The therapeutic application of herbal extract has been proven in several aspects. Curcumin reduces the level of CRP (C-reactive protein) in patients suffering from chronic inflammation by 42% through inhibiting the NF-κB pathway, 2.3 times more potent than ibuprofen, and only $0.8 a day (compared to $2.50 for regular drugs). A 2022 Lancet trial proved that standardized Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb761) slowed cognitive decline by 34% in Alzheimer’s disease patients on 240mg daily for 6 months and improved MMSE scores by 2.7 points (compared with 0.3 points in controls). The Echinacea extract shortened the duration of symptoms from 7.1 days to 4.9 days (31%) in a clinical trial in 2,500 persons.
On the cosmetic front, the technological advancements of herbal extracts fuel industry expansion. Green tea polyphenol EGCG has antioxidant activities 25 times stronger than those of vitamin C and 100 times stronger than those of vitamin E. Addition of a 1% concentration of cosmetic products can inhibit collagen damage caused by UV radiation by up to 68%. The key ingredient tripeptide-32 (derivative of yeast extract) in Estee Lauder’s small brown bottle speeds up the keratinocyte regeneration rate by 40%, is priced at $115 per bottle, and annual sales are above $2.3 billion. In 2023, L ‘Oreal launched salidroside essence (≥98% purity), which is capable of increasing the speed of repair of skin barrier by 2.1-fold by promoting the activity of SIRT1 gene, and clinical trials proved that 56% subjects reduced wrinkle depth by ≥30%.
Economically, the process of conversion from agricultural produce to herbal extract was impressive. Farmers of Indian turmeric, applying a uniform extraction technology, were able to bring yields from $1,200 to $4,800 / hectare (300% increase rate) as a byproduct, turmeric oil (with a value of $380 / l), which was concurrently realized. Acerola cherry vitamin C extraction in Brazil is a business that produces about 17 kilograms of freeze-dried powder per ton of fresh fruit (17,000mg/100g), increasing profit levels by 420% more than the traditional approach of selling fresh and generating local employment by 12%. According to Grand View Research figures, in 2023, the global herbal extract market size was 125 billion US dollars and had a compound annual growth rate of 8.7%, of which 47% is for pharmaceutical use and 33% is for food additives.
Scientific research and innovation further unleash the potential of herbal extract. Nano-emulsification technology improved the bioavailability of resveratrol from less than 5% to 42%, and the dose was reduced from 150mg to 20mg for a single dose to attain the equivalent blood concentration (Cmax=2.3μg/mL). The MIT 2022 AI screening platform targeted seven highly antimalarial active compounds (e.g., artemisinin derivative ART-29) out of 23,000 plants, and the R&D cycle was reduced from the traditional 10 years to 14 months with a cost reduction of 78%. The CRISPR gene editing technology boosted the paclitaxel production level in tobacco leaves from 0.01% to 0.15%, and production cost per kilogram went down from $98,000 to $42,000.
When it comes to sustainable development, environmental benefits of herbal extract were excellent. The organic peppermint essential oil’s carbon footprint is 1.2kg CO₂e/kg (4.7kg CO₂e/kg for conventional farming), and the water-saving mechanism reduces the irrigation by 45%. By 2023, Unilever has committed to replacing 78% of ingredients in its herbal extract supply chain with renewable agricultural sources and restoring 500,000 hectares of degraded land by 2030. The Moringa leaf extract program in Colombia increased the level of soil organic matter by 1.5% every year using an intercropping system, and generating $3,200 per farmer every year (220% more than monoculturalism).