Plant extracts are diverse in variety and function, and an extract often has different roles, but can be roughly divided into the following five categories.

1, colorant: plant pigment is the main component of plant color, some plants in the pigment content is unusually rich, can be used for pigment extraction, China available plant pigment there are dozens of species, such as curcumin, safflower yellow, radish red, beet red, sorghum red, pepper red and so on.

2, sweeteners: plant extracts often contain rich characteristic ingredients, can effectively stimulate the senses, such as sweeteners and volatile substances. Natural sweetener is a popular new sweetener at present, which is not only sweet, but also an ideal substitute for sucrose, and its health effect is significant. Such as stevia glycoside, momorrhoeae glycoside and so on. Essential oils are concentrated volatile substances, which are often used in the preparation of spices, and are also the industry with the lowest application threshold of plant extracts and the least regulatory restrictions.

3, pharmaceutical raw materials: the use of Chinese herbal medicine preparations has a long history and is more prosperous in Asia. In recent years, driven by the concept of traditional Chinese medicine, it has gained a worldwide reputation.

Traditional Chinese medicine extraction raw materials: refers to the traditional Chinese medicinal materials or natural plants extracted and separated, with a clear active ingredient, the content of more than 90% of the single active ingredient, with drug approval number, can be used as raw materials for traditional Chinese medicine preparations; And with traditional Chinese medicine or natural plants as raw materials, extraction and separation of the preparation of the main products can be used as raw materials for pharmaceutical preparations are: artemisinin, paclitaxel, camptothecin.

4. 4.Health products: the components of plant extracts include glycosides, acids, polyphenols, polysaccharides, terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, etc. Most of these components have been confirmed to have biological activities in studies and have non-negligible effects on human health. The development of their health functions has become the mainstream application trend of plant extracts.
5.  

5, dietary supplements: Prebiotics refers to some organic substances that are not digested and absorbed by the host but can selectively promote the growth and reproduction of beneficial bacteria such as bifidobacterium in its body, thereby improving the health of the host.

Most prebiotics are used as food additives, such as inulin (derived from chicory), FOS(fructooligosaccharides). Derived from Jerusalem artichoke, chicory and sucrose), glucomannan (from konjac), soybean oligosaccharides, dietary fiber and gum, etc., all come from plants.