Botanicals are plant-derived products that have medicinal or therapeutic properties, flavor, and/or scent. They can be harvested in the wild or grown in gardens and farms, and once harvested, they must be prepared for use. There are three common forms of botanicals: botanical preparations, botanical drugs, and essential oils. Botanical preparations are products made from plants of medicinal value, packaged as decoctions, extracts, infusions, pills, powders, teas, tinctures, etc., and marketed as dietary supplements. Botanical drugs are standardized, purified, and formulated into prescription drugs. Essential oils are concentrated liquids containing volatile aroma compounds from plants.
Botanicals are widely used in the health and wellness field, and with rising concerns about the safety, cost, and adverse effects of conventional pharmaceutical drugs, they are gaining popularity. However, the safety of a botanical depends on many things, such as its chemical makeup, how it works in the body, how it is prepared, and the amount used. Manufacturers of cosmetic and personal care products are required by law to adequately substantiate the safety of their products, including those containing botanical ingredients.
Some botanical ingredients have received positive opinions by EFSA to support their health claims, such as fibers, beta-glucans, and phytosterols/phytostanols. However, the quality control of medicinal plants begins with the identification of the purported plant, and the evidence base of herbal medicines requires accurate and universally accepted names of the contained botanicals.
In summary, botanicals are plant-derived products with medicinal or therapeutic properties, flavor, and/or scent. They can be harvested in the wild or grown in gardens and farms, and once harvested, they must be prepared for use. Botanicals are widely used in the health and wellness field, but their safety depends on many factors. Manufacturers of cosmetic and personal care products are required by law to substantiate the safety of their products, including those containing botanical ingredients.
