Botanical Adulterants Programs Releases First Lab Guidance Doc

The ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program released a laboratory guidance document on skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), which the consortium said would be the first in a series of peer-reviewed guides that offer identity and adulterant detection methods.

Sandy Almendarez, VP of Content

January 16, 2015

3 Min Read
Botanical Adulterants Programs Releases First Lab Guidance Doc

The American Botanical Council (ABC), American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP) and National Center for Natural Products Research (NCNPR)’s  Botanical Adulterants Program released a laboratory guidance document on skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), which the consortium said would be the first in a series of peer-reviewed guides that offer identity and adulterant detection methods.

Skullcap, an herb that has been used for centuries as a mild sedative, is often substituted or adulterated in dietary supplements, according to botanist Steven Foster in a 2012 article of HerbalGram, a publication from ABC. Foster called to a 2011 study where USDA researchers found of 13 skullcap-containing dietary supplements tested, all of which were purchased through the Internet, only 5 had a measurable amount of true skullcap. Four supplements contained potentially toxic American germander (Teucrium canadense)—also sometimes known as wild germander, wood sage and wild basil—which has been a known adulterant of skullcap products since the 1980s. Three supplements contained very low concentrations of skullcap, and one sample contained Chinese skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) rather than the American species (S. lateriflora).

The Botanical Adulteration Program’s lab guidances aim to give updated analytical methods for detection of adulterants and authentication of various forms of botanicals in. Recommendations in the guidance documents are based on a review of analytical methods and input from up to 20 peer reviewers from academia, government and industry in multiple countries, according to a press release from ABC.

ABC noted laboratory guidance documents will soon be available for bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) extract and black cohosh (Actaea racemosa) as well.

These free documents are intended for use by quality control personnel and lab technicians in the herbal medicine, botanical ingredient, and dietary supplement sectors to help them choose the most appropriate techniques and methods for their specific analytical needs.

There’s a significant amount of adulteration in the industry, said Mark Blumenthal, founder and executive director of ABC, in an interview with INSIDER’s Steve Myers. That concern led to the development of the Botanical Adulterants Program and the laboratory guidance documents. Blumenthal added the documents would be made freely available “so that quality control directors at various companies, such as in-house laboratories and/or commercial laboratories, etc., can see which methods are the most robust and the most appropriate, and which methods are weak and not be able to adequately authenticate the material or detect a known adulterant if it’s there."  

In a different INSIDER interview, Blumenthal noted identity testing is complex and should consist of several methods, such as a possible combination of DNA, microsopy and/or macrospy.  These new laboratory guidance documents will help botanical companies choose the best methods to identity herbs.

To date, the ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program has published five peer-reviewed articles on the history of adulteration, the adulteration of the herbs black cohosh and skullcap, adulteration of bilberry fruit extract and so-called “grapefruit seed extract." The Program also publishes a quarterly e-newsletter, the "Botanical Adulterants Monitor," that highlights new scientific publications related to botanical authenticity and analysis to detect possible adulteration, recent regulatory actions, and Program news.

While many botanical suppliers offer products of integrity, it behooves brands to review and use these new laboratory guidance documents. If even a brand is sure it’s products are properly identified and are free from adulterants, what’s the harm in double checking? Especially at the great price of free.

About the Author

Sandy Almendarez

VP of Content, Informa

Summary

• Well-known subject matter expert within the health & nutrition industry with more than 15 years’ experience reporting on natural products.

• She cares a lot about how healthy products are made, where their ingredients are sourced and how they affect human health.

• She knows that it’s the people behind the businesses — their motivations, feelings and emotions — drive industry growth, so that’s where she looks for content opportunities.

Sandy Almendarez is VP of Content for SupplySide and an award-winning journalist. She oversees the editorial and content marketing teams for the B2B media brands SupplySide Supplement Journal and SupplySide Food & Beverage Journal, the education programming for the health and nutrition trade shows SupplySide Connect New Jersey and SupplySide West, the education program SupplySide Fresh for industry newcomers and community engagement across the SupplySide portfolio. She is a seasoned content strategist with a passion for health, good nutrition, sustainability and inclusion. With over 15 years of experience in the health and nutrition industry, Sandy brings a wealth of knowledge to her role as a content-focused business leader. With specialization in topics ranging from product development to content engagement, creative marketing and c-suite decision making, her work is known for its engaging style and its relevance for business leaders in the health and nutrition industry.

In her free time, Sandy loves running, drinking hot tea and watching her two kids grow up. She brews her own “Sandbucha” homemade kombucha; she’s happy to share if you’re ever in Phoenix!

Awards:

Speaker credentials

Resides in

  • Phoenix, AZ

Education

  • Arizona State University

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