Status of Nutraceuticals in European Union with Special Emphasis on Botanical Sources

Nutraceutical, a portmanteau of the words "nutrition" and "pharmaceutical", is a food or food product that reportedly provides health and medical benefits, including the prevention and treatment of disease. Based on various aspects we may understand that "Nutraceutical is a product isolated or purified from foods that is generally sold in medicinal forms not usually associated with food. A nutraceutical is demonstrated to have a physiological benefit or provide protection against chronic disease". Such products may range from isolated nutrients, dietary supplements and specific diets to genetically engineered foods, herbal products, and processed foods such as cereals, soups, and beverages. With recent developments in cellular-level nutraceutical agents, researchers, and medical practitioners are developing templates for integrating and assessing information from clinical studies on complementary and alternative therapies into responsible medical practice. In this review article, multifocal aspects of the nutraceutical, their usages and regulatory status in European Union are discussed.