Standardized extracts, also called standardized, does not correspond to the "Totum Vegetal"[1]. The technology and the use of sophisticated solvents but inappropriate in physiological terms, allow currently "focus" the plant extracts in certain substances, for quantification far above the 50%.
We wrote focus quotes, because the term in this case turns out to be reasonable and open to interpretations of industrial marketing, who oppose almost always the rigour of scientific facts. In reality to obtain these "concentrated", It is always necessary to eliminate the "Totum vegetal", a variety of molecules that are fundamental to the physiological activity of the vegetable. Remember that the properties of the vegetable, with regard to human health, are always measured to its traditional use as "totum vegetable" and never the use of molecules, or molecular groups, used in isolation. For example, the artichoke (Cynara Scolymus) should their properties, empirical use of fruit a few hundred years in the form of herbal teas (vegetable Totum), the total intracitoplasmático, and no to cynarin isolated. However the artichoke standardized extracts, are concentrated in cynarin over 15%; reaching the 40%, cynarin which in the plant, You can achieve maximum, in some vegetable plots, the 8%. For this type of product it is necessary to use technology (Physics) suitable, and solvents (Chemistry) most times dangerous to the health of consumers. These solvents (ether; methanol; acetone; chloroform; benzene; hexane and other), they always leave residues in the final product, in appreciable quantities, and products that are consumed in significant quantities for long periods, as is the case of supplements, are physiologically counterproductive. Besides, these solvents are not listed on the labels of the final products. For use in intermediate productive processes of raw material, the legislation so allows.
The kava-kava (Piper metysticum), a plant traditionally used by the people of Polynesia in ritualized festivals, How exhilarating, It was appropriate for the North American and European industry, is used as a mood stabilizer and reducer of depressive processes. In the years 90 last century, a standardized extract of kava-kava, quantified over 80% of kavalactones, substances allegedly considered the main responsible for their physiological activity previously enunciated, various cases of severe hepatotoxicity originated, that in 2 cases proved fatal. Further investigation proved that this was due exclusively to kavalactonas it was discovered have toxic effects on the liver cell. However another fact proved dominant also in this approach, The "totum vegetable" of kava-kava has large amounts of glutathione, a tripeptide known as hepatoprotective, a synergy of antagonistic type, When the intake of total extracts of the plant. So the "totum vegetable" has no hepatotoxicity, same as ingested in amounts significantly high. However the use of standardized extract proved completely unsuitable for human consumption, because not only the kavalactonas are toxic, as in this type of product, Glutathione has existence, so that the kavalactonas could exist in greater quantity. The "totum vegetable" was desvirtualizado, and in this way the traditional product, well known, effective and safe originated something unknown and with a relative effectiveness – security, completely to the detriment of the latter.
In reality the standardized extracts are not superior to total extracts in terms of beneficial physiological activity, and may even be harmful. Also in the vast majority of standardized extracts, the substance used as reference to focus, It was not the subject of studies that show that activity specifically more than the total extract. In our opinion this type of final product takes pharmacological product features, and may also be considered as target of legislation "novel foods", to the extent that under the modified form the vast majority of these extracts was not marketed before 1997.
Why then the industry insists that its marketing?
The marketing of total extracts, is not liable to recourse to patents, While standardized extracts are[2]. So you can get added value from their marketing, and particularly use this fact as grounds for pseudoscientific piffle marketing campaigns, making believe that it is more concentrated products and therefore of superior quality. Standardization (Standardization) also requires the use of technology and physicochemical processes something sophisticated, What is not within the reach of all economic actors, which ensures that the most powerful take advantage on small and medium-sized enterprises, without financial resources at your complete disposal. Standardization is revealed so little competition loyal promoter, particularly if we take into account the abovementioned scientific marketing.
Will also be interesting to note, from vegetable raw material in bad condition (harvest made out of appropriate period; drying in bad condition; razuração and spraying conducted inappropriately; signs of fermentation process, etc), If you can produce a final standardized extract of great "quality", to the extent that the single parameter that matter in this case, will be the percentage of the substance (molecule) or group of substances (molecules), the standardization process.
The extracts do not manipulated chemically-physical[3], are as preferable to the standardized dubbed, because the "totum vegetable" and by that to its traditional use, because the relative effectiveness – security is far superior, Why do not contain solvents bit suitable for Physiology (health) Human, because with the legal principles in force without doubt, Why don't originate from economic discrepancies-competition, because in order to obtain a final product quality, If you must use quality raw material, and to top it off, because they respect the ecological precepts, not only do not use chemical solvents, But why not give rise to so much waste of medicinal plants, as for the processes of concentration of some molecules, If they waste all the other constituents of the total intracitoplasmático.
However there are exceptions that confirm the rule. In reality there are few standardized extracts to be used more than 25 year old, and that have been subject to rigorous studies that show a very high-security effectiveness ratio. The percentage of target substance or group of substances of standardization is quite variable, and may in some cases closing the 100%. In these cases we can consider that we are dealing with molecules or molecular group isolated what in physiological terms should be considered, no longer as herbal medicine, But how isolated substance supplementation. In this area the piperine from Piper Nigrum and Curcumin from Curcuma Longa or curcuminoides are excellent examples, and at the bottom do not differ much from the same biological principles (physiological biochemical) applied to the use of some vitamins, Proanthocyanidins (grape seed); Polyphenols (Apple); organic acids (of citrus fruit); terpenes (citrus species); Caffeine-metilxantina (coffee, Guarana, Kola nuts), etc.
There is therefore a need to consider this issue in the present and for the future.
Listed below are some standardized extracts which we consider of high effectiveness ratio-security and that in our opinion are perfectly capable of use in food supplements:
- Curcuma Longa (the standardized extract 95% Curcuminoids);
- Piper Nigrum (the standardized extract 95% piperine);
- Camellia Sinenis (the standardized extract 30% of Epicatechin);
- Avena Sativa (the standardized extract 30% Ferulic acid);
- Citrus Sinensis (the standardized extract 20% of D-Limonene);
- Bacopa Monnieri (the standardized extract 20% of baccosides);
- Arthrospira Platensis (the standardized extract 30% of Ficocianinas).
- Trigonella Foenum-Graecum (the standardized extract 50% Saponins esteróidicas).
- Oryza Sativa (var. nigra) (the standardized extract 20% of Cyanidin-3-Glucoside).
- Centella Asiatica (the standardized extract 8% of triterpenoids).
- Boswellia Serrata (the standardized extract 50% beta-bosvélicos acid).
- Whitania Somnifera (the standardized extract 8% of witanólidos).
- Coleus Forskohlii (the standardized extract 10% Forscolina).
Contrary to what some intend to pass as scientific evidence is not necessary to standardize control quality of plant extracts. Effectively, the titration is the methodology used for this purpose, and does not imply a physical-chemical handling.
Required only if quantifies a particular substance or group of substances, in order to ensure that, to your presence in the respective percentage compared to the total extract "totum vegetal", is within acceptable parameters as quality reference. This technique, do not leave however to be a reductionist procedure. There are however some more holistic methodologies, as the capilarograma and the olfactometria, able to reflect a quality referential, more as the concept of "totum vegetal", to the extent that it does not refer only to quantitative processes, but fundamentally if you assess the qualitative processes. We believe that the titration used in conjunction with the capilarograma and (or) olfactometria, will be the best option when it comes to quality control of total extracts (not standardized). The thin-layer chromatography and high pressure also play important roles in the qualitative and quantitative control of plant extracts.
[1] This would be sufficient for its use in food supplements (phytotherapy), was rejected. See article about "Totum Vegetal". However many more arguments exist for their rejection.
[2] Almost always marketed under the registration of trade marks ".
[3] The final products obtained from the sprayed (micronized) dried vegetables, also matches the "totum vegetable" and is often an option optimized with only drawback the lowest concentration in relation to the total integral extracts, not handled.
Author > Eduardo Ribeiro, CEO scientist Department | Quality control| Research and Development- Biogal, Biologia de Portugal Lda.

