The Asian plant galangal, often used to flavour Thai curries,
appears to both kill cancer cells and boost the cancer-fighting
capacity of healthy cells, say researchers in the UK.
The granting of a new US patent to Japan's Taiyo Kagaku for the use
of pure form L-theanine brand Suntheanine with minerals to
alleviate PMS symptoms will increase its customers' competitive
advantage, says the company.
The kava industry will get a chance to enter the UK market again if
it can produce new evidence supporting the herbal's safety before
the end of April.
More than a third of cancer patients in Europe use complementary
and alternative medicine (CAM), most often to increase their body's
ability to fight the disease, reveals the first Europe-wide study
of alternative medicine use.
Minute Maid Premium Heart Wise, the Coca-Cola-owned orange juice
brand that can help reduce cholesterol levels, has teamed up with
WomenHeart to help raise awareness of cardiovascular disease in
women during American Heart Month.
Sabinsa Corporation has been making sure its manufacturing
processes are up to scratch in anticipation of new FDA requirements
by submitting its products for testing by public health and safety
company NSF International.
Wine drinkers gain more heart health benefits than those who drink
beer or other spirits, and may also live longer, finds a new
analysis of research into this area.
Industry's demand for quality, standardized herbal extracts will
continue to drive new cultivation projects that will also ensure
the sustainability of plant species and biodiversity, claims a
leading supplier.
Israel-based LycoRed said last week that its lycopene-rich tomato
powder has been self-affirmed as GRAS (Generally Recognized As
Safe) by an independent panel, paving the way for its use in
functional foods.
Remington has become the latest company to introduce a
cholesterol-lowering alternative to statin drugs, which can cause
potentially serious side effects.
Acatris is warning customers that they may be wasting their money
if they buy supplements claiming to be 'high lignan' but which
don't list actual amounts on the label.
V-Net Beverage has condemned the drinks industry's lack of
transparency about its use of ginseng and is launching a 'Truth in
Ginseng' campaign which it hopes will force manufacturers to reveal
full information about...
A group of noni juice producers from the Pacific islands has become
the first trade association to gain novel foods approval for their
products to be sold in the EU.
Children with mild to moderate asthma who took supplements of the
pine bark extract Pycnogenol saw improved lung function and a
significant decrease in asthma symptoms, report researchers.
Shares in Australian isoflavone specialist Novogen climbed more
than 3 per cent this week on news that the firm had settled a
patent dispute with the leading US supplements retailer GNC over
its red clover product.
Cosmeceuticals, or supplements that target skin health and beauty,
are seeing fast growth in Europe since emerging as a new concept
but much of the growth so far has come from a handful of brands,
reports Dominique Patton.
2005 is barely underway but Canadian Forbes Medi-Tech is already
looking forward to a bumper year. The biopharmaceutical company
yesterday announced revenue guidance of C$21 to C$22 million for
the fiscal year ending 31 December 2005...
The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) has asked the FDA
to take into account relevant information on the traditional use of
herbs when substantiating claims for products that contain them.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is associated with an increased
risk of stroke, finds a new review of trials that aims to clear up
some of the confusion over HRT's side effects.
Cyanotech, a leading producer of natural products from microalgae,
is starting the year one man short after the departure of its
scientific director at the end of December.
The UK's medicines regulator is setting up a new herbal medicines
advisory committee to provide it with expert advice on herbal
medicines in anticipation of the forthcomin European traditional
medicinal herbal products directive.
Europe's herbals market is set to regain some of its momentum over
the next year, with strong sales in supermarkets and non-pharmacy
channels demonstrating that consumers are regaining confidence in
natural products, writes Dominique...
Essential oils usually used in aromatherapy have been found to kill
the deadly MRSA bacteria causing increasing numbers of deaths in
hospitals round the world.
The FDA has said it will not issue its decision on the pending
lycopene/cancer health claim until next year, according to
petitioner American Longevity.
Ayurceutics has responded to yesterday's article in JAMA claiming
there was a high risk of finding heavy metals in Ayurvedic herbals,
by highlighting its manufacturing process that it believes removes
any danger of contamination.
An analysis of Ayurvedic herbals found that 20 percent contained
metals at potentially toxic levels, according to a study in JAMA,
but the American Herbal Products Association believes the products
tested should not have been on the...
Compounds in the bark of the Scotch pine, more usually used for
Christmas trees, show promising anti-inflammatory action in cell
studies, say Finnish researchers, and could be developed into food
supplements for arthritis patients.
The controversial issue of nutritional profiles will remain one of
the biggest hurdles for EU legislation on health claims but recent
reports suggest that Germany may be ready to concede some elements
of profiling, reports Dominique...
At 3.15 million tonnes world tea production in 2003 beat 2002
supplies but prices remained firm reflecting season variability,
reports the UN food and farm body, adding that China has pushed up
green tea supplies.
A report published yesterday by the UN food and farm body showed
that green tea production increased in 2003, no doubt encouraged by
its purported health benefits.
Canadian group Forbes Medi-Tech today announced that a Finnnish
healthcare company will be the next firm to benefit from its
cholesterol-lowering plant sterols.
The Federal Trade Commission has charged more supplement companies
with deceptive advertising for weight-loss products that are said
to have included the banned substance ephedra.
While green tea has been getting its name around the block, red tea
has taken a little longer to become a household name, but its sales
are said to be soaring on the back of its purported health
benefits.
The Food and Drug Administration said yesterday it was intensifying
its efforts to ensure that any manufacturers still selling dietary
supplements containing the banned substance ephedra would be
stopped.
Canada based CV Technologies (CVT) has entered into a distribution
agreement with Extended Care Pharmacy (ECP) to sell its natural
cold-fighting product in the US.
UK researchers are investigating whether a food supplement derived
from substances found in cabbage could reduce the incidence of
cervical abnormalities.
Canadian company Natural Factors believes it has set a new
benchmark in the research and testing of its echinacea-based
product, Echinamide, Philippa Nuttall reports.
European companies are increasing their presence in the green tea
extract market, looking to reach supplement makers with highly
concentrated products.
Univestin™ is a patented, natural joint-care ingredient clinically proven to support joint comfort, improve flexibility and support mobility within 3-7...