There is a huge range of botanicals that exert a beneficial impact on human health: panax ginseng, red sage, mushroom extracts, L-theanine, L-tyrosine, ginger, caffeine, ashwagandha, grape seed extract, turmeric, schisandra, guarana, spirulina, liquorice, elderberry, cannabidiol (CBD), camomile, bilberry, and valerian – to name but a few.
How traditional herbs can benefit the modern mind
Many of these have a long history of use that spans centuries, notably those used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic traditions.
However, the development of advanced formulation and extraction methods is helping to increase the bioavailability of the healthy bioactive compounds within these botanicals. This is unlocking the benefits and opening up new opportunities for product development in the nutraceutical and supplement categories as well as in functional food and drinks.
According to a November 2021 report from Grand View Research,1 the worldwide botanical supplements market was worth $27.47 billion in 2020. The firm forecast a global compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1% up to 2028, meaning that the market’s value was due to more than double in size to $55.18bn over just that eight-year period.
While probable US growth is put at 8.4% year-on-year, the Asia Pacific region is predicted to show the highest rate at 10.1%, with China and India being singled out as offering especially sizeable opportunities for suppliers of botanical ingredients and finished products.
