Research & Developement

Bio-Botanica’s R&D Department is where new products are created, analyzed and tested. Utilizing state-of-the-art equipment, we are able to develop and produce the highest quality and purity of botanical extracts. An explanation of some of the equipment we use is outlined below.

Bio-Botanica’s R&D Division is staffed by PhD’s, Pharmacists and Chemists, and authorities in Pharmacognosy (medicinal chemistry) and Medicinal Plants.

This division is responsible for ensuring that the herbs used in Bio-Botanica’s products meet the company’s high standards of product excellence.

The R&D Division:

• Researches and gathers plants from all parts of the world.
• Identifies incoming plant materials.
• Tests for and excludes adulterated materials.
• Designs individual extraction methods that are unique for each
herb to protect the active constituents of the whole plant.
• Develops new and innovative products for various markets.

Our Microscopy Laboratory contains a group of simple and compound microscopes, digital T.V. camera, computer equipment and software which aid our chemists in the macro and micromorphology of various botanicals.

Macropmorphology - The external characteristics of a particular plant that can be seen with the naked eye or pocket lense

Micromorphology - The internal characteristics (tisues, cells and inclusions) of a particular plant. This aids us in identifying and detecting adulteration in botanical samples. Quantitative microscopy is also helpful.

All initial herbal samples are quarantined until they are evaluated, and assayed to establish the level of active constituents. It is imperative to determine that the correct parts of each herb (ex. flower, seed, fruit) are collected at the proper stage of maturation and at the appropriate time of day and year.

Our in-house Herbarium of over 800 authenticated herbal samples from around the world is always consulted for comparative herbal identity. Once samples are validated, approval for shipment of the whole herb to our facility is arranged. Material is then sampled from the shipment to be re-validated, guaranteeing that what was originally approved is what was actually received.

Adulteration of herbal materials is a constant problem in the herbal industry, and may be due to a variety of factors including substitution of inferior herbs by a supplier, incorrect species, less desirable plant parts, presence of sand, stones or synthetic materials, etc.