ABSTRACT
Nutraceuticals have grown in popularity over the past decade, and demand in the consumer sector is expected to skyrocket in the future years. They provide consumers with value-added benefits and a variety of nutritional choices. The extraction of phytochemicals with the required purity and yield is a constant problem for nutraceutical products. The use of sophisticated technology in the extraction and production of nutraceuticals is addressing these issues. Low bioavailability issues associated with nutraceutical oral administration have been effectively addressed using novel formulation methods. However, to effectively scale up production of nutraceuticals without compromising the quality of the final product, investment in new manufacturing methods and sophisticated analytical procedures is required. Due to the absence of reliable biomarkers and a lack of knowledge of nutraceutical interactions with food and medications, clinical research of nutraceuticals presents a greater difficulty. The regulatory authorities have recognized the need to improve current nutraceutical standards and offer nutraceutical-specific advice so that clinical studies may be conducted efficiently and with clear findings. Furthermore, a scientific knowledge of nutraceuticals is required, as is the evaluation of their therapeutic and pharmacological effects on people.
