Botanical extracts are products of natural origin which, if properly taken, could bring various benefits to the body.
Many herbs and plants, in fact, contain substances with properties that are potentially useful for the well-being of the organism and which can be exploited in conditions of stress, fatigue or other minor ailments.
of different types. The parts of the plant that can be used to obtain these products are many: leaves, flowers, fruits (pulp and / or peel), seeds, roots, rhizomes, bark, etc.
Depending on the physical state in which they are found, botanical extracts can be classified into: liquid extracts, soft extracts and dry extracts.
Numerous properties are ascribed to botanical extracts, which vary according to their composition and the plant from which they originate. Many herbs and plants, in fact, contain substances with properties that are potentially useful for the well-being of the organism and which can be exploited both in conditions of stress, fatigue or other minor ailments, and to support natural physical and mental well-being. Some of these prosperities, however, have been confirmed by various studies conducted on the subject.
Compared to fresh plants, usually, the extracts obtained from them are more concentrated in active substances.
potentially able to bring benefits to humans currently available are really many, describing the properties and characteristics of each of them is very difficult. For this reason, only some examples of the different botanical extracts will be reported below whose intake could prove useful for the "body.
- Oat extracts: According to some studies, oat extracts are able to regulate some metabolic processes.
- Hawthorn Extracts: Hawthorn extracts are known for the activities they are able to exert on cardiovascular function. In detail, they have been shown to possess positive antihypertensive, chronotropic and inotropic properties. At the same time, hawthorn extracts are endowed with antioxidant properties.
- Artichoke extracts: the extracts obtained from the artichoke have choleretic and hepatoprotective properties, so they can prove to be useful allies for liver health.
- Milk thistle extracts: similarly to what has been said for the aforementioned artichoke extracts, also those of milk thistle have been shown to be able to carry out hepatoprotective activities. At the same time, they are endowed with antioxidant properties.
- Extracts of gotu kola: studies conducted in this regard have shown that the extracts of centella can perform a "positive action at the vascular level. More in detail, these extracts are ascribed to the ability to increase venous tone and to carry out a" protective action on the blood vessel walls. In addition, gotu kola extracts seem to have various benefits on the skin as well.
- Turmeric extracts: Turmeric extracts are known for their curcumin content, a molecule with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This compound, among other things, is the subject of numerous studies which intend to investigate its potential therapeutic properties.
- Ginseng extracts: ginseng is the adaptogenic plant par excellence; its extracts, in fact, have been shown to be able to increase the non-specific resistance of the organism in response to external stresses of various types, with consequent reduction of the same and improvement of psychophysical performance.
- Licorice extracts: the extracts obtained from licorice root are able to exert an anti-ulcer action in the stomach and are also endowed with anti-inflammatory properties.
- Extracts of blueberry: numerous properties are ascribed to bilberry extracts, among these, we remember the antioxidant activity, the protective action exerted at the level of the endothelium of arterial vessels and blood capillaries and the actions of support to the visual function.
- Cranberry Extracts: Cranberry extracts are known for the beneficial properties exerted on the urinary tract. In particular, these extracts are widely used in the prevention of urinary tract infections.
- Nettle Extracts: These extracts have been shown to have diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties, useful for supporting urinary tract health. Furthermore, the extracts obtained from the root of the plant have been shown to be able to promote prostate health and to exert a good activity against benign prostatic hypertrophy.
- Sage extracts: Sage extracts have been shown to be useful against digestive disorders and to exert interesting anti-inflammatory activities.
- Grape seed extracts: grape seed extracts are well known for their strong antioxidant properties, in addition to the protective activities exercised against blood vessels (in particular, veins and capillaries).
- Green Tea Extracts: Green tea extracts are also known for their antioxidant properties.
On the market there are food supplements based both on a single type of plant extract and based on a mix of different extracts combined together to support the body under certain conditions. Some types of food supplements also associate the mix of botanical extracts with also vitamins and mineral salts in order to offer products that are able to support the complete well-being of the individual, both physical and mental. Of course, it should be noted that supplements should not be considered as substitutes for healthy habits of life, they could rather be considered as the allies of a "healthy diet (which must never be missing) to take care of oneself."
Please Note
In the presence of particular conditions (for example, pregnancy, breastfeeding, etc.), allergies, disorders or diseases, as well as in the case of pharmacological therapies in place, before taking supplements containing botanical extracts of any kind, it is always advisable to ask the advice of your doctor.
