Su-Min Jeong

Terminalia bellirica, a deciduous tree belonging to the family Combretaceae, is a traditional medicinal plant widely used in Southeast Asia. However, information on the bioactivity and safety of T. bellirica is limited. This study aimed to investigate the physiological activities of T. bellirica extract, focusing on its in vitro antioxidant properties. We evaluated the cytotoxic and genotoxic potentials of these compounds. The results revealed that the T. bellirica extract contained high levels of polyphenolic compounds, including tannic acid. In vitro and cell-based analyses confirmed the antioxidant activity and reactive oxygen species-scavenging ability of the extract, suggesting its potential as a functional agent. Furthermore, the extract did not exhibit cytotoxicity or genotoxicity at actual intake levels, as assessed using water-soluble tetrazolium-1 and comet assays. These findings suggest that T. bellirica extract can be safely used as a functional antioxidant.

Food ingredients and materials derived from novel food sources have been increasingly developed using innovative technologies and production processes. Therefore, understanding the diverse regulations and approval procedures in different countries is crucial before importing foreign ingredients; this is especially crucial for importing materials without a prior consumption history and exporting domestically produced food ingredients, for example, in Korea. This review discusses the procedures, from the temporary recognition of food ingredients to their registration in the Korean Food Code, as well as the regulatory frameworks and current status of novel food approval in the European Union (EU), Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) recognition by the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and novel food approval by the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).