Cepham, an ingredient supplier specializing in Ayurvedic herbs, has developed SheVari4, a patent-pending ingredient derived from the roots of Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari) roots.
 
The new, standardized ingredient is formulated to support women’s well-being in specialized formulations.
 
Shatavari translates to plant with one hundred roots in Sanskrit, and has a long history of use in the traditional medicine practice called Ayurveda. It has traditionally been to improve mood, focus, and hormone balance for centuries, and has traditionally been prepared with other herbs and brown sugar, guggulu blends with herbs and ghee, and kalpa recipes with sugar and milk.
 
“In our pursuit of an adaptogen tailored for women’s self-care, I engaged in a meaningful dialogue with my mother, exploring the Ayurvedic remedies she and her mother relied on for well-being,” said Anand Swaroop, PhD, founder and president of Cepham. “Our goal was to pinpoint an adaptogen that addresses the nuanced spectrum of women’s health concerns including hormone balance, mood support and focus. This inquiry that began with my mother, coupled with our extensive work on the phytochemistry of Shatavari, allowed us to identify the specific bioactive molecules responsible for its adaptogenic effects, culminating in the development of SheVari4.”
 
The company is set to publish a whitepaper on its clinical findings evidencing the adaptogenic effects of SheVari4, as the company continues research and development of its portfolio of women’s health ingredients.
 
“The research landscape for women’s health is currently under-addressed and lacks science-backed ingredients,” said Rena Cohen-First, vice president of sales at Cepham. “Our in-house research, anchored in comprehensive data analysis, has unveiled a stark gap in understanding women’s health. We are determined to bridge this void through our commitment to developing impactful, scientific solutions.”
 
Cepham notes that a tide shift in women’s health research was made in 1993 through the NIH Revitalization Act. Historically, research in areas like cardiovascular disease was disproportionately focused on men and medical studies didn’t enroll adequate amounts of women. NIH introduced a policy in 2015 which emphasized the consideration of sex as a biological variable in research.
 
“Excluding women in nutraceutical or drug development poses safety risks,” said Cohen-First. “At Cepham our goal is to change the research landscape, with numerous branded ingredients for women on the horizon.”