Scientific glossary.

An extraction method that uses carbon dioxide held above its critical temperature and pressure (a 'supercritical' state, where it behaves partly like a gas and partly like a liquid) as a solvent. It leaves no solvent residue in the final extract, since CO₂ simply returns to a gas at atmospheric pressure.

An analytical technique used to separate, identify and quantify individual compounds within a mixture. Commonly used to verify the purity and standardized-actives content of a botanical extract, batch by batch.

A concentrated, resin-like extract of a plant that contains both the volatile aromatic oil and the non-volatile resinous compounds — for example, ginger oleoresin contains both ginger's aromatic oil and its pungent gingerol/shogaol compounds.

The process of adjusting or verifying a botanical extract so that a specific active compound (or ratio of compounds) is held to a fixed, guaranteed percentage in every batch — as opposed to a crude extract, where active content can vary significantly with growing conditions and harvest timing.

The proportion of an ingested or applied compound that actually reaches systemic circulation (or the target tissue) in an active form, and is therefore able to have an effect. Poor bioavailability is a common reason a biologically active compound underperforms in a finished formulation.

A measure of how readily a powder or oil-based ingredient distributes evenly through a liquid (such as water) without clumping or separating — an important property for beverage and liquid-formulation applications.

A biologically active compound derived from a plant — the general term for the class of molecules (gingerol, crocin, bakuchiol, squalene, etc.) that give a botanical extract its functional effect.

A delivery technology in which a plant-derived active compound is complexed with phospholipids to improve its absorption across the intestinal membrane — one of several bioavailability-enhancement approaches used across the industry.

Trace solvent that can remain in an extract after processing if the extraction method uses a chemical solvent (such as hexane or ethanol). CO₂ extraction is notable for leaving effectively no residual solvent, since supercritical CO₂ fully reverts to gas after extraction.

The primary pungent, bioactive compound in fresh ginger (Zingiber officinale), associated with anti-inflammatory, digestive and circulatory effects in published research.

A bioactive compound formed when ginger is dried or heated, converted from gingerol. Associated in published research with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, metabolic and cognitive effects, distinct from gingerol's profile.

A sesquiterpene compound found in ginger essential oil, contributing to ginger's characteristic aroma and studied for cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory activity.

A carotenoid pigment responsible for saffron's characteristic red-orange color, and one of saffron's principal bioactive compounds alongside safranal.

The primary aromatic compound responsible for saffron's distinctive scent, and one of saffron's key bioactive constituents studied for mood- and sleep-related effects.

A naturally occurring lipid (triterpene) found in both animal (notably shark liver oil) and plant sources (including amaranth, olive and rice bran). Used as a skincare emollient and as a component in some vaccine adjuvant formulations.

A meroterpene phenol compound extracted from Psoralea corylifolia (bakuchi) seeds, studied in published literature as a gentler, retinol-like alternative active for anti-aging skincare formulation.

A substance added to a vaccine formulation to enhance the body's immune response to the antigen, allowing for a stronger or more durable immune response, sometimes at a lower antigen dose.

A cosmetic ingredient that softens and smooths the skin, typically by filling in gaps between skin cells and reducing water loss through the skin's outer layer.

The standardized naming system used to list ingredients on cosmetic product labels globally, maintained so a given ingredient is identified consistently across markets and manufacturers.

A unique numerical identifier assigned by the Chemical Abstracts Service to a specific chemical substance, used internationally to unambiguously identify a compound regardless of what trade name it's sold under.

A quality-assurance system of regulations and guidelines governing the production of food, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products, covering facility hygiene, process control, documentation and quality testing.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India — the regulatory body responsible for setting food safety standards and licensing food business operators in India.

A set of publicly available quality standards for medicines, food ingredients and dietary supplements, widely referenced internationally even outside the United States as a benchmark for identity, purity and quality testing methods.

The official standard for the quality of medicines and pharmaceutical ingredients across countries that are signatories to the Convention on the Elaboration of a European Pharmacopoeia.

Japan's official compendium of standards for the quality, purity and testing of pharmaceutical products and ingredients sold in the Japanese market.

An initial patent filing that establishes an early filing date for an invention and allows use of the term 'patent pending,' but does not itself mature into a granted patent — a formal (non-provisional) application must still be filed and examined.

An ingredient sold under a proprietary trade name (rather than as a generic commodity extract) backed by a defined, guaranteed specification — typically supported by its own technical dossier, and sometimes patent or trademark protection.

A confidential document package provided by an ingredient supplier to a prospective formulator or buyer, typically containing full specifications, certificates of analysis, stability data, safety data and supporting research references.

A document issued per batch of a raw material or ingredient, confirming the batch's test results (identity, purity, contaminant levels, etc.) against its published specification.

A chemical process in which a molecule binds to a metal ion, forming a stable complex — used in purification processes to help remove heavy-metal contaminants from a botanical extract.

A purification process in which molecules (such as pigments, pesticide residues or unwanted compounds) adhere to the surface of a solid material (an adsorbent), allowing them to be separated out of an extract.

A dehydration process that removes water from a material by freezing it and then reducing pressure so the frozen water sublimates directly from solid to vapor — used to convert a liquid extract into a stable powder while minimizing heat-related degradation of sensitive compounds.

A broad class of plant polyphenol compounds, widely studied for antioxidant activity, found across many botanical extracts including saffron and seabuckthorn.

An inactive substance formulated alongside an active ingredient, serving as a carrier, stabilizer, binder or bulking agent in the finished product.