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Dear Reader

It is my pleasure to introduce to you the first edition of the “Botanical Adulterants Monitor.” Adulteration of botanical materials has been a topic of continued media attention and sensational press coverage of research publications. For example, there is the highly flawed DNA barcoding study by Newmaster et al. published in BMC Medicine last October. The authors of the paper curiously concluded that close to 60% of the 44 tested North American herbal products contained materials from undeclared botanical sources. This study led to increased confusion by consumers and producers of herbal products, and to attacks in the mainstream media on the dietary supplement industry with calls for more stringent regulations. (See the ABC critique, here.)

Our goal for this newsletter is to provide newly available information on issues surrounding accidental and intentional adulteration — and, to a lesser extent, the equally important problems of contamination — as reported by regulatory agencies or in published studies. In general, the content of the “Botanical Adulterants Monitor” will focus on providing solutions to current problems related to adulteration and botanical ingredient authenticity ... MORE

  Stefan Gafner, PhD
Chief Science Officer, ABC
Technical Director, ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program

 

ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program

Recent News

Two Prestigious Professional Societies of Medicinal Plant Research Experts Endorse the Botanical Adulterants Program

The American Society of Pharmacognosy (ASP) and the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research (GA) have announced their endorsement of the ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program. MORE

Skullcap Laboratory Guidance Document to Be Published

The first Laboratory Guidance Document of the Botanical Adulterants Program is currently in the final stages of peer-review. MORE
Photo ©2014 Steven Foster

 

USFDA Alerts

The FDA issued nine warning letters between October and December 2013 regarding dietary supplements. In seven cases, the FDA alleged the products were adulterated within the meaning of section 402(g)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FFDCA) [21 U.S.C. § 342(g)(1)] in that the dietary supplements were prepared, packed, or held under conditions that did not meet current good manufacturing practice ... MORE

 

Science Update

An Overview on Adulteration and Contamination

Reference: Posadzki P, Watson L, Ernst E. Contamination and adulteration of herbal medicinal products (HMPs): an overview of systematic reviews. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2013;69(3):295-307. Abstract available here.

Researchers from the University of Exeter, UK, performed an extensive literature search on contamination and adulteration of herbal medicinal products (HMPs). MORE

Ginseng in the SpotlightPhoto ©2014 Steven Foster

Three notable studies on different analytical approaches were published in 2013 on the subject of ginseng authentication. MORE

Adulterated Herbal Supplement Shows Unexpected Efficacy

Reviewed: Karioti A, Giocaliere E, Guccione C, et al. Combined HPLC-DAD-MS, HPLC-MSn and NMR spectroscopy for quality control of plant extracts: The case of a commercial blend sold as dietary supplement. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2014;88:7-15. Abstract available here. During the last four years, the pharmacovigilance system at Florence University in Italy received several reports from patients referring to the unexpected ... MORE

Australian Researchers Publish Simple Method to Detect the Adulteration of Ginkgo Extracts

Reviewed: Wohlmuth H, Savage K, Dowell A, Mouatt P. Adulteration of Ginkgo biloba products and a simple method to improve its detection. Phytomedicine. 2014;21(6):912-918. Abstract available here. There is growing concern in the global botanical industry regarding the adulteration of ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba, Ginkgoaceae) leaf concentrated extracts ... MORE

 

Upcoming Events

Below are descriptions and links to some of the upcoming conferences, seminars, and workshops that may be of interest to learn more on adulteration.

Botany 2014 - July 26-30, 2014. Boise, Idaho.
55th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Pharmacognosy (ASP) - August 2-6, 2014. Oxford, Mississippi.

MORE
 

About the

The ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program is a consortium of independent nonprofit organizations whose mission relates to education, scientific research, and quality of botanical dietary ingredients and related plant-derived materials. The consortium is underwritten or endorsed by more than 100 natural product industry companies, independent analytical laboratories, contract research organizations, nonprofit and professional organizations, trade associations, accredited institutions of education in natural medicine, law firms, and media companies — which are involved in the production, supply, manufacture, distribution, marketing, analysis, research, and/or education of herbal dietary ingredients and supplements, in the United States and internationally. Companies, organizations, foundations, and/or individuals interested in supporting this program are invited to contact Ms. Denise Meikel, ABC Development Director, at (512) 926-4900, ext. 120, or by email.

 

Thank You to Our Supporters

Underwriters and Supporters of the ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program
(as of June 3, 2014)*

Financial Underwriters
21st Century Healthcare
AdvoCare International L.P.
Agilent Technologies, Inc.
Amen Clinics
Amway/Nutrilite Health Institute
Artemis International, Inc.
Aveda Corporation
BI Nutraceuticals
Bioceuticals
Bionorica AG
Blackmores
Cepham, Inc.
Chemi Nutra
CNCA Health
Crila Health
dicentra, Inc.
Doctor’s Best
Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps
Douglas Laboratories
DSM Nutritional Products, Inc.
Emerson Ecologics
Enzymatic Therapy, Inc.
Ethical Naturals, Inc.
Eu Yan Sang International
EuroMed
EuroMedica
EuroPharma
Flavex Naturextrakte GmbH
FoodState/MegaFood
Fruit d’Or
Gaia Herbs
Gencor Nutrients, Inc.
GNC, Inc.
Helios Corp.
Herb Pharm
Herbalife International, Inc.
Horphag Research
Indena USA, Inc.
Ingredient Identity
Integria Healthcare
Linnea
Markan Global Enterprises, Inc.
Martin Bauer, Inc.

Metagenics, Inc.
Natural Factors Nutritional
   Products, Inc./Bioclinic Naturals

Nature's Sunshine Products
Nature's Way
Naturex, Inc.
NBTY, Inc.
New Chapter, Inc.
The New Frontier Foundation Fund
   of the Greater Cedar Rapids
   Community Foundation
Ningbo Greenhealth Pharmaceutical
   Co., Ltd.
Novel Ingredients
NOW Foods
Nu Skin Enterprises/Pharmanex
Nutritional Laboratories International
Ortho Molecular Products
Pacific Nutritional Inc.
Paragon Laboratories
Pathway International Pty Limited
Perrigo Company
Pharmatoka SAS
Pharmavite, LLC
Pure Encapsulations
Rainbow Light Nutritional Systems
RFI Ingredients, LLC
Sabinsa Corporation
Schwabe North America
Seroyal
Shaklee Corp.
Standard Process, Inc.
Thorne Research, Inc.
Traditional Medicinals, Inc.
Triarco Industries, Inc.
Unigen
Valensa International
V.D.F. FutureCeuticals
Verdure Sciences
Vitamin Shoppe
Weil Lifestyle, LLC
ZMC-USA

Trade Associations
Australian Self Medication Industry
   (Australia)
Australian Tea Tree Industry
   Association (Australia)
Complementary Healthcare Council
   of Australia (Australia)
Consumer Healthcare Products
   Association (US)
Council for Responsible Nutrition
   (US)
Natural Products Association (US)
United Natural Products Alliance
   (US)

Nonprofit/Professional Associations
American Association of
   Naturopathic Physicians
American Society of
   Pharmacognosy
Council of Colleges of Acupuncture
   and Oriental Medicine
Personalized Lifestyle Medicine
    Institute
Society for Medicinal Plant and
   Natural Product Research (GA)

Colleges/Universities
Bastyr University
Boucher Institute for Naturopathic
   Medicine
National College of Natural Medicine
Southwest College of Naturopathic
   Medicine
University of Bridgeport College of
   Naturopathic Medicine

Third-Party Analytical Laboratories
Alkemist Labs
AuthenTechnologies LLC
Bent Creek Institute
British Columbia Institute of Technology
ChromaDex
Covance Laboratories
Eurofins Scientific Inc.
Flora Research Labs
NSF International
Spectrix Labs
Tampa Bay Analytical

Media
Delicious Living
Engredea
Functional Ingredients
Holistic Primary Care
Integrator Blog
Modern Healthcare Practitioner
Natural Foods Merchandiser
Natural Products INSIDER
NewHope360.com
Nutraceuticals World
NutraingredientsUSA.com
Nutrition Business Journal
Nutrition Industry Executive
Nutritional Outlook
Virgo Publishing
Vitamin Retailer
WholeFoods Magazine

Law Firms
Amin Talati, LLC
Greenberg Traurig, LLP (James
   Prochnow)
Law Office of Holly Bayne, P.C.
Robert Forbes & Associates

Contract Research Organizations
KGK Synergize
Medicus Research

Other
Korean Ginseng Research Institute
Shanghai Research Center for TCM
   Modernization/Shanghai Institute
   of Materia Medica of the Chinese
   Academy of Sciences
*By acknowledging the generous support of these companies and organizations, ABC, AHP, and NCNPR are not endorsing any ingredients or products that may be produced or marketed by them.
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