Traditional Chinese Herbs
Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants
and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism,
herbal medicine, herbology, and phytotherapy. Sometimes the scope of herbal medicine
is extended to include fungi and bee products, as well as minerals, shells and certain
animal parts[1].
Many plants synthesize substances that are useful to the maintenance of health in humans
and other animals. These include aromatic substances, most of which are phenols or their
oxygen-substituted derivatives such as tannins. Many are secondary metabolites, of
which at least 12,000 have been isolated — a number estimated to be less than 10% of
the total. In many cases, these substances (particularly the alkaloids) serve as plant
defense mechanisms against predation by microorganisms, insects, and herbivores. Many
of the herbs and spices used by humans to season food yield useful medicinal
compounds.[2][3]
With the public becoming increasingly concerned and informed regarding herbs and
supplements, the focus of the industry has shifted to quality, purity and potency issues.
New herbal lines are being introduced claiming “unique” techniques to ensure the above
qualities. However, the implementation of testing and formulation procedures for purity,
bioactivity and consistency in herbs and supplements is nothing new to Nature’s
Sunshine Products (NSP). Since 1972, NSP’s mission has been to provide the finest
quality herbal products worldwide.
At Nature’s Sunshine, the design of superior products starts with Research and
Development (R&D). In the development of each product, quality is “built in” at the
beginning of the process. Instead of developing a product and then “adding” quality as an
afterthought, all raw material NSP encounters must rise to meet our strict standards. No
wonder NSP leads the industry in quality, integrity and service.
That standard of excellence begins with the knowledge and expertise of the three groups
within R&D:
Product Development
Once the Marketing Department approves a product idea, R&D’s Product Development
group “builds” the product from conception to finished product. This process involves an
amazing amount of technology and expertise. Nature’s Sunshine manufactures capsules,
tablets, bulk powders and liquid products. Each finished product form must meet
different criteria to ensure it looks professional and consistent. Our chewable tablets, bulk
powders and liquid products must be palatable. Scientists from Product Development are
able to formulate great-tasting, good-looking products without artificial flavors or colors,
keeping them as natural as possible.
Product Development works with Purchasing to acquire raw material samples for new
products. The preliminary raw materials are compared based on physical properties,
purity and potency. Some of the physical properties they examine include flow,
compressibility and ability to be mixed in NSP equipment. After extensive dialogue
between Marketing, Purchasing and Methods Development, Product Development selects
the best raw materials for new products. Then, the specifications for raw materials and
finished products are written by the Product Development and GMP Development
Groups.
The next step takes place in NSP’s pilot plant. Here preliminary batches of new
formulations are produced on a small scale to troubleshoot possible problems. When the
pilot plant work is completed, the product can move into production. Product
Development is responsible for an accelerated and real-time stability program. NSP takes
great care to make sure products maintain quality and potency throughout their shelf life.
With the stability program, scientists test and examine products after periods of time to
guarantee they meet label claims and maintain appearance.
Product Development works hand-in-hand with production to oversee the manufacturing
of NSP products. Even with the best planning, production problems sometimes surface.
When this happens, Product Development and manufacturing work together to solve
these difficulties through formulation changes or equipment adjustments. NSP follows
“good manufacturing practices” (GMPs), which are very strict government regulations
mandated by the Dietary Supplements Health and Education Act (DSHEA). Product
Development aids manufacturing in implementing and complying with these GMPs.
Good Manufacturing Practices
The standard of quality at NSP is based on information. This group oversees information
and is responsible for managing raw-material and finished-product specifications. These
specifications outline the criteria a material must meet to pass quality inspection and
testing. NSP’s decision to accept or reject a raw material or finished product is based on
these specifications.
Another function of the GMP group is writing the supplemental facts box and verifying
the technical accuracy of NSP labels. They also furnish technical information for
international product registrations. Often foreign countries have very different guidelines
for marketing herbal products. NSP must supply scientific documentation demonstrating
product safety, effectiveness, purpose and stability.
The GMP group is also responsible for answering technical questions and providing
product information for NSP customers worldwide. Along the same lines, they supply
scientific information and training to other NSP departments on existing, new and future
products. These scientists also collect and maintain available information on herbs and
other raw materials. R&D’s library contains over 400 books, while their online database
tracks over 800 individual herbs and supplements. R&D also subscribes to numerous
scientific and industry journals to keep abreast of the latest information.
Methods Development
Behind every Quality Assurance test for active components stands R&D’s Methods
Development Group. These gifted analytical chemists develop methods to test raw
materials and finished products, identifying and isolating active components. This
ensures that our products meet specifications and label claims.
The protocol for these methods is then transferred to Quality Assurance where scientists
perform them on a routine basis. Why are these testing procedures necessary? NSP must
confirm that their suppliers have shipped not only the correct herb, but also the highest
quality herb available. When NSP receives raw materials, the plants are already chopped
or ground, looking similar to common kitchen spices. By simply viewing the raw
material it is impossible to determine its plant identification, purity and potency. The
Methods Development Group measures and identifies the naturally occurring active
ingredients found in the herb. They also obtain an herbal “fingerprint” to ensure
consistency and quality.
NSP chemists use sophisticated equipment to accomplish these tasks. High-Performance
Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Gas Chromatography (GC), Mass Spectrometry (MS),
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR), Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) and
Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrometry (UV-VIS) are a few of the instruments at their disposal.
NSP scientists’ expertise is recognized worldwide with publication of their methods in
peer-reviewed journals.*
*(See Zhou, J.Z.; Kou, X.; Stevenson, D. "Rapid Extraction and High-Performance
Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Parthenolide in Feverfew (Tanacetum
parthenium)." J. Agric. Food Chem. 1999; 47; 1018-1022.)
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Sanjiu Enterprise Group is one of the largest state-owned enterprise groups in China,
which runs the pharmaceutical section as its leading operation. It is also appointed one of
the biggest 120 National Experimental Enterprises by the State Council. Sanjiu Medical
and Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.(formerly Nanfang Pharmaceutical Factory) is its core
enterprise.
Nowadays, the company manufactures Chinese Medicine and chemical drugs, thus
putting out over 700 pharmaceutical products, including ready-made Chinese Medicine,
Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) injections, more than 500 kinds of herb extract,
chemical raw material and drugs, biological products, etc. As a knowledge-intensive
enterprise, Sanjiu Enterprise Group has been operated along the guidelines of regarding
Science and Technology as the first productive forces. President Zhao Xinxian is a
renowned pharmaceutical professor and has been engaged as part-time professor by
several famous universities. All these years, President Zhao and Sanjiu Enterprise Group
have been devoted to research, development and application of TCM by working hard to
open up the national industry to the world. Sanjiu Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. The major
asset of Sanjiu Enterprise Group, is the largest and most energetic pharmaceutical
enterprise in China. Sanjiu Medical and Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. Entered the stock
market in Shenzhen in March 2000. The resulting cash flow of USD 250 millions can
provide a financial platform for the core enterprise to develop into the biggest leading
herbal medicine manufacturer in the world.
Recently, Sanjiu Enterprise Group achieved a breakthrough in the modernization of
Traditional Chinese Medicine. Under the guidance of President Zhao Xinxian, Sanjiu
Electronic TCM Dispensing Machine and Sanjiu Refined Single Chinese Herbal Extracts
were designed. Sanjiu Medical and Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. Is also devoting its energy in
developing a Global Website for TCM-hospitals, thus linking a system of Chinese
medical long-distance diagnosis with Sanjiu Pharmaceutical chain stores, gradually
realizing the modernization and globalization of TCM industries.
With regard to the international botanical market, we established branches in Russia,
Malaysia, and Hong Kong, etc, including overseas marketing nets, thus developing
international cooperation. In accordance with the specific circumstances of the herbal
medicine markets in the US and Europe, we set the policy for entering the global herbal
market. In adopting the strategy of expanding the overseas TCM market step by step, we
are promoting our products to the global market.
Sanjiu has set up a 15-year long-term plan, which is based on science and technology,
taking the modernization of TCM as a core activity while also engaging in chemical
medicine and healthcare services. We strive to develop Sanjiu as a globally operating
herbal enterprise within five years and become the top pharmaceutical company in Asia
within ten years. Our vision is to enable Sanjiu to enter Fortune 500 within the next 15
years.