In recent years, consumers’ increasing attention to health and natural ingredients has driven a significant increase in the demand for plant extracts in dietary supplements. Plant extracts are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and other bioactive compounds and are widely favored for their potential health benefits.
With the improvement of living standards and the popularization of health information, consumers’ attention to their own health has increased significantly. They tend to choose products with natural ingredients, believing that these ingredients are safer and more effective. This trend has prompted the dietary supplement market to gradually shift from synthetic ingredients to natural ingredients such as plant extracts.
Common plant extract health benefits and applications
Echinacea Extract
Echinacea extract is a natural active ingredient extracted from the roots, stems and leaves of Echinacea purpurea. It is rich in polyphenolic compounds, chicoric acid, caffeic acid and alkylamides, etc. It has multiple functions such asimmune-modulating, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, and has become a star ingredient in dietary supplements, functional foods and skin care products.
Studies have found that it can stimulate the activity of immune cells, help the body resist infection and disease, shorten the course of upper respiratory tract diseases such as colds, neutralize free radicals, inhibit inflammatory factors, and reduce chronic inflammation and oxidative stress damage. Combined with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, it can also accelerate wound healing and is used in anti-aging skin care formulas. In terms of metabolic health, the extract slows down the absorption of sugar by inhibiting α-glucosidase, assisting in regulating blood sugar, while its antioxidant properties further support cardiovascular protection. In addition, compounds in its extract such as romeoic acid and alkylamides have a sedative effect that can regulate the nervous system, relieve anxiety, and improve sleep quality.
Echinacea extract usually exists in various forms such as powder, capsules, tinctures and gummies, suitable for different consumption scenarios. Examples include dietary supplements, functional foods, cosmetics and herbal remedies for the treatment of colds, flu and other infectious diseases.
Gotu Kola Extract
Centella asiatica, also known as Gotu Kola, Copper Coin Grass, and Horseshoe Grass, is a plant of the Umbelliferae family. It is native to India and is now widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Gotu Kola extract has become a multifunctional natural raw material in the field of dietary supplements with its unique triterpenoid saponins (such as asiaticoside, hydroxy-madecassoside), flavonoids and polyphenols.
Related studies have shown that terpenoids in Centella asiatica extract can significantly increase the content of collagen and cell layer fibronectin. Fibronectin plays an important role in cell migration, adhesion, proliferation, hemostasis and skin tissue repair. Among them, asiaticoside has the effect of promoting fibroblast proliferation, can enhance skin elasticity and repair ability, and is often used to improve scars, stretch marks, photoaging and other skin problems.Therefore, its extract is widely used in anti-aging skin care products, scar repair, acne cosmetics, tonics for treating dry and sensitive skin, moisturizing cosmetics, etc.
Astragalus Extract
Astragalus is a traditional Chinese medicine with a long history. Its extract, derived from the roots of the plant, is rich in bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, flavonoids, and saponins, which contribute to its diverse pharmacological effects. Studies have shown that astragalus can enhance immune function and improve the body’s resistance to infection by stimulating the activity of T cells and natural killer cells. Therefore, it is widely used to treat diseases such as colds, respiratory infections, and fibromyalgia.
In addition, telomerase activators (such as astragalus polysaccharides) in astragalus extract are believed to delay cell aging and extend telomere length, thus having anti-aging effects. In addition, studies have found that astragalus can promote fat and glucose metabolism and help maintain a healthy weight.
At present, astragalus extract is widely used in dietary supplements, traditional Chinese medicine products, and cosmetics, and has high health and beauty value.
Turmeric Extract
Curcuma longa is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Curcuma in the ginger family. Turmeric extract is extracted from the dried rhizome of the ginger plant turmeric. The main bioactive substances are curcumin and curcumone, both of which have been widely studied and proven to have significant health benefits. Its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and lipid-lowering effects make turmeric widely used in many fields, including health foods, skin care products and traditional medicines. In addition, turmeric extract also contains other beneficial ingredients such as alpha-lipoic acid, glucosides and black pepper extract, which can enhance the absorption and bioavailability of curcumin.
Several studies have shown that curcumin has significant anti-inflammatory effects and can effectively relieve the severity of inflammation and pain in patients with arthritis. In addition, for patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), oral curcumin can achieve sufficient concentrations in the gastrointestinal tract to protect the intestinal mucosa from DNA oxidative damage.
Turmeric is not limited to supplements, and its use in daily diet is also increasing, especially modern health drinks (such as turmeric milk tea, turmeric honey water, etc.), which have become part of many people’s daily life. Additionally, as a skincare ingredient, turmeric can soothe the skin and reduce inflammation, which can help support skin health due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Mulberry Leaf Extract
Mulberry leaf is the leaf of the mulberry tree of the Moraceae family, also known as iron fan. Mulberry leaf extract is a water or alcohol extract of the dried leaves of Morus alba L., a plant of the Moraceae family. It contains a variety of active substances such as flavonoids, alkaloids, polysaccharides, and has pharmacological effects such as hypoglycemic, antibacterial, antihypertensive, and anti-inflammatory.
Scientific researchers have detected that flavonoids (such as mulberry leaf flavonoids) and polyphenolic compounds (such as chlorogenic acid) contained in mulberry leaf extract can effectively reduce postprandial blood sugar peaks, thereby controlling blood sugar levels. In addition, because it also has a strong antioxidant effect, it can remove free radicals in the body, reduce oxidative stress, and delay aging.
In the market, mulberry leaf extract usually exists in the form of powder, tablets, capsules or liquids, and is widely used in functional foods, health drinks and dietary supplements. For example, mulberry leaf extract is used to make mulberry leaf tea, functional drinks and weight loss products, which meet consumers’ health needs by regulating blood sugar, improving metabolism and enhancing immunity.
Ashwagandha Extract
Ashwagandha, also known as Indian Ginseng, is a revered medicinal plant in Ayurvedic medicine with a history spanning over 3,000 years. Classified as an adaptogen, it is widely recognized for its potent antioxidant properties and immune-boosting functions.
Research shows that bioactive compounds in Ashwagandha—such as withanolides, alkaloids, and steroids—possess diverse physiological benefits,including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, stress-relieving, immune-enhancing, memory-enhancing, cognitive-improving, and anticancer properties.
Due to these multifaceted benefits, Ashwagandha extract is commonly incorporated into dietary supplements, energy drinks, and sports nutrition products to promote overall health and vitality.
Market Trends and Future Outlook
According to market research, the plant extract market is expected to continue to grow. For example, the global plant extract market size is expected to grow from US$34.4 billion in 2022 to US$61.5 billion in 2027, with an average annual growth rate of 12.3%. This growth is mainly due to the continued rise in consumer demand for natural health products, the advancement of plant ingredient extraction technology and the promotion of health policies.
Conclusion
SED Ingredients Ltd is a fully integrated supplier of nutritional ingredients and APIs and intermediates, providing high-quality plant extracts and active ingredients to meet the needs of the pharmaceutical, nutritional supplement and food industries. If you are looking for high-quality botanical extracts, SED Ingredients Ltd is your ideal partner. Please contact us to learn more about our products and services.