Botanicals & Herbals

Anti-inflammatory properties of Asian fungus alleviates lung injury, mouse study reveals

01-Mar-2017 By Millette Burgos

The medicinal fungus Sanghuangporus sanghuang (S.sanghuang) helped reduce inflammation associated with acute lung injury in mice, a new study reports.

Lychee and Alzheimer’s: Saponins boost rats’ cognitive function 'almost as effectively as drug'

27-Feb-2017 By Millette Burgos

Saponins extracted from lychee seeds helped improve cognitive function and prevented neuronal injury in rats induced with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), a new study reports.

Nutraceutical benefits of Chinese artichoke underlined for people with diabetes and CVD

26-Feb-2017 By Millette Burgos

The nutraceutical and health benefits of Chinese artichoke have been emphasised by new research, which for the first time highlighted nine compounds with important biological activities.

The five market trends making APAC the world’s growth hotspot for nutraceuticals

26-Feb-2017 By Gary Scattergood

The global nutraceuticals market is expected to reach a value of $302,306m by the year 2022, on the back of CAGR of 7.04%. But, according to new research, APAC is poised to outstrip the global growth average.

Ayurveda extract helps reduce knee pain in elderly: Sabinsa Japanese RCT

26-Feb-2017 By Gary Scattergood

A clinical trial evaluating the effects of Sabinsa’s Boswellin Super supplement on knee pain reduction revealed improvements in pain management, a study funded by the company has found.

Special edition: Botanicals

Wellness teas are driving botanical beverage growth

23-Feb-2017 By Eliot Beer

Savvy product differentiation and strong consumer demand are driving growth in specialist tea sales, but botanical drinks such as tree waters have yet to find favour, according to retailers and analysts.

Revealed: The single biggest Indian health concern offering vast functional food and drink potential…

23-Feb-2017 By Millette Burgos

India’s tired citizens may just be the key to unlock a new market for functional food and drink formulations. 

EPA-dominant omega-3 and other nutraceuticals can boost effectiveness of anti-depressants

23-Feb-2017 By Millette Burgos

Nutraceuticals have the ability to boost the effectiveness of traditional anti-depressive medications, according a new review.

Medical cannabis trade given the go-ahead in Australia: Firms applying to supply products

22-Feb-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Australia is to establish a legal medical cannabis trade in as little as eight weeks under plans announced by federal health minister Greg Hunt.

Six Japan food, nutrition and consumer trends set to shape 2017

21-Feb-2017 By Gary Scattergood

We pinpoint six of the must-know food, nutrition and consumer trends taking shape in Japan, from superfoods to sports nutrition, ahead of one of the country's biggest trade shows, FoodEx Japan, which takes place next month.

European supplements brand aims to take bigger bite out of Asian weight loss market

21-Feb-2017 By Millette Burgos

Spanish firm Reig Jofre’s nutritional supplements line Forte Pharma is looking towards South East Asia for expansion, after establishing a firm foothold in Hong Kong and Macau. 

Singapore centre seeks to increase science standards for home-grown supplements, TCM and food firms

16-Feb-2017 By Millette Burgos

A recently established Singapore centre is seeking to increase the standard of evidence-based data for SMEs in the supplements, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and functional foods space.

VIDEO: Meet Ms Ugene, the state-of-the-art Singapore robot testing TCM and food products

16-Feb-2017 By Millette Burgos

No errors, no mood swings, no sick leave, and she can process three sets of microbiological tests in 14 minutes. Meet Ms Ugene, Singapore’s first two-armed robot microbiologist helping Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), food and nutrition firms ensure...

TCM’s potential for AIDS treatment cited in China ‘phenomenon’

15-Feb-2017 By Millette Burgos and Gary Scattergood

Previously unreported data from China, referred to in a letter to the editor of the peer-reviewed journal AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses, suggests that the viral loads of four AIDS patients who took only Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) dropped...

Boosting Singapore's brain health: ‘We’re trying to change the slope of cognitive decline’, says supplements boss

15-Feb-2017 By Millette Burgos

A new cognitive health supplement firm which recently opened a base in Singapore is targetting consumers in their 40s as it seeks to expand across the region. 

Indian tree bark extract shows may improve athletic performance: Study

14-Feb-2017 By Stephen Daniells

A proprietary extract from the bark of Terminalia arjuna may boost cardiovascular efficiency and improve athletic performance in young healthy male adults, says a new study.

Vitamin vending machines: Is this the future for supplements retailing in APAC?

14-Feb-2017 By Millette Burgos

The man who has launched Australia’s first store selling vitamins solely via vending machines wants to launch hundreds more in locations across the country, while also expanding to overseas markets such as China, Singapore, India and New Zealand.

Curcumin helps to effectively ease inflammatory bowel disease: China mouse study

13-Feb-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Curcumin can help suppress the activation of dendritic cells (DCs), which play a pivotal role in the progression of inflammatory bowel disease, research from China has discovered.

Plant sterol fortified soy milk shows inflammation benefits: Singapore study

10-Feb-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Soy milk fortified with combination of plant sterols can alleviate lipid peroxidation and inflammation, a Singapore clinical trial has concluded.

Cannabidiol’s neuroprotective effect against brain ischemia/reperfusion injury revealed

08-Feb-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Cannabidiol (CBD) can exert a potentially neuroprotective effect against brain ischemia/reperfusion injury, with a new study from China documenting how it does so “for the first time”.

‘Toxic side effects’ and ‘weak regulation’? Not for supplements made in Australia insists trade body

06-Feb-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Trade body Complementary Medicines Australia (CMA) has insisted consumers can have full confidence in products purchased in Australia after a new review claimed it was a 'misperception' that herbal medicines are safe.

Traditional Chinese Medicine firms should target international dietary supplements market, China Premier says

02-Feb-2017 By Millette Burgos

China’s Premier Li Keqiang says Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) manufacturers should look to develop mainstream dietary supplements using Western medical knowledge in order to boost export potential.

Myanmar pledges national action to tackle child stunting and micronutrient deficiencies

01-Feb-2017 By Millette Burgos

Myanmar has vowed to tackle child stunting and widespread micronutrient deficiencies, and include nutritional wellbeing in its national development planning.

Red seaweed could be a potential aid for cancer treatment: Study

01-Feb-2017 By Millette Burgos

A study found that red seaweed (k.alvarezii) helps in slowing down the growth rate of mammary tumours in rats, which researchers says displays the algae’s potential as a natural aid in cancer treatment.

Review: Why Asian mushrooms merit animal and human studies to assess Alzheimer's benefits

01-Feb-2017 By Millette Burgos

The traditional use of some mushroom species in Asia to boost cognitive function, along with papers purportedly showing their brain health benefits, mean they are worthy of scientific investigation to see if they can help people with Alzheimer's...

Curcumin can be ‘as big as omega-3’ with correct science and marketing: OmniActive MD

31-Jan-2017 By Millette Burgos

Curcumin can become as big as omega-3, according to the boss of Indian nutraceutical supplier OmniActive, which has recently received a significant funding boost and made a high-level acquisition.  

Waste not want not: Why more needs to be done to maximise the functional food potential of by-products

27-Jan-2017 By Gary Scattergood and Millette Burgos

The functional food and nutraceutical opportunities offered by agricultural waste products in developing countries are not being fully exploited, meaning vital nutrients that could be of immense health and economic benefit are going to waste.

Looming perfect storm will lead to Aussie CBD boom, pioneer predicts

25-Jan-2017 By RJ Whitehead

An anticipated perfect storm in Australia, involving the recent legalisation of medical cannabis and the expected approval of hemp in foods and nutrition later this year, has led to the government stopping the export of hemp products to ensure national...

Herbalife facing investigation over anti-corruption compliance in China

23-Jan-2017 By Millette Burgos

Herbalife has confirmed that it is facing a probe from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding anti-corruption compliance in China. 

CoQ10, soy and taurine have potential to help boys with fatal muscle wasting disease

23-Jan-2017 By Gary Scattergood

A number of nutraceuticals have clinical merit and the therapeutic potential to help boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), but more stringent and credible research is sorely needed, researchers say.

Nutrition Asia video series

VIDEO: Functional foods in South East Asia - trending ingredients, pressing consumer needs and 'preposterous' health claims

23-Jan-2017 By Gary Scattergood

In the first of our Nutrition Asia video series we take a deep dive into South East Asia's functional foods industry to gauge the state of the market and assess how it can meet the health needs of consumers across the region.

Government funding and nutritional composition leads to high functional food hopes for Malaysian red seaweed

19-Jan-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Tropical red seaweed, G. changii, can become an important functional food ingredient and is a prime crop for large-scale commercial farming, according to new research from Malaysia.

Soft gold? Cordyceps have strong functional food potential if supply constraints can be overcome

18-Jan-2017 By Millette Burgos

While long treasured for its medicinal properties in Asia, a new Taiwanese review has drawn attention to four species of the fungi Cordyceps, highlighting the mushrooms’ potential as a functional food targeting metabolic, liver, sexual, and bone/joint...

Bitter orange extract shows promise as a protector against liver damage

12-Jan-2017 By Millette Burgos

Bitter orange extract (Citrus aurantium) has been found to help protect the liver against injury caused by bile duct obstructions or defects due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities.

Chicory extract found to improve memory loss in mice: China study

12-Jan-2017 By Millette Burgos

Chicoric acid (CA), a nutraceutical component from the chicory plant, could slow down memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, a study revealed.

‘More evidence’ of green tea’s slimming potential needed to boost products beyond Japan

10-Jan-2017 By Gary Scattergood

The status of green tea as a slimming ingredient in Japan should provide inspiration for companies elsewhere who are looking to use the product across the weight loss category, according to new market research.

Functional foods from cauliflower waste could help tackle hypertension and diabetes: China study

10-Jan-2017 By Millette Burgos

By-products from cauliflower could be recycled and turned into functional foods to help combat diabetes and hypertension, a new study from China suggests.

Green tea extract an ‘effective treatment’ for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Study

09-Jan-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Treatment with green tea extract (GTE) has been found to reduce hepatic inflammation in mice with the fatty liver disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Asian VC invests €33m in Indian botanicals specialist; acquisitions targeted

02-Jan-2017 By Shane Starling

Indian-based but global-facing herbals player OmniActive Health Technologies has won a $35 million (€33m) investment from venture capitalist Everstone Group, as it pursues expansion and acquisition targets.

2016’s top APAC regulation and policy stories revealed: Japan, China, India, Australia and South East Asia in the spotlight

21-Dec-2016 By Gary Scattergood

Food and nutrition firms in APAC have to contend with a diverse and at times contradictory regulatory landscape across the region, with rules and laws being amended or introduced all the time. And 2016 was no exception.

Japanese researchers decode genome of key TCM ingredient Chinese liquorice

20-Dec-2016 By Gary Scattergood

Scientists in Japan have decode the genome of Chinese liquorice – a key ingredient in Traditional Chinese Medicine – raising hopes that it can be grown sustainably in the country for nutraceutical and medicinal use.

The top five APAC research stories of 2016, featuring tea, TCM, astaxanthin, vitamins and Himalayan fruits

14-Dec-2016 By Gary Scattergood

From the liver benefits of fermented tea, to the anti-fatigue attributes of astaxanthin, these are the top five research stories that have gained the most traction with readers in 2016.

US manufacturer Mannatech launches its supplements in China via e-commerce

13-Dec-2016 By Gary Scattergood

US supplement firm Mannatech is now selling its products in China via e-commerce at www.MeiTaiChina.com.

The seven top Asia Pacific food and nutrition trends of 2016

12-Dec-2016 By Gary Scattergood

As 2016 draws to a close, we highlight the top seven most-read APAC food and nutrition trends stories, featuring exclusive market and consumer insights from Japan, South East Asia, India, Australia and China.

India’s new functional food and supplements rules: The key requirements every firm needs to know

07-Dec-2016 By Gary Scattergood

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued its long-awaited rules for functional foods and supplements – publishing a 79-page set of criteria on its website.

Chinese partnership seeks to raise funds for US cannabis supplement sector

06-Dec-2016 By Gary Scattergood

A Chinese financial website and a private equity fund have sealed a deal to raise capital form mainland China to invest in the US cannabis supplements and functional beverage sectors.

Focus on food synergies to boost bioavailability, urge researchers

05-Dec-2016 By Nathan Gray

A greater emphasis should be placed on enhancing the bioavailability of key nutrients in foods by focusing on synergies to help fight under nutrition, say researchers from the Indian Council of Medical Research.

Curcumin supplementation shows benefits for people with severe depression: Study

25-Nov-2016 By Gary Scattergood

Supplementation with curcumin has been found to be effective in reducing depressive and anxiolytic symptoms in people with major depressive disorders.

UAE orders withdrawal of further three ‘herbal supplements’

22-Nov-2016 By Gary Scattergood

The UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention has banned a further three ‘herbal supplements’ and warned they could endanger the lives of patients.

Study shows how stevia may harness additional commercial benefits

21-Nov-2016 By Gary Scattergood

A new study has highlighted some of the lesser-known properties in stevia - one of which has anti-obesity potential - that could provide extra commercial benefits in addition to its sweetening power.