This year marks a century of innovation, tradition, excellence, and quality for Milan, Italy-based phytochemical specialist Indena. A century of history at Indena has been centered around four key pillars: research; botanical expertise; scale up and industrial production; and quality, safety, and efficacy. With continued attention to sustainability and environmental impact, Indena continues to produce high-quality, research-supported ingredients from nature to improve human health.
 
Indena’s transformation and natural evolution has positioned the company at the forefront of science and research of botanical-based pharmaceutical and nutraceutical active ingredients.
 
Francesca de Rensis, marketing director at Indena S.p.A. discussed the company’s roots, founding principles, and historical perspective on today’s marketplace.
 
Nutraceuticals World (NW): Can you offer some background on Indena’s founding (how and why it came into the nutraceuticals industry)?
 
Francesca de Rensis: Indena’s 100-year journey in botanical excellence began in 1921 with two founders, Dr. Carlo Boccaccio Inverni and Dr. Biagio Alberto Della Beffa. Dr. Inverni had the idea of offering botanical extracts to the early Italian pharmaceutical industry. Shortly after, Dr. Della Beffa joined as a partner and managing director and the company Inverni Della Beffa was founded, later becoming known as Indena (INdustria DErivati NAturali).
 
NW: Looking back over Indena’s 100-year history, how has the company evolved? What is the company’s mission today?
 
de Rensis: Indena has had a commitment to research, science, development, and quality that has been unwavering since its founding. These major initiatives—along with great people—have contributed to the success of the company.
 
Many of Indena’s ingredients are supported by clinical studies that demonstrate safety and efficacy. Indena has been among the first to introduce standardized extracts such as Ginkgo biloba, bilberry, grapeseed, St. John’s Wort, and milk thistle.
 
Around 20 years ago, Indena introduced its Phytosome delivery system which improves bioabsorption and effectiveness for specific botanicals. Phytosome ingredients include Meriva® Curcumin Phytosome and Quercefit® Quercetin Phytosome.
 
Indena’s mission is to spread the culture of phytochemicals for better health and well-being, today and for future generations.
 
NW: What’s your perspective on the herbal products industry overall, and how it has evolved to the market we see today? 
 
de Rensis: Demand for herbal products continues to increase globally and Indena has been honored to serve the market for 100 years. Our commitment for the next 100 years is to remain true to our founding values in producing the highest-quality, research-supported ingredients from nature to improve human health.
 
NW: Herbal supplements are increasingly popular with consumers. What do you see as the greatest opportunities for the future?
 
de Rensis: Indena continues to identify and develop new chemical entities from plants, improve extraction methods, reduce the use of solvents, evaluate new delivery forms, and find ways to become more sustainable with our impact on the environment.
 
NW: What are the biggest threats to the herbal products industry?
 
de Rensis: Indena views the biggest threat as adulteration. The industry needs to take a firm stance on adulteration, ensuring to the consumer that the product is what’s claimed. Enforcement is key and industry organizations and government regulatory agencies need to penalize non-compliance. There are companies like Indena and organizations such as the American Botanical Council that are taking leadership in this area and it needs to become a priority to self-police in order to maintain a vibrant, growing industry.
 
NW: What have you learned over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., about the industry, about your company/employees, consumers, etc.)?
 
de Rensis: With over 100 years in the botanical industry, Indena has established supplier relationships going back decades. These relationships proved critical as supply has been tight for particular botanicals—especially those focused on immune health. The experience has strengthened these relationships through increased communication and coordination.