Development of Next Generation Natural Health Products.

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Recent research has identified numerous health benefits of phytochemicals in plant foods and medicines. Medicinal plants, registered in Canada as licensed Natural Health Products (NHP), are rich in phytochemicals but traditional technologies used by industry limit the diversity and stability of phytochemicals present in commercial products. In this proposal St Francis Herb Farm (SFHF), a major Canadian manufacturer of NHPs, and the University of Ottawa (UO) phytochemistry group will develop next generation extraction methods that produce broad spectrum phytochemical extracts and targeted extracts enriched in beneficial phytochemicals or free of undesired substances like organic solvents. The project consists of 5 objectives. The first is to prepare extracts of 18 popular botanical species using different extraction technologies (e.g. coldfinger and sub-critical water extracts of dried material, screw press extracts of fresh material) and drying methods (e.g. lyophilization, vacuum drying, spray drying). In Objective 2, recently developed metabolomic methods for profiling botanical extracts will be used to gauge and compare the chemical diversity/complexity obtained using different extraction and drying technologies. The third objective is to apply UO informatics platforms to identify unknown phytochemicals in botanical extracts that may contribute to beneficial health effects. In Objective 4, a targeted quantitative comparison of marker compounds in botanical extracts made using different extraction technologies will be completed. Marker profiles will include established commercial markers as well as those identified in Objective 3. The final objective is to compare the the impact of different extraction and drying technologies on extract chemistry to identify optimal methods for each plant species. A separate application for Ontario funds to assess the stability of next generation extracts will provide complementary translational data for new product development. The research will build on Canada's investment in NHP regulation, allow SFHF to strengthen leadership and move into international markets, to train students to fill demand in NHP-related industry/research, and to provide consumers with safe products with health benefits.