The Importance of Plant Extracts for Human Health

Nature has always been, and still is, a source of foods and ingredients that are beneficial to human health. Nowadays, plant extracts are increasingly becoming important additives in the food industry due to their content in bioactive compounds such as polyphenols and carotenoids, which have antimicrobial and antioxidant activity, especially against low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) oxidative changes.

The aforementioned compounds also delay the development of off-flavors and improve the shelf life and color stability of food products. Due to their natural origin, they are excellent candidates to replace synthetic compounds, which are generally considered to have toxicological and carcinogenic effects. The efficient extraction of these compounds from their natural sources and the determination of their activity in commercialized products have been great challenges for researchers and food chain contributors to develop products with positive effects on human health.

It's important to be aware that not all natural medicines are created equal. There can be significant variation in natural medicines depending on how they are produced.With so many products to choose from, it can be difficult to understand just how these products differ particularly since many products use ingredients sourced from the same plant or herb.  

What is a standardised extract?

A standardised extract can help reduce this product variability. Standardisation means that specified compounds (or ‘markers’) of an herbal ingredient are measured to a specified concentration or amount and the same rigorous manufacturing process and specification is adhered to for every single batch.The manufacturing process is tightly controlled because it can affect the specification or profile of the ingredient.

When dealing with specific extracts, like those found in SFI Health products, this control would also encompass everything from where the plant is grown and harvested to the storage and manufacture of the product.

And it’s these specific standardised extracts that can be used in clinical trials to help ensure that the product’s effect on a particular therapeutic benefit can be consistently expected to be delivered each time.

Why is it important?

The extraction process can greatly impact the reliability of a natural medicine.  So products containing ingredients from the same herb or plant won’t necessarily have the same consistent profile of compounds and therefore may not have the same effect.It’s also important to choose products that contain the same specific standardised extracts used in clinical trials, so you can be more confident that the product you buy can deliver the same reliable health outcomes.

So while there are many natural products on the market labelled as containing St. John’s Wort or Black Cohosh for example, you should check whether they contain the specific extract that was used in clinical trials. It is those products that can back their claims with the clinical evidence that has been demonstrated by the specific extract – like SFI Health products.