italian variety. Opextan® is double standardized in polyphenols and verbascoside, the most potent antioxidant from the olive tree. Opextan® has been proven to assist in the reduction of UV-light induced damage to skin as well as controlling blood sugar levels.
For more information, call (206) 340-6140 or visit www. indena.com.
