American Botanical Council

Nigella sativa is a widely used medicinal plant and it is very popular in traditional systems of medicine like Unani Tibb, Ayurveda, and Siddha. N. sativa grows 8-35 inches in height and has finely divided, somewhat threadlike leaves. This species has pale-blue to pale-purple flowers that bloom in the spring and produce seed capsules (fruit) that contain numerous black seeds. The majority of the global commercial supply of N. sativa seed is obtained from cultivation in Egypt, Turkey, and India. According to the third edition of the American Herbal Products Association’s Herbs of Commerce, the standardized common name is black cumin, and other common names are blackseed and nigella. Extensive studies on N. sativa have been carried out by various researchers and a wide spectrum of its pharmacological actions have been explored. According to the third edition of the American Herbal Products Association’s Herbs of Commerce, the standardized common name is black cumin, and other common names are blackseed and nigella. At least 100 clinical studies have investigated N. sativa seed and seed oil for their efficacy for various conditions, including respiratory, diabetic, hepatic, metabolic, mental, and dyspeptic disorders, male infertility, and others. Studies have shown that the therapeutic properties of this plant are due to the presence of thymoquinone which is a major bioactive component of the essential oil. The Herb Market Report lists N. sativa within the top ranked herbal supplements for 2022, and the herb is available through ABC’s Adopt-an-Herb Program. The Adopt-An-Herb Program is an exciting and mutually beneficial way to support ABC. Each adopting organization helps ensure that the most current information on their herb is available in HerbMedPro. This enables consumers, researchers, media, health practitioners, government agencies, and members of industry to have easy access to abstracts of the latest scientific and clinical publications on the many aspects, properties, and benefits of the adopted herb. The adopters' contribution to keeping ABC's information up to date is recognized in multiple ways. Adopters also gain an Adoption Page on the ABC website that provides free information to site visitors as well as media releases to the herbal industry at large. ABC is gearing up for a vibrant and robust 2025, with continued vital and relevant research to serve the interests of the botanical medicine community. Become an adopter today! Contact lauren@herbalgram.org for more. #AmericanBotanicalCouncil #AdoptanHerb #BotanicalAdulterantsProgram #Sponsorship

Introducing the Scope 3 Herbal Footprinting Working Group, a dynamic coalition of industry members committed to combating climate change by gathering data on greenhouse gas emissions linked to herbal ingredient production and supply. Hosted by the American Botanical Council's Sustainable Herbs Program, this collaborative effort unites seven prominent companies in the tea and dietary supplement sector: Banyan Botanicals, Nature’s Sunshine, Pure Synergy, Pukka Tea, Traditional Medicinals, Pacific Botanicals, and Yogi. Ann Armbrecht, founder and director of the Sustainable Herbs Program (SHP), emphasizes the significance of collective action in addressing the climate crisis: The climate crisis is changing how we work together. These seven companies coming together to map their emissions data will benefit not only their bottom line but also their farm partners, consumers, the herbal industry and the environment. Discover more about this innovative initiative in the article: https://lnkd.in/eDXgatKB

The American Botanical Council has awarded its 2024 Mark Blumenthal Herbal Community Builder Award to David Winston, RH (AHG), founder and president of B Corp™-certified herb product manufacturer Herbalist & Alchemist (H&A), and dean of David Winston’s Center for Herbal Studies. The ABC Mark Blumenthal Herbal Community Builder Award is named for ABC’s Founder and Executive Director Mark Blumenthal. The Blumenthal Award is given annually to individuals who have played a significant role in creating a sense of connection and community among herbalists, botanical researchers, members of the herb and natural products communities and industries, and others who work with medicinal and aromatic plants. Click to read more: https://ow.ly/6VMB50RftII

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴 is an herbaceous perennial in the mint family (Lamiaceae) native to the Southern Europe and Western Asia. Lemon balm is a calming herb used for tenseness, restlessness, irritability, as well as for digestive complaints and externally for cold sores. Please enjoy this information on lemon balm made available through the generosity of Four Elements’ adoption. To learn more about lemon balm click the link below! https://ow.ly/QQ6x50RftIl Or contact ABC to learn how your company can become an adopter: https://ow.ly/EJNj50RftIk

The American Botanical Council has presented its 2024 ABC James A. Duke Excellence in Botanical Literature Award during the annual Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, CA, in both the reference/technical and consumer/popular categories. The award recipient in the reference/technical category is the American Herbal Products Association’s Herbs of Commerce, 3rd edition by Merle Zimmermann, Holly E. Johnson, Michael McGuffin, and Wendy Applequist. In the consumer/popular category, the award was given to the book Psychonauts: Drugs and the Making of the Modern Mind by Mike Jay. ABC gives the Duke Award annually to books that contribute significantly to medicinal plant-related literature and the fields of botany, taxonomy, ethnobotany, pharmacognosy, phytomedicine, and other related disciplines. Click the link to read the press release: https://ow.ly/OCC250RftGI

Hops (𝘏𝘶𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘶𝘴 𝘭𝘶𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘶𝘴) is a perennial vine in the family Cannabaceae and is native to Europe, Asia, and North America. Hops are used in brewing beer, to flavor food, and as a perfume scent. The main medicinal uses of hops are as a sedative, and for restlessness, anxiety, and to decrease excitability. Please enjoy this information on hops made available through the generosity of Gaia Trading’s adoption: https://lnkd.in/gcNwCUnq Contact ABC to become an adopter: https://lnkd.in/dXAQTu6h

Robin J. Marles 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐁𝐂 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐑. 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 ABC presents this annual award, named in honor of the internationally respected professor Norman R. Farnsworth, PhD (1930–2011), to an individual who has made significant research contributions in the fields of pharmacognosy, ethnobotany, ethnopharmacology, or other scientific disciplines related to medicinal plants. “I am very honored to be selected as the recipient of this year’s ABC Norman R. Farnsworth Excellence in Botanical Research Award,” Marles said. “Professor Farnsworth was a wonderful mentor during my six years at UIC College of Pharmacy. My other professors provided excellent technical training, but Professor Farnsworth strongly encouraged us to apply critical thinking to problems, evaluate carefully rather than just accept what was published in the literature, and to try to see the big picture. I have tried to follow these principles throughout my career.” Click to read more: https://lnkd.in/g-33H_4W

Euromed S.A. 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐁𝐂 𝐕𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨 𝐄. 𝐓𝐲𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 The American Botanical Council announces that the 2024 𝘈𝘉𝘊 𝘝𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘰 𝘌. 𝘛𝘺𝘭𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘐𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘗𝘩𝘺𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘈𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 has been presented to Euromed, a Spain-based manufacturer of standardized botanical extracts and other herbal ingredients for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food, pet care, and cosmetics industries. Euromed received the award in recognition of the company’s exceptional commitment to scientific and clinical research on the therapeutic effects of several specific botanical ingredients derived from well-known edible fruits such as pomegranate, fig, olive, and lemon. The 2024 Tyler Award was presented at the 19th annual ABC Celebration and Botanical Excellence Awards Ceremony on March 13, 2024, in Anaheim, California, during the annual Natural Products Expo West Conference and Trade Show. Click the link to read the press release: https://lnkd.in/eQQHx7rz

Bergamot (𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘢, Rutaceae) is a small tree with a round or pear-shaped inedible fruit approximately 3 inches in diameter with a thin, lemon-yellow, smooth rind. The origin of the fruit is unclear. Currently it grows almost exclusively on a narrow strip along the southern coastline of Calabria, Italy. Oil of bergamot is pressed mechanically from the peel of the almost ripe fruit which is gathered in November and December. (Bergamot should not be confused with Monarda didyma, bee balm, in the mint family [Lamiaceae] which is also sometimes called bergamot.) A polyphenolic fraction of bergamot has been shown to improve the human plasma lipid profile (all cholesterols and triglycerides), improve insulin resistance, inflammation, and help prevent atherosclerosis. The essential oil of bergamot is relaxing, refreshing and can be helpful in relieving insomnia, anxiety, compulsive behavior, and depression. Please enjoy this information on bergamot made available through the generosity of H&AD’s adoption: https://lnkd.in/guPATh34 View all the adopters and adopted herbs here: https://lnkd.in/gUSFgAF6

Indian frankincense (𝘉𝘰𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘢) is a moderate to large tree in the torchwood family (Burseraceae) and is native to dry mountainous regions of India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, although it is critically endangered and possibly extinct in Sri Lanka. Its gum resin, often called guggul, has been used as medicine and in religious and cultural ceremonies for thousands of years. Its anti-inflammatory benefits have been demonstrated in a number of human clinical studies. Please enjoy the information on Indian frankincense made available through the generosity of PLT Health Solutions' adoption: https://ow.ly/8WPf50QZ3rW The Adopt-an-Herb Program is a mutually beneficial partnership that supports ABC’s nonprofit mission while promoting a company's most important herb(s). To learn more about the program contact us: https://ow.ly/AfWh50QZ3rV