Applications of Herbs

to Functional Foods
Lecture 15
03.09.2018
4th year DHND
Functional Food & Nutracuticals
By
Dr. Abdul Ghani
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Introduction
• Functional foods have been defined as foods and
food components that provide a health benefit
beyond basic nutrition.
• Examples include conventional, fortified,
enriched, or enhanced foods and dietary
supplements.
• To date, however, nor regulatory definition of
functional foods or the similar terms
nutraceuticals and designer foods has been
proposed or approved by the food and drug
administration. 2
• Herbs or botanicals may have health benefits
that are not derived from the plant’s nutrient
composition. When these herbs are provided in
the form of a capsule, powder, softgel, gelcap,
or other form that is not represented as a
conventional food, these products are
considered dietary supplements and are reulated
quite differently from foods or food additives.
Although the growing interest in herbal products
has perhaps reached a plateau, an attitude
toward health and wellness has not changed.

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• With an emphasis on quality and
standardization, food manufacturers may find
herbals to be a new source of functional
ingredients.
• Herbal additives have begun to apear in
conventional foods ranging from teas and jices
to snack chips and energy bars.
• In the absence of a separate regulatory
category for these and other functional foods,
such products are regulated as conventional
foods.
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• This chapter discusses botanicals as functional food
ingredients, with the idea that the purported health benefits
of the food are due to their botanical nature.
• Although other ingredients may also be beneficial, this
chapter will describe benefits associated with the botanicals.
• Because botanically enhanced functional foods are relatively
new in the marketplace, little data exists regarding the
efficacy of herbal compounds delivered in this way.
• Therefore, this chapter will review herbal compounds, their
claims, and the evidence for their efficacy in dietary
supplement form.
• In addition, we will describe some of the foods that contain
herbal ingredients, and the challenges and uncertainties
faced in this new functional food arena.

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Herbal Medicine
• The use of herbal products became popular in the
U.S. following the passage of the dietary supplements
Health and education Act of 1994 (DSHEA).
• This act amended the federal food drug, and cosmetic
act to allow dietary supplements to be regulated
differently from conventional foods or drugs. After
the passage of this law, herbal and botanical
supplements initially showed double-digit growth in
sales; however, current rates of growth have slowed
or even revered that rend.

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• Dietary supplements today are a far cry from
the herbal medicine practiced in ancient China,
Europe, or even by native Americans.
Traditional herbalists used plant roots, leaves,
bark, flowers, and seeds to prepare teas,
broths, tinctures, poultices, etc. Today, highly
purified extracts and powders are put into
capsules and tablets.
• Modern herbal medicine (or phototherapy)
relies on standardization and demonstrated
efficacy-constituent relationships.

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• Several comprehensive studies have been
conducted to support or challenge the efficacy
of modern herbal medicines; yet one of the
greatest impediments today is the utilization
well-defined and standardized herbs.
• Different studies that use different preparations
of the same herbal cannot be compared.

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• Herbs as ingredients in functional foods
• Regulatory status
• Identity dilemma
• Standardization dilemma
• Effect of processing dilemma
• Effect of processing dilemma
• Safety dilemma
• Interaction with drugs dilemma
• Label statements and claims
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Actions and evidence of herbal efficacy
• Nervous system
• Heart and circulation
• Immune system
• Digestive system
• Respiratory system
• Urinary system
• Saw palmetto
• Musculoskeletal system
• 10
Common Herbs, Active Ingredients, and
Purported Function
Popular Scientific Active Purported Main
Name Name Compounds Function Body
System
Ginkgo biloba Ginkgo Ginkolides: Memory, Brain,
biloba flavonoid cognition circulatory
glycosides, and system
diterpene lactones

St. John’s wort Hypericum Hypericin, Antidepressant Brain

perforatum pseudohypericin, for mild to
hyperforins, moderate
terpenes, depression
catechin-type
tannins,
proanthocyanidin
s
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Kava Kava Piper Kavalactones Antianxiety, Brain brain
Valerian methysticum valeptriates, relaxation sleep
valeriana valerenic acid, inducement
officalis sesquiterpenes

Hawthorn berry Cratagegus Amygdalin, Cardiac Circulatory

oxycantha crategolic acid, insufficiency system
oligomeric
proanthocyanadins

Echinacea Echinacea Echinosides, caffiec, Immunomodulato Innate

purpurea ferulic acids and rs immunity
E. Pallida cichoric acid, inulin
E. and furctans
Angustifolia

Peppermint oilt Mentha x Menthol Gingerols, Gastric intestinal GI tract

ginger licorice piperita gingerdiols distres GI tract
zingiber glycyrrhetic acid, antiemetic, Respiratory
officinale triterpene, saponins nausea system
glycyrrhiza expectorant
glabra
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Saw Serenoa β-sitosterol, Alpha Prostate
palmetto repens sterols, fatty reductase gland
Berry acids inhibitor
Feverfew Tancetum Sesquiterpe Migraine Brain
parthenuum ne lactones prophylactic

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