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Technical Reference

Ingredient Technical Guide.
Know your product inside out.

Technical profiles for every core ingredient in the Anarvah catalogue. Designed for brand founders, product developers, and buyers who want to understand what they're sourcing — not just what it's called.

Jump to: Ashwagandha Curcumin Spirulina CoQ10
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EU buyers: Ashwagandha is not authorised in the EU.

Ashwagandha does not hold EU Novel Food authorisation. If your target market is the EU, skip to Curcumin, Spirulina, or CoQ10. See EU compliance details →

01

Ashwagandha Withania somnifera

What it is

Ashwagandha is an Ayurvedic medicinal herb native to India, North Africa, and the Mediterranean. "Ashwagandha" translates as "smell of horse" — a reference both to its equine-like aroma and its traditional reputation for conferring strength and stamina. The root is the primary used plant part for supplement formulations.

Extraction and standardisation

Root extract is standardised to withanolide content — the primary bioactive compound class. KSM-66 grade (Ixoreal Biomed's proprietary extract) standardises to ≥5% withanolides using a root-only, milk-based extraction process. Our standard grade is ≥2.5% withanolides. For buyers wanting the highest-evidenced specification, KSM-66 is the recommended choice.

Clinical evidence

Over 20 double-blind, placebo-controlled RCTs have been published on ashwagandha root extract in humans. The evidence base covers: cortisol reduction, sleep quality improvement, testosterone in men, thyroid function, endurance performance, and muscle strength. The Chandrasekhar et al. (2012) cortisol RCT and Langade et al. (2019) sleep RCT are the most-cited in DTC marketing.

Quick Reference

Latin name
Withania somnifera (Dunal) Burch
Part used
Root
Extract ratio
5:1 to 15:1
Standardisation
≥5% withanolides (KSM-66) or ≥2.5%
Effective dose
300–600mg/day
Format
Veg caps, gelatin caps, tablets
US ✓UAE ✓UK ✓EU ✗

EU: Not authorised under Novel Food Regulation 2015/2283.

View Ashwagandha Formulation →
02

Curcumin Curcuma longa

What it is

Curcumin is the primary bioactive polyphenol in turmeric (Curcuma longa), the bright-yellow rhizome ubiquitous in Indian cuisine and Ayurvedic medicine. Supplement-grade curcumin is extracted from dried turmeric root and standardised to ≥95% total curcuminoids — this is very different from culinary turmeric, which contains only 3–5% curcuminoids by weight.

Extraction and standardisation

Turmeric root is dried, milled, and solvent-extracted to yield curcuminoid concentrate. The three primary curcuminoids are curcumin (70–80%), demethoxycurcumin (15–20%), and bisdemethoxycurcumin (2–5%). Our ≥95% standardisation reflects total curcuminoids, not curcumin alone. Bioavailability note: curcumin has inherently poor bioavailability. Pairing with BioPerine (piperine from black pepper) at 5mg increases absorption by 2000% per the Shoba et al. (1998) study. We recommend including BioPerine for any joint health or anti-inflammatory positioning.

Clinical evidence

Curcumin has one of the largest human clinical evidence bases of any botanical supplement, with hundreds of RCTs published. The strongest evidence covers joint pain and osteoarthritis (equivalent to ibuprofen at 1500mg/day in Kuptniratsaikul et al.), gut inflammation, and oxidative stress. EU-recognised health claims are limited to those on the NHCR register — these do not include disease treatment claims.

Quick Reference

Latin name
Curcuma longa L.
Part used
Dried rhizome
Standardisation
≥95% curcuminoids
Effective dose
500–1,000mg/day. Pair with 5mg BioPerine.
Format
Veg caps, gelatin caps, tablets, soft gels
US ✓UAE ✓UK ✓EU ✓

EU: Authorised under Novel Food Regulation 2015/2283.

View Curcumin Formulation →
03

Spirulina Arthrospira platensis

What it is

Spirulina is a blue-green microalgae — specifically Arthrospira platensis, the species used in food supplements. (Note: the common name "spirulina" is technically a misnomer; the supplement-grade species is Arthrospira, not Spirulina. However, "spirulina" is the universally used commercial name.) Dried spirulina biomass is one of the most nutritionally dense foods known: 60–70% crude protein, complete amino acid profile, B vitamins, iron, and the unique pigment phycocyanin.

Extraction and standardisation

Spirulina is cultivated in open-air ponds or closed photobioreactors and spray-dried into powder. There is no "extraction" in the botanical sense — the dried biomass is the supplement ingredient. Quality is primarily assessed by phycocyanin content, protein percentage, and heavy metal levels (spirulina can bioaccumulate heavy metals if cultivated in contaminated water). Our CoA covers all critical parameters including arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury.

Clinical evidence

Human evidence covers immunity (NK cell activity), lipid profiles (modest LDL reduction), antioxidant capacity (phycocyanin as a free radical scavenger), and exercise-induced oxidative stress reduction. The evidence base is smaller than ashwagandha or curcumin, but strong enough for immunity, energy, and superfood-category positioning.

Quick Reference

Species
Arthrospira platensis (Geitler)
Form
Spray-dried powder
Protein content
60–70% crude protein
Effective dose
1,000–3,000mg/day
Format
Tablets, veg caps, powder sachets
US ✓UAE ✓UK ✓EU ✓

EU: Traditional food notification submitted under Art. 14.

View Spirulina Formulation →
04

CoQ10 Coenzyme Q10 · Ubiquinone

What it is

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a fat-soluble compound found in nearly every cell of the human body, with the highest concentrations in the heart, liver, and kidneys. It plays an essential role in mitochondrial ATP synthesis and acts as a lipophilic antioxidant. CoQ10 levels decline naturally with age, beginning around the mid-30s. Supplement-grade CoQ10 is typically the ubiquinone (oxidised) form, though ubiquinol (reduced form) has a demonstrated bioavailability advantage for older adults.

Extraction and standardisation

CoQ10 is produced via yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) or bacterial fermentation, followed by solvent extraction and crystallisation. Our ubiquinone is ≥98% purity by HPLC. Ubiquinol (reduced form, higher bioavailability, higher cost) is available in Custom and Partner tiers. For soft gel format, CoQ10 is mixed with a carrier oil (MCT or sunflower oil) to improve absorption — soft gels are the recommended format for CoQ10 for this reason.

Clinical evidence

The clinical evidence base for CoQ10 is among the strongest of all supplement ingredients. Key areas: heart failure management (Q-SYMBIO trial), blood pressure reduction, statin-associated myalgia (statins deplete CoQ10), migraine prophylaxis, and male fertility (sperm motility). The statin depletion angle is particularly useful for pharmacy and clinical supplement channels in all four markets.

Quick Reference

Chemical name
Coenzyme Q10 (Ubiquinone-10)
Form
Ubiquinone (standard) or Ubiquinol (premium)
Purity
≥98% by HPLC
Effective dose
50–90mg (EU) or 100–200mg (US/UAE/UK)
Format
Soft gels (recommended) · Veg caps with carrier oil
US ✓UAE ✓UK ✓EU ✓ ≤90mg
View CoQ10 Formulation →
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