Practices & Lifestyle
Anthocyanins: A Practical Guide
Overview Anthocyanins are a class of water-soluble flavonoid polyphenols responsible for the red, purple, and blue pigments in berries, cherries, grapes, red cabbage, and black rice. They are among the most bioactive dietary polyphenols, with particularly strong evidence for cardiovascular…
Bergamot Extract (BPF)
Bergamot polyphenolic fraction (BPF) is a standardized extract of the peel and juice of Citrus bergamia, the same fruit responsible for the flavor of Earl Grey tea. The bioactive content is dominated by flavonoid glycosides — neohesperidin,…
Beta-Carotene: A Practical Guide
Overview Beta-carotene is the most abundant and best-studied provitamin A carotenoid—a 40-carbon symmetrical molecule with two beta-ionone ring end groups that is cleaved by BCMO1 (beta-carotene monooxygenase 1) in intestinal enterocytes to produce retinal and, subsequently, retinol (vitamin…
Citrus Bioflavonoids: A Practical Guide
Overview Citrus bioflavonoids are a family of polyphenolic flavonoids abundantly found in citrus fruits—particularly in the peel, pith, and segments. Major compounds include hesperidin (found in oranges), naringenin and naringin (grapefruit), diosmin (lemon), eriocitrin (lemon juice), and…
Cocoa Flavanols: A Practical Guide
Overview Cocoa flavanols are a specific subclass of flavonoids found in Theobroma cacao—primarily epicatechin and catechin monomers, as well as their oligomeric procyanidin forms (B1–B4). Flavanol content varies enormously across cocoa products depending on fermentation, roasting, and…
EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate): A Practical Guide
Overview Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the principal polyphenol catechin in green tea (Camellia sinensis), comprising ~50–60% of the catechin content of green tea extract (GTE). It is among the most studied plant polyphenols in biomedical research, with evidence spanning antioxidant…
Garlic (Allicin): A Practical Guide
Overview Garlic (Allium sativum) has one of the longest histories of medicinal use in human civilization—documented in Egyptian papyri, ancient Chinese medicine, and Hippocratic texts. Its primary bioactive compound, allicin (diallyl thiosulfinate), is formed enzymatically when raw garlic is…
Ginger (Zingiber officinale): A Practical Guide
Overview Ginger is the rhizome of Zingiber officinale, a flowering plant whose bioactive compounds—primarily gingerols (fresh ginger), shogaols (dried/heated ginger), paradols, and zingerone—have been used in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine for over 5,000 years. Ginger has one of…
Ginkgo Biloba: A Practical Guide
Overview Ginkgo biloba is one of the most ancient surviving tree species on Earth (a "living fossil") and one of the most extensively studied botanical medicines. The standardized leaf extract (EGb 761, sold as Tebonin/Tanakan/Rökan/Ginkgold) contains 24% ginkgo flavone glycosides and 6%…
Grape Seed Extract: A Practical Guide
Overview Grape seed extract (GSE) is derived from the seeds of Vitis vinifera (wine grapes) and is highly concentrated in
Gynostemma Pentaphyllum: A Practical Guide
Overview Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Jiaogulan, "immortality herb") is a climbing vine native to southern China, Japan, and Southeast Asia, used in traditional Chinese medicine as an adaptogen and longevity tonic. Its primary bioactive compounds are dammarane-type saponins called gypenosides…
Lutein & Zeaxanthin: A Practical Guide
Overview Lutein and zeaxanthin are xanthophyll carotenoids (oxygenated carotenoids) that selectively accumulate in the human macula (the high-acuity central region of the retina), forming the macular pigment optical density (MPOD). They are not synthesized by the human body and must be…
Lycopene: A Practical Guide
Overview Lycopene is a carotenoid pigment responsible for the red color of tomatoes, watermelon, pink grapefruit, guava, and papaya. Unlike beta-carotene, lycopene has no provitamin A activity. It is the most potent singlet oxygen quencher among dietary carotenoids—approximately twice as…
Milk Thistle (Silymarin): A Practical Guide
Overview Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) seed extract contains silymarin, a complex of flavonolignans—primarily silybin (silibinin), silydianin, and silychristin—with antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic properties. Silybin is the most biologically active and…
Olive Leaf Extract: A Practical Guide
Overview Olive leaf extract (OLE) is derived from the leaves of Olea europaea and is highly concentrated in oleuropein—a bitter secoiridoid glycoside—along with hydroxytyrosol, verbascoside, and other biophenols. Oleuropein is hydrolyzed in the gut to hydroxytyrosol (the most bioavailable…
Pycnogenol: A Practical Guide
Overview Pycnogenol is a patented, standardized extract from the bark of the French maritime pine (Pinus pinaster), manufactured by Horphag Research. It is a complex mixture of procyanidins (oligomeric proanthocyanidins), catechins, phenolic acids (ferulic acid, caffeic acid), and taxifolin.
Rosemary Extract: A Practical Guide
Overview Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus, formerly Rosmarinus officinalis) is a Mediterranean aromatic herb whose extract is rich in polyphenolic diterpenes—primarily carnosic acid and carnosol—as well as rosmarinic acid (a caffeic acid derivative), ursolic acid, and flavonoids. Rosemary extract…