Global Botanical Health Brief
As botanical actives become the most important elements in post-pandemic wellbeing, the worldwide functional-food scene is humming anew. The China Chamber of Commerce for Import & Export of Medicines has just put out a new 2025 Botanical Extracts Health Report. It says that Cordyceps militaris, which is known for boosting NK-cell activity, has been the top immune-support mix for three years in a row. North American businesses are launching liver-candy candies that mix milk-thistle silymarin with turmeric-derived curcuminoids in a 3:1 ratio. Monthly online sales have already passed the two-million-bottle threshold.
Valerian is also popular right now. previous month, Tmall Global said that sales of SKUs with micro-encapsulated valerian oil rose by 470% compared to the same month previous year. At the same time, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has given a good safety opinion on a dual-action glycemic-control compound that combines mulberry-leaf DNJ with bitter-melon peptides. This might lead to a US$100 billion glucose-management business.
The next frontiers include memory, perception, and emotion. Lutein and crocin from saffron, as well as ginkgo biloba terpene lactones, are quickly becoming popular in brain-health products. Analysts say that by 2026, there will be a second billion-dollar vertical. Industry experts say that stricter efficacy dossiers are on the way and that firms should develop full-chain traceability "from farm to capsule" if they want to ride the wave of plant-powered medicine.
