Botanicals

‘Super vitamin E’s' brain health benefits detailed in new study

10-May-2017 By Millette Burgos

Palm oil tocotrienol, touted as ‘super vitamin E’, could provide benefits for people with neurodegenerative and neuro-inflammatory diseases, a study has concluded.

FoodEx Japan 2017

Functional soups: The next big business opportunity for food and nutrition firms in Japan?

07-May-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Functional soups featuring botanical and herbal ingredients such as ginger, ginseng and cordyceps are ripe for new product development in Japan, with the ageing population a particularly lucrative target market.

Ginkgo biloba helps protect against the toxic cognitive effects of aluminium chloride

03-May-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Ginkgo biloba extract helped protect the brain from the toxic effects of aluminium chloride, exposure to which has been linked to diseases such as Alzheimer's.

Cinnamic acid and diabetes: Clinical studies needed to assess bioavailability concerns

02-May-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Cinnamic acid’s potential for diabetes management has been highlighted in a new review, but concerns over bioavailability are still hindering its use in nutraceuticals.  

Why outdated regulations risk thwarting Indonesia’s supplements growth: Botanical supplier

26-Apr-2017 By Millette Burgos

Growth in the health supplements space is being "slowed down" by outdated regulations in Indonesia, with industry players clamouring for new rules.

Singapore start-up Senescence targets younger demographic with new cognitive health supplement

19-Apr-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Brain health supplements manufacturer Senescence Life Sciences has launched its second product on the Singapore market.

Korean cactus juice boosts gut microbiota and eases constipation

19-Apr-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Korean cactus juice Cheonnyuncho not only decreased constipation in rats, but its soluble fibre content also improved the rodents’ bowel movements, colon thickness and gut microbiota, a study revealed.

NUTRITION ASIA VIDEO SERIES

VIDEO: Cognitive health - the challenge to educate consumers as Asia's population rapidly ages

18-Apr-2017 By Gary Scattergood

As Asia's population rapidly ages, opportunities abound for the cognitive health sector, but consumers need to be educated that supplements should be considered before old age.

Resveratrol shows bone health promise for child chemotherapy patients: Study

18-Apr-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Resveratrol is a potential candidate to help prevent bone-related complications in children during and after chemotherapy, a study carried out by Australian and Chinese academics claims.

Kiwi contract manufacturer completes multi-million-dollar renovation as ‘brand New Zealand’ maintains marketing popularity

11-Apr-2017 By Gary Scattergood

New Zealand contract manufacturer Alaron has undertaken a multi-million-dollar expansion and renovation project at its Nelson site, with the firm hopeful of growth for its customers in South East Asia after China sales began to go “off the boil” due to...

Four crucial consumer factors driving South East Asia's supplements boom

11-Apr-2017 By Millette Burgos

Supplement firms who view South East Asia as one homogenous market are doomed to failure, but there are four key consumer trends common to all markets, according to analysts.

NATURAL PRODUCTS NEW ZEALAND SUMMIT

VIDEO: Speaker spotlights - talking consumer trends, sustainability and research at NZ’s Natural Products Summit

05-Apr-2017 By Gary Scattergood

The Kiwi natural products industry has been in fine form in recent years thanks to sustained exports growth – but according to speakers at the recent Natural Products New Zealand Summit, now is not the time for firms to rest on their laurels.

Ginseng and anti-obesity: Does Asian variety offer greater weight loss hope?

05-Apr-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Studies comparing the differing anti-obesity effects of Asian and American ginseng are urgently needed, it has been claimed, not least because they are thought to have opposite medical effects in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

NATURAL PRODUCTS NEW ZEALAND SUMMIT 2017

VIDEO: Why New Zealand’s long-awaited Natural Health Products Bill is needed now more than ever

29-Mar-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Trade body Natural Products New Zealand is hoping new industry regulations – which it believes will help boost exports – can finally be passed before the nation’s elections in September.

HI SOUTH EAST ASIA

Functional fruits focus: Taiwan contract manufacturer opens Indonesia office to tap into local ingredients

29-Mar-2017 By Millette Burgos

It was the lure of Indonesia’s exotic fruits and their potential as functional ingredients that has convinced Taiwan-based TCI Co to set up an office in Jakarta.

Mannatech targets cognitive health supplement growth among Chinese students as key exams loom

24-Mar-2017 By Millette Burgos

Supplements firm Mannatech aims to boost sales growth for its cognitive support product by targetting Chinese students studying for two of the country’s major academic examinations – Zhongkao and Gaokao.

HI SOUTH EAST ASIA 2017

False claims still blighting Indonesia’s functional food sector despite tighter rules

23-Mar-2017 By Millette Burgos

Misleading health claims are still rife in Indonesia despite tighter functional food rules, claims a new association set up to ‘professionalise the industry’.

Indian herbal firm expands product portfolio and explores e-commerce opportunities

21-Mar-2017 By Millette Burgos

Herbal ingredient manufacturer Mrida Greens has added five more nutrient extracts to its herbal extracts product portfolio, and announced plans to venture into the business-to-consumer space.

Tea drinking slashes the risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease: Singapore population-based analysis

20-Mar-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Tea consumption halves the risk of cognitive impairment for people 55 years old and above, and also dramatically reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease among those at greater genetic risk.

East meets West to create 'world's first' catalogue of genomic references for TCM products

17-Mar-2017 By Gary Scattergood

A new project has been launched to create the ‘world’s first’ catalogue of genomic references for medicinal plants used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).  

Bioactive flavonoid from apple trees eases asthma symptoms: Taiwan study

17-Mar-2017 By Millette Burgos

Phloretin from apple trees helped ease asthma symptoms in a mouse study, pointing to the bioactive flavonoid’s therapeutic potential, according to researchers in Taiwan.

Stress-busting Chinese herb helped slash depression and cognitive impairment: Study

15-Mar-2017 By Millette Burgos

The Chinese herb XingPiJieYu reduced the effects of chronic unpredictable stress in rats, while also improving their learning and memory, said a new study.

Indian wellness firm to enter nutraceutical space via new acquisition

14-Mar-2017 By Millette Burgos

Indian wellness and beauty company VLCC plans to acquire three new companies, including a nutraceutical firm.

Edible red seaweed burns fat as well as restricting weight gain: Korean study

14-Mar-2017 By Millette Burgos

Extract from edible red seaweed (Gelidium amansi) helped trim down unwanted fat off diet-induced obese (DIO) mice, a study discovered.

Hong Kong herbal giant teams up with Nobel Laureate for immunity investigations

10-Mar-2017 By Millette Burgos

Hong Kong Chinese herbal products manufacturer Infinitus China is teaming up with Nobel Laureate Jules Hoffman to explore Traditional Chinese Medicine’s role in immunity. 

Botanical formula suppresses liver cancer tumour growth: Taiwan mouse study

09-Mar-2017 By Millette Burgos

Zuo-Jin-Wan, a two-herb formula consisting of Coptis chinensis and Evodia rutaecarpa, helped suppress human cancer cell growth implanted in the livers of mice, a new Taiwan study showed.

FOODEX JAPAN 2017

CBD manufacturer Naturally Splendid targets Japan expansion with double sales deal

08-Mar-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Canadian CBD firm Naturally Splendid has signed two exclusive sales agreements to launch a suite of products in Japan.

Herbalife partners with Indian pharma firm for new R&D lab

07-Mar-2017 By Millette Burgos

Herbalife has launched its first R&D lab in India, in partnership with pharma research and manufacturing firm Syngene.

Thailand’s top three supplement and functional food trends as beauty bubble begins to burst: Infographic

06-Mar-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Healthy ageing, natural supplements and personalised nutrition: these are three emerging trends in Thailand offering ample opportunities for industry growth.

Taiwan mushroom’s cancer cell destroying properties pose potential treatment benefits

02-Mar-2017 By Millette Burgos

A medicinal mushroom from Taiwan helped kill off human breast cancer cells implanted in mice, said a new study.

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”.