Amway Botanical Research Center．Advanced Research and Development Laboratory

18 Jan 2024

Inside the research and development (R&D) laboratory at the Amway Botanical Center (ABRC) you will find an array of scientific research equipment – all neatly arranged according to function. The equipment has the clear purpose of ensuring the quality of the various botanicals and raw materials used in the laboratory.

#Amway Botanical R&D Center #Botanical Research Centre

ICP Spectroscopy

ICP (inductively coupled plasma) spectroscopy is an analytical method that the ABRC uses to eliminate those botanicals with excess heavy metals. After entering the body, heavy metals cannot be metabolized or excreted, and our health will be affected by an accumulation of excess heavy metals over time. Heavy metals are absorbed by botanicals through soil, water and other environmental factors during the growing process, and then enter the human body through the food chain.

To eliminate the presence of heavy metals, botanicals used for R&D purposes have to be processed before entering a spray chamber. The testing result will be shown on a monitor, indicating whether the botanicals contain excess heavy metals. Botanicals deemed to contain excess heavy metals will be rejected from the next stage in the R&D process.

Kjeldahl Apparatus

This is used to determine the nitrogen content in botanicals. Nitrogen is an important indicator of plant growth. Botanicals with a low nitrogen content will have been grown in an inadequate way, resulting in short crops, small fruits and a low nutritional value. Conversely, botanicals with a high nitrogen content will be more prone to lodging – displacement from a vertical posture – which will affect the quality and yield of the plant.

All botanicals going through the ABRC need to undergo nitrogen content testing using Kjeldahl apparatus. If a botanical is found to have insufficient nitrogen content, scientists can enrich its nutrients, while an excessive use of fertilizers can be avoided if the botanical is found to be relatively high in nitrogen.

PCR Instrument

To ensure product quality from seed to supplement, Nutrilite’s scientists monitor the quality of each batch of raw materials. Those whose quality falls short will not be accepted or purchased.

After the plants have been extracted, the samples will be injected into the injection holes of the test plate of the PCR instrument. Different plants are genetically sequenced in a different way and the equipment helps to amplify the differences between samples, identifying plants that do not measure up in terms of quality.

Stereo Microscope

Different from microscopes used in general laboratories that can multiply objects by 6 or 7 times, the stereo microscope employed at the ABRC can multiply objects up to 35 times. The 2mm alfalfa seed can be viewed as large as an egg using this powerful tool, with the structure, color and markings of the seed able to be clearly viewed. This helps to eliminate seeds that are do not qualify in terms of their appearance.

And if the stereo microscope at the ABRC cannot help, a newly introduced plant tissue sectioning system enables the team to observe the internal “blood vessel” of the plants, ensuring the quality from the very first step.