HP Ingredients
707 24th Ave. W.
Bradenton, FL 34205
Phone: (877) 437-2234

HP Ingredients (HPI), founded in 2001, is a fast-growing, innovative nutraceutical company that brings to market standardized patented botanical extracts as well as privately funded clinical studies in collaboration with globally prestigious universities and research institutions located in Malaysia, Chile, Italy and the United States in support of these products. In 2020, the company became a certified Woman-owned Company. HPI’s motto is “Where science never sleeps.”

Annie Eng brings a unique entrepreneurial blend of finance, science, product development and marketing to the nutraceutical industry. Hailing from Malaysia, she was intrigued about the vigor-producing properties of tongkat ali and led the science and introduction of this herb to the U.S. Since then, she continues to scour the planet for medicinal flora with exciting science-proven benefits for humans.

Prior to founding HPI, for 10 years Eng was the youngest top 10 producer and the No. 1 new accounts opener as vice president and financial consultant at Gruntal & Co., one of the oldest independent investment banking houses in the U.S.

NIE: What efforts does HPI take to ensure quality and safety of its products?

Eng: As per our updated 2020 Quality Manual: HP Ingredients Corp. complies with 21 CFR Part111, a registered FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) facility, as well as a certified kosher, halal and organic facility following GMP (good manufacturing practice) compliances and compliances with all regulatory norms.

Risk management (e.g. HACCP) is an integrated part of the quality management system. This implies identification and assessment of microbial, chemical or body hazards and its risks during manufacturing, distribution and use of a particular product, including definition of a means for their control.

HP Ingredients Corp. maintains a record for each batch of product that provides traceability and identifies the amount manufactured and released for distribution.

A certificate of analysis is received from the product manufacturer and samples are sent to an independent accredited third-party laboratory for analysis. After receiving the results from an accredited third-party laboratory, the quality manager will review and release for distribution based on documents from the sub-contractors and independent third-party laboratory analysis.

NIE: The company recently announced the publication of a new study showing how ParActin may be beneficial for those with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Please discuss the study.

Eng: We know that any claims of a natural substance impacting a disease state is verboten—however, on the research level, throughout the world, natural substances are investigated in specific populations to validate mechanisms of action.

With that said, andrographolide is considered a new class of anti-inflammatory and a neuroprotective agent, which this study validates. It revealed a new mechanism of action, as follows: Andrographis acts to reduce NFκβ activity through inhibition of p50 subunits and preventing their binding to DNA and through disruption of binding between Keap1 and Nrf2, allowing Nrf2 to be translocated into the nucleus and to initiate the transcription of ARE-genes, which reduces inflammation and promotes neuroprotection.

A new study (Ciampi et al, BMC Neurology 2020 20:173) of 44 individuals with progressive MS concluded that Andrographis was “well tolerated and showed a potential effect in reducing brain atrophy and disability progression.”

In addition, Andrographis was shown to help reduce poor balance, increase ability to climb stairs, as well as to improve endurance/lessen weakness, as well as helps support healthy muscle integrity. Finally, the study shows support of healthy serotonin levels.

And we have two U.S. patents to support this science. First is U.S. patent #9,060,994 B2 (2015) “Combination Therapy with Interferon and Andrographolides for Multiple Sclerosis,” and the very recently awarded US patent #10,722,492, B2, “Andrographolide Treats Progressive Forms of Multiple Sclerosis.”

Again, patents awarded for specific uses are not to be treated as claims, but rather reinforce intellectual property.

NIE: In 2019, HPI launched a private label program for retailers. How does the program work and what are the benefits?

Eng: HP Ingredients’ helps retailers to identify which of our signature products—LJ100, Bergamonte, ParActin and MaquiCare—best fulfill their customers’ needs and choose how many bottles to start with (minimum of 50 bottles). HPI will:

1. Drag and drop the retailer’s logo into FDA-compliant labels

2. Send approved marketing support materials such as e-books, videos and white papers to help grow your private label

3. Ship the finished product ready for retail

But there’s a greater benefit to be had: By buying into HPI’s private label program, retailers will directly support Vitamin Angels, a charity sponsored by HPI. The One Child plan includes the retailer’s donation toward one child’s vitamins for a year. The Four Children plan includes the contribution toward four children’s vitamins for a year. This generates powerful good will in their communities.

NIE: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Eng: HP Ingredients, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2021, is humbled and gratified to continue to be a part of this flourishing industry that has all people’s safety, health and well-being at the forefront.