MerLion’s extensive, world-class collection of over 141,000 microbial strains and plant samples derives from more than 100 countries and has been described by Professor Geoffrey Cordell at the University of Illinois, Chicago as "The most diverse and comprehensive collection of plant and microbial samples in the world". It has been collected from both marine and terrestrial environments and is managed by a team with expertise in high quality sample production, fractionation and chemical analysis of extracts. This impressive collection is being developed further by strategic procurement of samples to enhance the taxonomic and therefore, structural diversity of its biologically active compounds. The company maintains a keen awareness of all potential opportunities to increase the richness and diversity of its collection. MerLion is committed to the ethical principals for the use of natural products as defined by the Convention on Biological Diversity.