Plant-based vital substances: their origins, forms, and quality characteristics
From ashwagandha to turmeric, ginkgo biloba, and frankincense: the world of plant-based active ingredients is diverse. Each plant has its own unique composition of bioactive compounds, ranging from withanolides to curcuminoids to flavone glycosides. Below you’ll find an overview of the most important plants, their origins, common dosage forms, and criteria that may influence your choice.
Plant vital substances is a collective term for bioactive plant compounds extracted from roots, leaves, seeds, fruits, or resins. These include ashwagandha, turmeric (curcumin), ginseng, ginkgo biloba, milk thistle, frankincense (Boswellia), green tea, guarana, and rhodiola. Unlike vitamins and minerals, which are single, chemically defined compounds, plant vital substances are typically complex extracts containing a variety of ingredients, such as flavonoids, polyphenols, alkaloids, or essential oils.
Overview: Plants and their characteristic compounds
- Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera): a root extract from Ayurvedic herbal medicine, standardised for withanolides.
- Turmeric / Curcumin (Curcuma longa): Root extract containing the eponymous pigment curcumin, often combined with piperine or in liposomal forms for improved absorption.
- Ginseng (Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolius): Root extract, standardised for ginsenoside content.
- Ginkgo Biloba: Leaf extract, typically standardised for flavonoglycosides and terpene lactones (e.g., the EGb 761® standard).
- Milk thistle (Silybum marianum): Seed extract containing the active ingredient complex silymarin.
- Frankincense / Boswellia (Boswellia serrata): An extract from the gum resin, standardised for boswellic acids.
- Green tea (Camellia sinensis): Leaf extract containing catechins, particularly EGCG.
- Guarana (Paullinia cupana): Seed extract with a natural caffeine content.
- Rhodiola / Rose root (Rhodiola rosea): Root extract from Arctic and Alpine regions, standardised for rosavins and salidroside.
Dosage forms
Herbal vital substances are available in various forms:
Form | Features |
|---|---|
Capsules | Fixed dosage, tasteless, easy to take |
Powder | Flexible dosing, requires mixing, often cheaper per serving |
Liquid extract / drops | Quick to take, with customisable dosing |
Liposomal forms | The active ingredient is encapsulated within a lipid layer, designed to alter absorption compared to traditional extracts. |
What to consider when choosing
- Extract ratio: This indicates how much raw material was used to produce a given amount of extract (e.g., 10:1).
- Standardisation: A defined, consistent level of key active ingredients (e.g., “95% curcuminoids”) ensures a consistent dosage across different products.
- Origin and cultivation: Organic certifications and details about the growing region provide information on the cultivation conditions.
- Laboratory analysis/purity: Tests for heavy metals, pesticides, or microbial contamination serve as a quality indicator.
- Combination with accompanying substances: Some products contain additives like piperine (from black pepper), which are discussed in relation to the intake of certain plant substances.
Frequently asked questions about plant-based vital substances
The term refers to bioactive compounds extracted from plants – for example, from roots, leaves, seeds, or resins. They differ from synthetically produced or isolated individual nutrients in that they are usually complex extracts containing several accompanying substances.
Vitamins and minerals are chemically defined substances with legally established reference values. Plant-based vital substances, on the other hand, are extracts from natural products with a variety of ingredients, and their composition can vary depending on the plant, cultivation, and extraction method.
It depends on your personal preferences. Capsules provide a fixed, pre-measured dose and are flavourless. Powders offer more flexible dosing and can be mixed into drinks or food.
A standardised extract contains a defined, guaranteed amount of one or more key substances (e.g., curcuminoids in turmeric or boswellic acids in frankincense). This ensures a consistent composition from batch to batch.
Many plant-based products are vegan, provided the capsule shell (e.g., made from plant-based cellulose instead of gelatine) and all excipients are also produced without animal-derived ingredients. You can find information about this on the product's label.
It's recommended to store them in a cool, dry place away from light, as light, moisture, and heat can affect the plant compounds they contain. Please follow the instructions on the packaging.
Criteria include a clear declaration of the extraction ratio and active ingredient content, independent laboratory analyses for purity and contaminants, transparent information on origin, and – depending on the supplier – organic or quality certifications.