Page 58 - FoodFocusThailand No.203 February 2023

STRATEGIC R&D

ingredients, botanical names, common English and Thai the beneficial actions or positive outcomes based on herb
names, definitions and descriptions of their appearance, interaction must also be investigated, as well as how those
suitable drying temperatures (e.g., not exceeding 40 degrees substances are absorbed and metabolized after consumption
Celsius for the leaves or flowers, and not exceeding 65 and are still producing desirable effects. The product’s shelf
degrees Celsius for the roots or barks), identification, analysis life should also be sufficient to cover the duration of research
of active substances, analysis of volatile oils, analysis of and testing. Moreover, it is also essential to have evidence
other specific substance characteristics, such as foaming to support a product’s efficacy, which includes conducting
index, tannins, swelling index, loss of drying, water content, well-designed clinical trials and implementing good clinical
foreign matters, ash value, pesticide residues, microbial practice (GCP) with medically recognized measurement
contamination, aflatoxin contamination, heavy metal tools. And it should be tested both on a laboratory and
contamination, radioactive residues, extractive matters, and industrial scale. Even when laboratory testing yields the
residual solvents. desired results, the product should be confirmed to have the
same result when manufactured in a plant certified with good
Harvesting, storage, and transportation manufacturing practice (GMP). Eventually, further evaluation
Various factors must also be considered to achieve consistent should be conducted to determine whether its shelf life is
quality. Aside from the aforementioned considerations, adequate for commercial distribution.
medicinal plants must be collected during the quality peak Consequently, these highly strong herbs are used in food
season or when the biologically active constituents are at and beverage goods. If it’s employed incorrectly, the intended
their highest concentration. Plus, records on technical effectiveness won’t be achieved. The support for the
planning, such as planting and harvesting periods, should manufacturing of standardized herbs comes from both the
be kept, as the number of active substances can vary public and corporate sectors and enhance the product’s
depending on the time of harvest and everything else prior value while fostering trust in the use of Thai herbs. Including
to the extraction process. It is necessary to pay attention to steadily and continually raising the competitiveness of Thai
the conditions of herb storage and transportation, too. As herbs in both home and foreign markets. Thai herbs will
the biologically active constituents decompose or change therefore be the country’s main economic driver in the future,
very quickly, appropriate temperature measures should be ensuring both health security and the economy’s long-term
applied during transportation or whenever required based viability.
on the regulations.

The amount of active ingredients in the products
and their efficacy More Information Service Info C010
The amount of active ingredients in a product must be
adjusted to the right quantity, sufficient to have a beneficial
effect on health and enhance the body’s performance as ข้้อมููลอ้างอิง / References
http://www.tpso.moc.go.th/sites/default/files/tpso_journal_jan_60_
required. Once the desired quantity has been determined, issue_66.pdf

58 58 FOOD FOCUS THAILAND FEB 20
FEB 202323
FOOD FOCUS THAILAND
23/1/2566 BE 17:11
54-58_Strategic R&D_ ����������.indd 58
54-58_Strategic R&D_ ����������.indd 58 23/1/2566 BE 17:11