The Importance of Origin and Certification
The Importance of Origin
The Hovenia Dulcis (The Raisin Tree Rhamnaceae) is native to East Asia (China, Japan, the Korean peninsula, Thailand, and Vietnam) and is reported as an invasive alien plant in South America (Southern Brazil, Northern Argentina, and some areas of Paraguay) and Tanzania.
Beyond the already invaded area in South America, the largest suitable regions for Hovenia Dulcis outside its native range under current projections are in the South-Eastern USA.
Additionally, other regions appear suitable for the establishment of the species such as the west coast of the USA (states of California, Oregon, and Washington), the Adriatic Coast in the EPPO region (i.e., Albania, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Greece), East Africa (i.e., Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania), East Coast of Madagascar, East Coast of Australia (i.e., states of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania), and New Zealand.
The first report on the chemical composition of Hovenia Dulcis dates to 1973, when Takai et al. described the isolation of the alkaloid frangulanin from its roots and bark.
In 2003, Xu et al. updated the list of bioactive compounds up to 2002, when Lee et al. reported the isolation of hovenodulinol from the fruits.
Quantitative analysis of active compounds and hierarchical cluster analysis have proven that content differences are apparent among active compounds, soil characteristics and climate factors correlation between growth characteristics and contents of active compounds vary from continent to continent.
In basic terms, the quality of Hovenia Dulcis fruits and soil samples collected in cultivation sites across the world can vary.
Hovenia Dulcis sourced from East Asia is one of the earliest health-giving plants used in traditional Chinese medicine. It is recognised in the Compendium of Materia Medica (1578).
The Raisin Tree™ extract for ‘original’ Raisin Tree™ is sourced from monitored sites in East Asia.
Our Hovenia Dulcis trees are licenced and the extract is obtained from plants, cultivated without the use of harmful artificial chemical fertilisers, pesticides, or manipulated vascular development, meaning they are one hundred percent natural and safe. We understand how and where they are grown and how they are harvested.
The specific sites chosen for the extraction of Hovenia Dulcis extract used in Raisin Tree™ show outstanding characteristics of fruit growth and active compound contents.
Our processes are certified in accord with internationally recognised management systems for the development and production of natural plant extract. They comply with GB/T19001-2016 / ISO9001:2015 standard. Raisin Tree™ is produced according to Regulations (EC) No. 834/2007 and (EC) No. 889/2008.
Each batch of Raisin Tree™ extracted and produced (Dihydromyricetin) is accompanied by a recorded, microbiological Certificate of Analysis.
Raisin Tree™ is finally inspected, individually packed, and despatched worldwide by Raisin Tree™ in the United Kingdom.