INTRODUCTION

The word Nutraceutical is a combination of two words, “nutrition” and “pharmaceutics. It initially
appeared in research from the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, where consumers regarded food as
more important for maintaining good health than exercise or inherited factors.
The word is used to describe isolated herbal items, dietary supplements, certain diets, and processed
meals including cereals, soups, and drinks. They are utilized for medical purposes in addition to being a
source of nutrition.

Nutraceuticals provide several health advantages along with resistance to chronic illnesses. They are used
to boost health. They also aid to slow the aging process, reduce the risk of chronic illnesses and maintain
the body’s structure and functioning. One of the global industries with the quickest growth is the
nutraceutical industry. The global nutraceuticals market is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 9.3%
from $352.92 billion in 2021 to $658.11 billion in 2028.

HOW DO NUTRACEUTICALS WORK?

Your health is impacted by the nutrition you consume in the form of foods.It gives your body the
nutrients it needs to develop, recover, and function properly.When your diet does not provide enough of
these important vitamin and mineral nutrients. Medical food such as nutraceuticals is created to be ingested
or given internally while being monitored by a licensed medical professional.
Nutraceuticals are also consumed when there is an additional requirement of nutrition to fight a certain
disease. These requirements are defined by a medical evaluation and in accordance with accepted scientific
concepts.
NUTRACEUTICALS VS PHARMACEUTICALS

Nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals are two different categories of prod- ucts, even though they are
both associated with health and wellness. Nutraceuticals are typically derived from natural sources and are
often used as dietary supplements, while pharmaceuticals are synthetic com- pounds that are developed
to treat specific diseases.
Nutraceuticals are dietary supplements and functional foods that offer health benefits beyond basic
nutrition. Apart from that pharmaceutical products are intended to cure, prevent, or treat diseases.
Therefore, the manufacturing processes of these two types of products are also distinct from each other.
Nutraceuticals are defined as products that are derived from food sources and have extra health benefits
beyond basic nutritional value. Examples of nutraceuticals include vitamins, minerals, herbal extracts,
and other dietary supplements.
Nutraceuticals are often marketed as natural alternatives to pharmaceuticals. On the other hand the
pharmaceuticals are products that are used which are very useful for instant relief and provide treatment
to any illness compounds that have been synthesized in a laboratory. Various kinds of raw material and
ingredients are used while manufacturing the pharmaceutical products. These products are having various
side effects also unlike that nutraceuticals supplements and products are safe to consume without
any side effects and have extra health benefits beyond basic nutritional value.Examples of
nutraceuticals include vitamins, minerals, herbal extracts, and other dietary supplements.
DEPARTMENTS IN CHERISH PHARMA

1.Storage department
2.Quality assurance department
3.Production department
4.Quality control department
5.Packaging department
6.Dispatch department
 MANUFACTURING OF NUTRACEUTICALS

Manufacturing process of the nutraceuticals at Cherish Pharma involves ten steps which are as
follows:-

Step 1:- The Formula

Step 2:- Selection of raw materials

Step 3:- Pricing out the formulation

Step 4:-Purchase order submission

Step 5:- Ordering raw materials

Step 6:- Raw materials arrived and are quarantined and tested

Step 7:- Bench work

Step 8:- Pilot plant

Step 9:-Production run and testing

Step 10:- Testing of finished products

Step 1:- The Formula

It all starts with the formula. Hopefully, as a brand owner, you’ve made sure that your dietary
supplement formula uses the correct doses of the right raw material ingredients to provide an
evidence-based product that will have efficacy, and that will allow you to substantiate
structure/functions claims. Although a well-formulated dietary supplement will not guarantee
initial sales, it does make it much more likely that you’ll have consistent repeat sales once
consumers have used it for the first time

Step 2:- Selection of raw materials

A well-formulated dietary supplement requires the use of evidence-based ingredients to help

assure product efficacy. Ingredients may be selected worldwide on the basis of quality, and eying
forms that provide high potency and bioavailability. For example, many mineral supplements
include well- absorbed mineral salts bonded to organic acids, including citrates, picolinates, and
gluconates. Likewise, formulas with herbal extracts may include standardized extracts with

guaranteed amounts of the natural active or marker compound within the herbs.

Step 3:-Pricing out the formulation

The first step begins when a brand owner submits a request for pricing to the contract
manufacturer (CM). In turn, the CM will create their own version of the formulation and verify
raw material pricing for key ingredients with various vendors. Once all of this is done, the CM
will provide a price quote to the brand owner. TimeLine: The CM’s process of developing their
own version of formulation and verifying raw material pricing will typically take anywhere from
5-10 days.

Step 4:- Purchase order submission

The real countdown begins once the brand owner submits the purchase order. Now that they know
there is a commitment, the CM can go to town and really get the supplement manufacturing
process going.

Step 5:- Ordering raw materials

Without question, this is the step that takes the longest in the manufacturing process. Why? Here’s
an example. Let’s say that the raw material in question is a probiotic. As live microorganisms,
probiotic ingredients are typically made to order. They literally must be grown on a natural
medium, and that doesn’t happen overnight.
In fact, growing probiotics may take 6 weeks or so. Now let's say those probiotics come from
Italy (which is often the case), so that means the finished material will be shipped internationally -
which will take 1-2 weeks.
Of course, there are many raw materials other than probiotics – some of which have better
stability and may even be stocked by the CM. Nevertheless, chances are that your chosen raw
materials may not be stocked by the CM, or may not be stocked in sufficient quantities, so more
will still have to be ordered. This will take 2-4 weeks to arrive.

Step 6:-Raw materials arrived and are quarantined and tested

Once the raw materials arrive at the CM, cGMP regulations require that they be quarantined
and tested before they are released into inventory. The type of testing required includes identity
and potency, microbiological compliance, and heavy metal compliance.
Heavy Metal Analysis: This analysis detects and quantifies the presence of heavy metals, such as
lead, arsenic, and cadmium, beyond the mandatory levels to ensure consumer safety.

Allergen Testing: This analysis detects and quantifies the presence of any potential allergens in
the nutraceutical, such as nuts, soy, or gluten, to protect consumers with allergies.

Sensory Evaluation: This analysis assesses the sensory characteristics of the nutraceutical, such
as taste, odor, and appearance, to ensure consumer acceptability.

Stability Testing: This analysis evaluates the stability of the nutraceutical under various
conditions, such as temperature, light, and pH, to determine its shelf life.

Step 7:- Bench work

Once all of the raw materials have been released into inventory, the CM will next conduct bench
work, A.Κ.Α., an R&D batch. This is where the raw materials will all be mixed together, and a
limited number of tablets and capsules will be produced in the lab to ascertain that the formulation
will work in a finished dosage form. Depending upon the situation, the CM may provide samples
of the tablets/capsules to the customer to evaluate. Once the customer approves the samples, the
CM can then move onto the pilot batch.

Step 8:- Pilot plant

Using what they learned during bench work, the CM will next run a pilot batch of the product on
the actual production equipment. This is necessary to determine that the product will run correctly
on the equipment during the actual production run. If there are any issues, the formulation may
need to be adjusted, which may require approval by the brand owner. If everything goes well, the
CM will then move onto the full production run.

Pilot plant in pharmaceutical industries.

Step 9:- Production run and testing

The production run is when the finished product will actually be produced. There are several steps
in the process, including some additional testing that needs to be done. This includes uniformity
of mix, content uniformity, dissolution testing, and a repeat of the tests done on the raw materials
(identity and potency, microbiological compliance, and heavy metal compliance).

Step 10:- Finished product testing

Once the finished products from the production batch have been made, a repeat for the same types
of tests done on the raw materials is performed. The CM will then produce a certificate of analysis
(COA) which will be sent to the brand owner. Once the brand owner approves the COA, the
finished product can be shipped to the customer’s distribution facility, and the manufacturing
process is complete.

Finished product testing Warehousing facility

Health supplements/Nutraceuticals processing:-

1. The health supplement/ Nutraceuticals processing is carried out in an enclosed area which has a
controlled environment.

2. The industry best practice for air quality and controlled environment in this area is ISO 8,
temperature NMT 25 degrees Celsius and RH 60% +/- 5% or as per product manufacturing
guidelines if there are some stringent conditions required.

3. The raw material/ ingredient/packing material enter the process area through a double door air
lock facility which is equipped with air curtains.

4. Dust control systems are employed during the mixing, sifting, blending, compression and
coating operations to avoid any cross contamination.

Nutraceuticals manufacturing in the controlled environment

Capsule processing:-

• Dispensing of raw material/ ingredients/packing material- This is a check to assure the materials
entering the manufacturing area for weighing/ quantity check are released as indicated on the
batch sheet.

• Sifting/ Sieving is a simple and convenient technique of separating particles of different sizes. It
is done to remove any kind of impurity like dust, foreign matter etc.

Vibrio sifter

• Blending is the process of dry mixing of ingredients to get a uniform consistency of nutrients in
the mix as claimed by the organization. Time, temperature and the blending RPM are key
parameters that are monitored. Different kind of blenders include Plough blender, Ribbon
Blender, Bin Blender, Cone Blender and V Blender.
 Double cone blender

• The bulk material is checked for quality and then unloaded and transferred into silos.

The next process is Encapsulation which is to carefully include the powder formulation in the
capsule. In case of Liquid formulation ensure banding after encapsulation.

• The capsules are polished and pass through a metal detector.

• Empty Capsule Sorter or Mini Capsule sorter can be provided to remove the empty capsules /
damaged capsules before primary packaging.

• The primary packing material i.e., bottles are cleaned by filtered air.

• The printed capsules are then inspected and filled in bottles followed by capping in a packing
machine.

• The filled bottles are then labelled, coded and finally packed in secondary packaging and
palletized and transferred to the warehouse.
 Capsule filling machine

Powder/Premix Processing:-

• After raw material/ ingredients dispensing, sifting and blending operation as explained above,
the powder bulk formulation is released after quality testing.

• The bulk formulation is again sieved and after passing through metal detector/magnetic grills the
bulk is loaded in Silos.

• The powder/ premix is then filled in primary containers, weighed, capped, coded and then
packed in secondary packing material and palletized and transferred to warehouse.

Tablet processing:-

• After raw material/ ingredients/ packing material dispensing, sifting and blending operations as
explained above, the bulk formulation is unloaded in Silos after quality release.
• Compression is a process of making the tablets by pressing the bulk formulation granules in a
die with lower and upper punch. The basic principle behind the tablet compression machine is by
hydraulic pressure across the dies. Compression is done in separate cubicles and compression
machines are provided with effective dust control systems to avoid cross contamination.

• Tablets are then collected into clean and labelled containers after inspection for the next process
of coating.

• Coating is a covering that is applied to the surface of the tablet. Coating is applied using
polymers on tablets for the surface of the tablet. Coating is applied using polymers on tablets for
organoleptic and protection purposes. Coating pans are supplied with filtered air for drying
purposes.

• The coated tablets are then printed with edible grade colors and inspected for quality and passed
through metal detector.

• The primary packing material i.e. bottles are cleaned by filtered air.

• The printed tablets are filled in bottles followed by capping, labelling, coding and final packing
in secondary packaging, palletized and transferred to the warehouse.

Tablet coating Automatic tablet making machine

Protein powder processing:-

Protein powders – May contain only one or more sources of protein- including dairy sources such
as whey protein and casein derivatives, as well as vegan sources such as pea and rice protein-or
protein combined with flavors, sweeteners, and even other nutraceuticals to create a value- added
supplement
Manufacturing steps:-

Raw Materials

The first step of the powder supplement manufacturing process is the selection of ingredients.
These ingredients are chosen based on quality, efficacy, functionality, and cost considerations.

• Quality - The ingredients must come from a reliable supplier that has been GMP audited for
quality. It's important to use only qualified and fully documented raw materials in products to
assure safety and purity. Cutting corners during this stage of the powder manufacturing process is
not advisable.
• Efficacy – The ingredients serve as the basis for structure/function claims that will be made
about the finished product. Consequently, they must have science to support their efficacy, which
supports claims.
• Functionality - The ingredients must meet taste, solubility, and stability parameters. These
considerations are far more important in a powdered product than an encapsulated or tablet
product.
• Cost – While quality, efficacy, and functionality are paramount, cost is also a factor considered
in meeting the targeted cost of goods for the finished product.

Of course, the selection process for the raw materials is predicated upon the formulation in the
first instance. You’ll want to work with a contract supplement manufacturer that makes it a point
to ensure that the balanced ingredients will provide the desired effects.

General Formulation

The formulation of powders is more complex than that of capsules and tablets. With powders, the
effectiveness of the finished product is only one vital aspect of the formulation. Flavoring and
sweetening are additional crucial considerations. If the product doesn’t taste good, it does not
matter how effective the formulation is or great the claims are. You have one chance to make sure
that your product tastes good. If a consumer enjoys the taste upon their initial try, they may
become repeat purchasers. However, if they dislike it, they are unlikely to buy it again, potentially
leading to the discontinuation of your product.

Mixing and Blending

Before blending, the powdered contents need to be weighed. The precise weighing of the
component powders should take place in a pharmacy suite using calibrated scales to achieve
accurate measurements.
The blending process ensures that cohesive mixtures are evenly and uniformly distributed and that
correct measurements of ingredients are used. There are several types of blenders, and great care
should go into selecting the optimal blender for each product. This will likely include high-
capacity ribbon, conical, and V-blenders.
 Protein powder processing industry

Quality Control and Testing

The testing procedures and quality control measures implemented in the powder manufacturing
process include physical measurements of bulk density, particle size, and moisture content and
chemical testing for potency and impurities using various techniques, including HPLC, UPLC,
ICP-MS, and Protein analysis. Numerous tests are conducted before, during, or after
manufacturing, including identity, potency, micro, and heavy metal tests.

Filling and Packaging

Automated filling and packaging lines ensure that the correct amount of the powder is distributed
into your packaging of choice. As the package moves down the line, safety seals, caps, and
labeling are applied, as is a stamp for expiration or best-by date. The finished good is then placed
into cases and sealed, and a label is applied to the box which identifies its contents.

Flavors in Powder Supplements

There is a wide range of flavors you may consider for use in your powders. For proteins, you may
prefer tried and true chocolate, vanilla, and berry options. Conversely, for smoothies, greens
drinks, and other powders, you may prefer citrus or other custom flavors based on current trends
or the flavor that works best with the nutraceuticals in your formulation. This may include bitter
masking agents if some of those nutraceuticals have bitter notes. In any case, you’ll want to be
able to choose from natural, natural & artificial, or artificial flavors. You may also want to
consider non-GMO, organic, and clean-label options.

Protein powder processing

Essential oil processing:-

Essential oils are powerful natural substances that contain many healing properties. They are
extracted from a variety of plant parts including flowers, leaves, bark, seeds, roots and twigs.

1. Selecting the Right Plants

The first step in the manufacturing process of essential oils is selecting the appropriate plants.
Different plants contain varying amounts and types of essential oils, so it is crucial to choose the
ones that yield the desired properties. Factors such as the plant's botanical species, growing
conditions, and geographic location play a significant role in determining the quality and aroma of
the oil.

2. Harvesting the Plants

Once the plants are selected, they are carefully harvested at the peak of their oil content. The
timing of the harvest is essential, as it can significantly impact the oil’s quality. Some plants are
harvested manually, while others are harvested using specialized machinery to ensure the
preservation of the oil-rich plant parts.

3. Preparing the Plant Material

After harvesting, the plant material goes through a preparation phase. This involves removing any
unwanted parts such as leaves, stems, or flowers that do not contribute to the essential oil
production. The remaining plant material is then ready for the extraction process.

4. Extraction Methods

There are several extraction methods used to obtain essential oils from plant material. Let's
explore three commonly used techniques:-

Steam Distillation

Steam distillation is the most widely used method for extracting essential oils. In this process,
steam is passed through the plant material, causing the essential oil to evaporate. The steam and
oil vapor mixture is then condensed and collected, with the oil floating on top of the water.
Cold-Press Extraction

Cold-press extraction is typically used for citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruits. The
rinds of the fruits are mechanically pressed to release the essential oil. This method is suitable for oils that
are sensitive to heat.

Solvent Extraction

Solvent extraction is employed for plants that are delicate or have low oil content. A solvent, such as hexane,
is used to dissolve the essential oil from the plant material. The solvent is then evaporated, leaving behind
the concentrated essential oil.

. Cold press machine for essential oils Steam distillation

5. Separating the Essential Oil

Once the extraction process is complete, the essential oil needs to be separated from the extracted mixture.
This can be achieved through various methods, such as decantation, centrifugation, or filtration, depending
on the specific extraction technique used.
 6. Filtering and Purification

To ensure the purity and clarity of the essential oil, it undergoes a filtration and purification process. This
step removes any impurities, plant residues, or water content that may be present in the oil.

7. Testing and Quality Control

Quality control is of utmost importance in the manufacturing of essential oils. Rigorous testing is conducted
to verify the oil’s authenticity, purity, and chemical composition. This ensures that the oil meets industry
standards and is safe for use.

8. Bottling and Packaging

Once the essential oil passes the quality control tests, it is ready for bottling and packaging. The oil is
carefully poured into dark glass bottles to protect it from sunlight and preserve its aromatic properties. Labels
indicating the oil’s name, botanical species, extraction method, and other relevant information are affixed to
the bottles.

9. Storing and Preserving Essential Oils

Proper storage is essential to maintain the quality and shelf life of essential oils. They should be stored in
a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Additionally, essential oils should be kept
tightly sealed to prevent oxidation and evaporation.

Essential oil manufacturing plant

Role as a trainee in formulation department :-

As a trainee we were advised to observe the manufacturing process of the protein powder in a proper
controlled environment with clean apron, hair covered with a neat and clean cap a clean mask and hand
gloves.
Later we added the weighed ingredients in the processing plant it included the flavor and other excipients
which are to be used in general in every protein powder manufacturing plant.

The rules to be followed during the manufacturing of pharmaceutical product:-

• To wear clean and neat apron and cap.

• Hairs to be properly covered in a cap.

• Wear clean hand gloves.

• To cover mouth using a mask.

• Avoid jewellery and watches to avoid contamination.

• All the body should be covered in a proper way.

Marketed products of Cherish Pharma:-

Category 1: Nutraceuticals

Hormonice:a dietary supplement used for hormonal imbalance in women

 Hormone health capsules: for hormonal imbalance in women

Category 2: Protein powder

Rice protein provides the body with nutrients called amino acids. The kinds of amino acids
in rice protein might help to protect the body from too much sugar in the blood.
They might also help to reduce blood pressure and blood fats. help you lose weight, boost
energy, or build muscle.
 Whey protein 80

• Whey is considered particularly beneficial for increasing the production of new protein
in your muscles

• Taking whey protein is a great way to increase your protein intake, which should have
major benefits for weight loss.

• Whey protein can also lead to liver damage over time if one consumes it without being
in the habit of exercising

Category 3: Essential oils

Geranium essential oil Cedarwood essential oil

CONCLUSION

Cherish pharma helped us to imbibe the detailed information about nutraceuticals section
& packaging section.

This industrial training provided a valuable learning experience in the career exploration
process and gave us unexpected benefit. Now I have evaluated the class room taught facts
and ideas and applied them to the real life situation. We came to know about many things
such as the GMP (Good Manufacturing Process), the Current Good Manufacturing Process
(CGMP) the basic laboratory requirement for product validation, the variety of machine used
in the large scale industries of medicine etc.

These and many other factors cause the enhance of my knowledge and have created a
lifelong interest to learning through an exposure to new educational experience.
REFERENCE

1. Vivek Puri,Manju Nagpal, Inderbir Singh, “a Comprehensive review on nutraceuticals

“page no.4-6, published on Nov 2022 in Pubmed Central.

2. Sajan Maurya, Dr Nisha Agarwal, “a Review article on nutraceuticals ”page no.6-7,

published on May 2022 in International Research Journal of Modernization in
Engineering technology and science.

3. Nutraceuticals vs pharmaceuticals, blog by Velnex Medicare published on 2022.

https://velnexmedicare.com/difference-between-nutraceuticals-pharmaceuticals-manufacturing/

4. Manufacturing process of nutraceuticals,by addgen analytics private limited.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/manufacturing-process-health-foodsafety-standard

5. Exploring the manufacturing process of essential oils,by BMV fragrances published

on July 2023.
https://www.bmvfragrances.com/blogs/exploring-manufacturing-process-of-essential-oils

6. Understanding the protein powder manufacturing process, by Kevin Kumetz.

https://vitaquest.com/understanding-the-protein-powder-manufacturing-process/

7. Images of machinery from Google images.