February Ingredient Highlights

Interested in the ingredients commonly used in Natural Health Products (NHPs)? We are too! Below we outline a brief history and medicinal uses of ingredients we highlighted on our LinkedIn page in February. This month, we’re focusing on medicinal benefits of lungwort, boldo, white kidney beans, and cascara sagrada.

Lungwort

Lungwort, scientifically known as Pulmonaria officinalis, is a plant with several medicinal benefits. It has been used in various medicinal practices and remains a popular staple in many European households.

Its primary benefit is its ability to act as an expectorant, helping facilitate the clearing of mucus and other secretions from the respiratory tract. For this reason, it's often used to help with respiratory issues such as bronchitis, asthma, and general cough.

Apart from its respiratory uses, it is also used for its astringent benefits. Oral preparation of this plant can be used to provide relief from diarrhea and aid with hemorrhoids. Active constituents of the plant act on the muscles of the digestive tract, increasing the muscle tone while also reducing intestinal secretions.

In Canada, oral preparations of lungwort can include up to 2-4 grams of dried leaf in either dried, powdered, or extracted forms and consumed three times daily. For more information on the approved claims and preparations, please reference our infographic below.

Boldo

Peumus boldus, commonly known as Boldo, is native to Chile but can also be spotted in regions with similar climates like Argentina, Peru, and certain parts of the USA and Europe. Its widespread distribution is due to the demand for its medicinal properties.

The leaves of Boldo, which are packed with bioactive compounds, have a long history of use in traditional medicine, dating back to their initial use by indigenous communities in South America. Even today, preparations made from Boldo leaves are utilized in herbal medicine to support liver health, aid digestion, reduce inflammation, and maintain gallbladder health.

In Canada, the use of Boldo leaves in natural health products is approved for up to 5 grams of dried leaf per day. It can be included in products as dried or powdered leaves, or as a non-standardized extract.

To learn more about the approved claims and preparations, reference our infographic below.

White Kidney Beans

It's rare that we stop to think about the potential benefits of every day foods we consume. Afterall, changing the method in which we process plants can change the potency of their active constituents. Subsequently, these constituents could have many beneficial in vivo effects. White kidney beans are no exception.

Research has explored the impact of white kidney bean extracts on blood glucose levels and weight management. Specifically, the active components, alpha-amylase inhibitors (AAIs), are identified as pivotal contributors to the observed benefits. AAIs play a crucial role by modulating the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates. It is theorized that AAIs hinder the breakdown of carbohydrates into sugars by binding to sugar-digesting enzymes. This action reduces the rate of carbohydrate digestion, subsequently moderating the concentration of blood sugar after consuming a meal. Additionally, AAIs are believed to slow down carbohydrate absorption, contributing to weight reduction.

Significance of mitigating blood glucose spikes: The consumption of various foods can trigger abrupt spikes in blood glucose levels, leading to several adverse effects on the body. For instance, a sudden increase in blood glucose can stimulate insulin secretion, potentially promoting the storage of excess calories as fat and influencing an individual's weight. Moreover, rapid glucose spikes can significantly impact energy levels, causing a swift increase followed by a subsequent drop in blood glucose, resulting in decreased energy levels.

In Canada, the use of white kidney beans in natural health products is approved as an extract preparation with a quantity crude equivalent of 1 - 3 grams of seed and a standardization of 3000 AAIU per gram of extract. To learn more about the approved health claims, please reference our infographic below.

Cascara Sagrada

Cascara sagrada, scientifically known as Frangula purshiana, has a long-standing history of use in herbal medicine. Its usage dates back to Native American tribes, who utilized the tree's bark for its laxative properties to treat constipation and promote bowel movements. Its medicinal properties were later introduced to Spanish missionaries. Upon discovering the plant's benefits, the name "cascara sagrada" (translating to "sacred bark") emerged. Its medicinal properties were then esteemed throughout the 19th century, leading to its recognition as a medicinal plant and its inclusion in pharmacopeias in various countries.

Anthraquinone glycosides, among other plant constituents, are compounds that are abundant in the tree's bark and are responsible for many benefits explained above. Ingested anthraquinone glycosides are digested in the colon, where they are metabolized into their active constituents known as aglycones. Aglycones are responsible for stimulating peristalsis, thereby providing laxative benefits.

Today, cascara sagrada continues to be used for its medicinal properties initially discovered by native tribes. In Canada, the use of the aged bark in natural health products (NHPs) is approved for up to 3 grams per day. It can be added to NHPs in various preparations, including standardized and non-standardized extracts. Standardized extracts can include 10-30 milligrams of hydroxyanthracene derivatives per day.

To learn more about the medicinal benefits of the plant and accepted preparations, please reference our infographic below.

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