Malaysian ‘Masculine Honey’ Used as Energy Booster

POLENS: Making Headway in the Herbal Product Industry
By Jenny Lanong

SHAH ALAM, Aug 5 (Bernama) - The rainforest is a veritable pharmaceutical store. It supports the growth of medicinal plants and herbs that are rich in beneficial nutrients and active constituents, which are used as traditional cures for various ailments as well as to maintain general health and well-being.

The rich diversity in natural resources of the rainforest has provided a platform for the development of the agro-based industry dealing in the manufacture of herbal products in Malaysia.

There has been a steady growth in demand in both the local and export markets, for herbal extracts as food supplements, either in capsule or liquid form.

The increasing popularity of herbal extracts as a form of health supplements justify that the development of herbal industry be given serious consideration.

Under the 9th Malaysia Plan (RMK-9), the government is focused on developing the herbal product market as a new segment targeted to spearhead the economic growth in the country.

Among the local herbs considered suitable as health supplements are: tongkat ali (Eurycoma), pegaga (Centella), misai kuching (Orthosiphon), hempedu bumi (Andrographis), kacip fatimah (Labisia pumila), mengkudu (Morinda citrifolia), dukung anak (Phyllanthus), halia (Zingiber officinale), mas cotek (Ficus deltoidea) and limau purut (Citrus hystrix)…

Projek Lebah Negeri Selangor (POLENS) Public Relations and Product Development Manager, Azman Jamaludin believes that the agro-based herbal industry has the potentials to generate the economic development of the country…

POLENS "madu jantan" (i.e."masculine honey"), which comprise a mixture of royal jelly and herbal extracts like tongkat ali and ginseng, is taken as an energy booster. It contains polyphenol, which act as an antioxidant that protects the cells and body chemicals against damage caused by free radicals…