Nutraceutical and Natural Product Research

Nutraceutical and natural product research is diverse, challenging, and essential. As botanical preparations continue their growth and acceptance, questions concerning agronomy, product development, product safety, clinical effectiveness, and the evaluation of label claims are being posed by business, industry, and government.

MRI offers full-service laboratories:

Product and Process Development

• Formulations
• Nutrient Potency
• Stability Testing
• Quality Control Assays
• Formulation Development and Testing (dissolution/disintegration)

New Applications and Markets

• Microencapsulation
• Microbiology/Molecular Biology
• Proteomics
  

Contact:

Roger K. Harris,
Director, Product Sciences
(816) 753-7600,
ext. 1548

Dean Gray, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist
(816) 753-7600,
ext. 1325

Clinical Trials

• Human and Animal
• Toxicology

Activities in the field of natural product research include:

• Clinical trials for popular botanical preparations are being conducted for industrial clients interested in proving the efficacy of their products.
• We employ diverse analytical methods to evaluate label claims.
• Work at MRI is performed to conform to EPA, GLP, and FDA cGMP, cGCP, and GLP regulations.
• MRI utilizes a proprietary microencapsulation technology. Microencapsulation packages small bundles of a gas, liquid, or solid active ingredient within a second material that shields it from the environment.
• MRI has equipment that performs seed coating with precise, uniform materials (such as mineral nutrients or fungicides), and this technology is being applied to enhance germination of certain species.
• Analytical research is conducted on several botanicals including goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), kava kava (Piper methysticum), Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), black walnut (Juglans nigra), pine bark, and grape seed extract.
• MRI conducts extraction, chemical
  characterization, analytical methods development, stability of marker compounds, and dose formulations for toxicology research.
• Alternative analytical techniques (such as quantitative high performance thin layer chromatography) are being evaluated to increase sample throughput and minimize waste.

MRI also provides:

• Field research in agricultural botanical chemistry
• A natural-product field laboratory
• Studies on alternative uses for natural products
• Research experience in stress physiology, phytochemistry, entomology, and mineral nutrition

Natural products MRI has studied include:

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