Sabinsa, founded more than 35 years ago by the late Dr. Muhammed Majeed, is a manufacturer and ingredient supplier of herbal extracts, probiotics, cosmeceuticals, and specialty fine chemicals. Sabinsa is known for proficiency in employing modern scientific methods to build upon traditional Ayurvedic knowledge, with the goal to improve human health. Sabinsa has brought to market more than 130 standardized botanical extracts, and funded supporting clinical studies in collaboration with prestigious institutions. 

Pioneering Ingredient Innovation

Sabinsa pioneered numerous ingredients in the nutraceuticals market, many of which are the leading branded ingredients in multiple categories. The most clinically studied turmeric extract in the world is Sabinsa’s Curcumin C3 Complex®. Other widely used ingredients include: BioPerine®, LactoSpore®, DigeZyme®, Sabeet®, Saberry®, Boswellin®, GarCitrin®,  ZeaLutein®, ForsLean®, Bacopin®,  Shagandha™, Livinol®, and Nigellin®. 

Sabinsa has obtained several IND approved clinical protocols for its products from the FDA and has multiple ingredients with GRAS status. With more than 120 scientists working full-time conducting research both in India and the United States, Sabinsa continues to develop and patent beneficial nutrients for the global market. Currently, Sabinsa owns more than 400 U.S. and International patents. Products intended for human consumption are certified Kosher and Halal.

Sabinsa’s parent company, the Sami-Sabinsa Group, has seven manufacturing facilities: six in India and one in Utah, USA. The company’s global presence includes the U.S., India, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Japan, Poland, South Africa, South Korea, UAE, Vietnam, France, Hungary, Spain, Taiwan, and the UK.

Carrying on the Family Tradition

“Since I returned to Sabinsa after two years as CEO of BGG Americas and my father's death, I have thought much about Sabinsa’s vision,” shares second-generation leader Shaheen Majeed. “Obviously, Dr. Majeed’s legacy will continue to influence everything we do. Sabinsa will move forward on our strong foundations with science and quality continuing to be our mantras. However, there is a new generation of leadership with my sister Dr. Anju Majeed leading the Sami-Sabinsa Group as Chairperson and my role as Global Managing Director and CEO, so there will be some changes to build on the company’s strong legacy. 

“Dr. Majeed mentored many of our valued long-time employees, staying in touch with them personally. When he founded the company, everyone reported directly to him, and he was used to that. My sister Dr. Anju and I realized that now, with the size the company has grown into, we needed a clarified chain of command with managers empowered to make decisions. Respecting the management structure of roles and responsibilities supports all employees in using their talents to the best of their abilities. But valuing our employees and encouraging their career development will never change.”

Leading the Way With Research

Sabinsa was one of the first ingredient companies to conduct research on its ingredients to demonstrate safety and efficacy, and that is still the foundation of the company’s products. Sabinsa was the first company to build upon the ancient tradition of Ayurveda with modern research, confirming and expanding upon the knowledge of our ancestors in supporting human health.

Decades of Breakthroughs and Success

The earliest breakthrough moment for Sabinsa was in the late 1990s when Dr. Majeed standardized Ayurvedic ingredients. These standardizations helped capture the real science of the molecules and compounds that were attributed to Ayurveda’s ancient findings. This has become the norm now in our industry. Another was developing and investing in spore-forming probiotics that could survive at room or hotter temperatures to compete with dead-on-arrival probiotics. These spore-forming probiotics would go on to serve different industries, from nutrition to cosmetics and beyond. Lastly, one of the major success points of Sabinsa's ingredient brands in the marketplace comes from the clinical studies that support the brands. "This continues to be a major customer request," Shaheen Majeed says, "and therefore, resources are devoted to ensuring such findings accompany our brands."

Making an Impact

In 2023, in line with the objective to promote green manufacturing, the Sami-Sabinsa Group signed a contract to adopt captive solar energy for all its manufacturing plants in Karnataka, India. The company is collaborating to set up a 3.60 MW DC solar project at Bellary District in the State of Karnataka (India) at an estimated cost of USD 0.75 Million per MW of the solar capacity of the project. The Sami-Sabinsa Group will subscribe to a minimum of 26% of the securities in this project and has signed a Security Subscription and Shareholders’ Agreement with O2 Energy, Singapore, and its Indian Subsidiary towards the project. This investment in clean energy by Sami-Sabinsa Group will make a significant contribution to India’s transition towards more sustainable energy and combating climate change. 

The Sami-Sabinsa Group works with hundreds of farmers on nearly 20,000 acres who provide very high-quality raw materials to Sabinsa under fair trade contracts.  Through the years the program has been fine-tuned, providing seed to the farmers, training them to grow herbs sustainably and cleanly, and guaranteeing a minimum purchase price. Farmers are taught techniques to naturally repel pests such as planting naturally repelling plants among the herbs and given irrigation support when rainfall doesn’t cooperate. When herb prices go up, Sabinsa pays more for the harvest than the contracted amount. Because the relationship with Sabinsa is mutually beneficial, the farmers aren’t interested in selling the crop to competing companies when demand is high, which can be a significant problem in this area of India. Along the way, Sami-Sabinsa has essentially adopted villages, supporting schools and improving rural infrastructure.

“Our award-winning reforestation program supports ex situ conservation of the highly valued but neglected tree species Pterocarpus marsupium  (Indian kino tree), having initiated and funded a project that planted over 166,600 trees on 250 acres of forest land, maintained over ten years into maturity,” Shaheen Majeed adds. “The program is being expanded to encompass a larger area growing more seedlings.”

What’s New and Next 

Recently introduced products include Sabroxy®, a superior brain and neuronal health ingredient;  LivLonga®, for healthy liver support, a unique blend of three scientifically validated ingredients: Curcumin C3 Complex®, Livinol® and the bioavailability enhancer BioPerine®;  CurCousin™, a self-affirmed GRAS ingredient containing Calebin-A to support healthy metabolism;  pTeroSol® for blood sugar support; Starmeric®, a resistant starch isolate from Turmeric with a potent prebiotic application; LactoSporin® a postbiotic for skin and hair health; and Olepent® a peptide for skin firming and repair. There will be new science and evidence coming out in the gut microbiome area, utilizing our probiotic LactoSpore® and others. 

Looking to the Future

“We recognize that the world is changing,” Shaheen Majeed acknowledges. “There are examples of climate change everywhere, so remaining natural is becoming challenging. To address this challenge, we need to work together to understand and address the needs of consumers. Gone are the days when you could treat a natural ingredient as a commodity; shame on those who do. Natural products take time, care, and plenty of resources, both human and land." 

Another aspect to consider, he adds, are the regulatory challenges. "These have to be overcome through science and proper education. We do live in a world of not just reviewers, but influencers as well, but it should be based on science and not persuaded by random claims for the benefit of a quick sale. Never forget we are consumers as well, so whenever a product is being made or sought after, make sure it’s done with the integrity and respect you would want in a product you take.”