What are the Health Benefits of Tarragon?
Called the "king of herbs" by the French, tarragon has been quite a buzzword in the supplement industry over the past few years.[i] You might have already heard about tarragon if you like French cuisine and culinary arts. If not, we have still got you covered.
Tarragon is a distinctively aromatic herb that is now being explored for its potential health benefits along with its potential as a dietary supplement.
Let's delve deeper into the health benefits of tarragon and understand how brand owners can use it in their next supplement line.
What is Tarragon?
Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus), also known as estragon, is a perennial herb belonging to the sunflower family. It has a fresh, zesty aroma that can be described as a composite of licorice, lemon, and basil flavors. However, the distinctive fragrance of the plant can vary in each of its subspecies.
The three types of tarragon that have been identified are:[ii]
- French Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)
- Russian Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculoides)
- Mexican Tarragon (Tagetes lucida)
Nutritional Value of Tarragon
Tarragon is a low-calorie, nutrition-dense herb that may provide several health benefits.
1tbsp (1.8 grams) serving of dried tarragon leaves provides only about five (5) calories and contains 0.904 grams of carbohydrates and 0.41 grams of protein.
Several essential minerals can be found in a single serving (5 g) of ground Tarragon, such as:
- Calcium: 54.7 mg
- Magnesium: 16.7 mg
- Potassium: 145 mg
- Phosphorus: 15 mg
- Iron: 1.6 mg, and
- Sodium, Zinc, Manganese, and Selenium: trace amounts
Tarragon is also a source of vitamins such as vitamin A (202 IU), vitamin C (2.4 mg), vitamin B6 (0.116 mg), Thiamin (0.012 mg), Riboflavin (0.064 mg), Niacin (0.43 mg), and Folate (13.2 μg).
Most recent studies on Russian tarragon are being conducted to investigate its potential applications to support stamina, endurance, and creatine absorption in athletes.[iii] [iv]
What are the Benefits of Tarragon?
There may be several benefits of the tarragon plant, considering its nutritional value and the presence of essential vitamins. Let's look at some:
Tarragon Nutritional Benefits
Tarragon is low in calories and carbohydrates. It also contains vital minerals such as manganese, iron, calcium, and potassium. 1-tbsp (5 g) serving of dried, ground tarragon can provide:
- Manganese: 19% of the dietary reference intakes (DRI)
- Iron: 9% of the DRI
- Calcium: 5% of the DRI
- Potassium: 4% of the DRI[v]
What Are the Health Benefits of Tarragon
The Artemisia genus of plants possess several active ingredients and secondary metabolites. These compounds have a broad spectrum of bioactivity, which may work through various modes, and find applications in the following areas:[vi]
- Sleep Support
Arabic cultures have used tarragon as a natural sleep aid.[vii] - Glucose/Insulin Support
French tarragon has been found to support glucose control and insulin sensitivity in human subjects.[viii] - Digestive Aid
In traditional medicine, tarragon is commonly used to improve digestion by increasing appetite, flushing toxins from the body, and digestive stimulants, especially in cultures with high consumption of (red) meat. - Menstrual Aid
Tarragon has a long history of use by Native Americans. For example, the Chippewa used the root as a gynecological aid to reduce excessive flow during the menstrual cycle. - Diuretic
In animal studies, French tarragon was found to have a diuretic action that helped expel excess water retention in the body. - Building Muscles
Studies suggest that Russian tarragon may help increase muscle creatine absorption. This effect resembles muscle creatine absorption when creatine is ingested with a large amount of carbohydrates. As tarragon provides the same effects as creatine, the consumption of high doses of carbohydrates is no longer necessary. This makes tarragon a promising ingredient for bodybuilding supplements.
Tarragon: Market Research Insights and Trends
The global market for tarragon is expected to grow by USD 90.6 million from 2019-2023 at a compounded annual growth rate of about 9%.[ix] The presence of antioxidants, potassium, dietary fibers, iron, and prospective health benefits is projected to further drive strong market growth.
The tarragon supplement industry possesses an untapped growth potential. You can create your own line of formulations and supplements and dive into the growth opportunities that the Tarragon market offers.
How Can NutraScienceLabs Help Manufacture Tarragon Supplements?
NutraScience Labs provides dietary supplement brands with best-in-class contract manufacturing, packaging, labeling, and order fulfillment services. Our knowledgeable team possesses over 120 years of nutraceutical industry experience and has helped more than 2,300 companies create and bring superior supplement products to the market.
All of our contract manufacturing services are completed in U.S.-based laboratories that are GMP and ISO Certified, so you can be rest assured that the finished product you receive from us is of the highest quality. We also offer competitive price quotes, fast product lead times, and certified food scientists on staff that will help you create the perfect flavor for your product.
For questions and to learn more about how we can manufacture tarragon supplements for you, call 855-492-7388 or send us your request to receive a free price quote.
References:
[i] https://draxe.com/nutrition/tarragon/
[ii] https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/tagetes-lucida/
[iii] https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1550-2783-8-S1-P16
[iv] https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1550-2783-11-6
[v] https://ods.od.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Dietary_Reference_Intakes.aspx
[vi] https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1934578X19850354
[vii] https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1352036/1/Obolskiy-et-al2011-Art-dracunculusJAFC%255B1%255D.pdf
[viii] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27097076/
[ix] https://www.technavio.com/report/global-tarragon-market-industry-analysis
