The National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC), under the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), hosted a special seminar entitled “PhytoEX: Driving the Future of Longevity Nutraceuticals – From Thai Roots to the World” at Vitafoods Asia 2026. The event featured the launch of two innovative active ingredients, SulforaEX™ and EmeraPrimeEX™, developed to support brain health and memory, as well as the body’s ability to cope with and adapt to stress.
The initiative aims to advance Thailand’s nutraceutical industry through innovative active ingredients derived from Thai herbs, responding to the growing global longevity trend and the increasingly diverse and targeted health needs of modern consumers.
Dr. Uratcha Raktananonchai, Director of the National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC), NSTDA, said that consumer healthcare trends are shifting from treating illnesses after they occur toward preventive healthcare and consistent self-care. People are increasingly seeking not only longer lives but also better quality of life, a concept known as Healthy Longevity. This shift has contributed to the continued growth of the dietary supplement and health product markets, while creating new opportunities for innovations that address increasingly diverse and specific health needs.
“The global health industry, particularly the nutraceuticals market, was valued at as much as US$636.2 billion in 2025 and is projected to exceed US$1.15 trillion by 2033. This represents a significant opportunity for Thailand to leverage its strengths in natural resources and Thai research expertise to elevate locally available medicinal plants and herbs into health products that meet market demands.
“The goal of the PhytoEX research program is therefore to establish a research and innovation ecosystem that can transform Thai herbs into high-performance active ingredients capable of progressing from the research laboratory to commercial products. By connecting researchers, technologies, and industry, the program seeks to transform Thailand’s resources and knowledge into high-value innovations and strengthen the country’s competitiveness in the global market,” Dr. Uratcha said.
Dr. Thawin Iampreedee, Director of the PhytoEX Program, NSTDA, said that PhytoEX currently has 15 commercially available active ingredients, covering both nutraceuticals, or products designed to support health, and cosmeceuticals, or products for skin health and beauty. These ingredients are intended to address healthy living across multiple dimensions.
One area receiving increasing attention worldwide is brain health, particularly among working-age adults who may face significant levels of stress in their daily lives. Modern approaches to brain health therefore encompass not only memory support, but also cognitive and work performance, as well as the ability to adapt to and recover from stress and everyday challenges. These factors are all important components of maintaining long-term health and well-being.
“Our PhytoEX platform covers the entire process, from active ingredient development and product development to efficacy and safety validation, enabling innovations to be translated into real-world market applications. Entrepreneurs can bring their existing products to us for testing, or select PhytoEX active ingredients to develop new formulations and subsequently evaluate their efficacy and safety. This helps increase product value, create differentiation, and enhance credibility in the health products market.
“SulforaEX™ and EmeraPrimeEX™ are our newest active ingredients, with promising properties for supporting brain health, particularly in the areas of memory and another equally important dimension—the ability of the body and brain to cope with and adapt to stress. “They represent examples of active ingredient development that takes into account market needs and emerging trends, with the potential to be further developed into health products and supported by the necessary testing to build consumer confidence in the modern health market,” Dr. Thawin added.
The event also featured first-hand experiences from private-sector partners who have collaborated on health product development under the PhytoEX Celebrity Accelerator program. The initiative focuses on translating research knowledge and scientific discoveries into products that address the lifestyles and needs of modern consumers.
Among the speakers were Toon Suphatcha Pitinan, Brand Ambassador and Strategic Advisor for ThinkPlus AM: Brain Booster, developed by Tofu Skincare Co., Ltd., as well as James Ruangsak Loychusak and Natcha Loychusak of Baby & Mum Co., Ltd., developers of Magrood Pro, a health product designed to support women’s health and preparation for conception.
The private-sector representatives also shared their perspectives on working with the PhytoEX research team—from translating market challenges and consumer needs into product concepts, to applying research and innovation to strengthen product development and enhance their commercial potential.
The development of high-potential active ingredients and health products in response to the growing longevity trend and expanding nutraceuticals market under the PhytoEX research program represents one of the mechanisms through which Thailand can move beyond its role as a raw-material producer and technology user toward becoming a leader in health innovation with its own knowledge base and technologies.
By leveraging science, technology, and innovation to create added value, PhytoEX seeks to transform the potential of Thai herbs into economic opportunities and help position Thailand as a significant player in the global longevity market.
