Curcuma longa (turmeric) has a long ethnomedical background for common ailments, and Dietary Supplements (DS) labelled as “Curcumin” (CDS) are a highly visible portion of today’s selfmedication market. Due to cost pressure, these CDS products are affected by economically motivated adulteration with synthetic curcumin and are associated with unexpected toxicological issues due to “residual” impurities. Using a combination of targeted and untargeted (phyto)chemical analysis, this study investigated the botanical integrity of two commercial “turmeric” CDS with vitamin and other additives that were associated with reported clinical cases of hepatotoxicity. Analyzing multi-solvent extracts of the CDS by 100% quantitative 1H NMR (qHNMR), alone and in combination with countercurrent separation (CCS), provided chemical fingerprints that allowed both the targeted identification and quantification of declared components and the untargeted recognition of adulteration. While confirming the presence of curcumin as a major constituent, the universal detection capability of NMR identified significant residual impurities. While the loss free nature of CCS captured a wide polarity range of declared and unwanted chemical components and increased dynamic range, (q)HNMR determined their mass proportions and chemical constitutions. The results demonstrate that NMR can recognize undeclared constituents even if they represent a relatively minor gap in the mass balance of a DS product. The chemical information associated with the missing 4.8% and 7.4% (m/m) in the two commercial samples, exhibiting an otherwise adequate curcumin content of 95.2% and 92.6%, pointed to a product integrity issue and adulteration with undeclared synthetic curcumin. Impurities from synthesis are most plausibly the cause of the observed adverse clinical effects. The study exemplifies how the simultaneously targeted and untargeted analytical principle of 100% qHNMR method, performed with entry-level instrumentation (400 MHz), can enhance the safety of DS by identifying adulterated, non-natural “natural” products
The goal of this bulletin is to provide timely information and/or updates on issues of adulteration of black cohosh (Actaea racemosa, Ranunculaceae) to the international herbal industry and extended natural products community in general. It is intended to complement the previously published works with information on black cohosh adulteration, e.g., the American Herbal Pharmacopeia monograph published by Upton et al.,1 and the review paper by Foster,2 by presenting new data on the occurrence of adulteration, the market situation, and consequences for the consumer and the industry.
The goal of this bulletin is to provide timely information and/or updates on issues of adulteration of bilberry extract to the international herbal industry and extended natural products community in general. It is intended to complement the previously published works with information on bilberry extract adulteration, e.g., the American Herbal Pharmacopeia monograph published by Upton et al,1 and the article by Foster and Blumenthal in HerbalGram2 by presenting new data on the occurrence of adulteration, the market situation, and consequences for the consumer and the industry.
Halitosis affects a large proportion of the population and is, in most cases, caused by the production of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), particularly methyl mercaptan and hydrogen sulfide, by specific bacterial species colonizing the oral cavity. In this study, a supercritical extract of Chinese licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis), and its major isoflavans, licoricidin and licorisoflavan A, were investigated for their effect on growth, VSC production and protease activity of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and Solobacterium moorei, which have been associated with halitosis. The effects of licorice extract, licoricidin, and licorisoflavan A on VSC production in a saliva model were also tested. We first showed that licoricidin and licorisoflavan A, and to a lesser extent the licorice extract, were effective in inhibiting the growth of all three bacterial species, with minimal inhibitory concentrations in the range of 2-80 µg ml(-1). The licorice extract and the two isolates licoricidin and licorisoflavan A, were able to dose-dependently reduce VSC production by P. gingivalis, Prev. intermedia, and S. moorei as well as by a human saliva model. Although the extract and isolates did not inhibit the proteolytic activity of bacteria, they blocked the conversion of cysteine into hydrogen sulfide by Prev. intermedia. Lastly, the deodorizing effects of the licorice extract, licoricidin, and licorisoflavan A were demonstrated, as they can neutralize P. gingivalis-derived VSCs. Licorisoflavan A (10 µg ml(-1)) was found to be the most effective by reducing VSC levels by 50%. Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that a licorice supercritical extract and its major isoflavans (licoricidin and licorisoflavan A) represent natural ingredients with a potential for reducing bacterial VSC production and therefore for controlling halitosis.
As the market for herbal medicines and dietary supplements increases, so do confirmed reports of undisclosed ingredients being added to botanical raw materials, extracts, essential oils, and finished botanical-based consumer products. These problems present a significant challenge to the global botanical medicine and herbal supplement industries and, more importantly, may put the health and safety of the consumer at risk. The ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program (BAP) provides reviews on specific topics of adulteration, and a quarterly newsletter with program news, regulatory action with regard to adulteration, case reports of adulteration detailed by industry members, reports of adulteration and analytical technologies to detect adulteration published in the scientific literature, and upcoming educational events that touch upon the subject. The BAP has also published a number of Laboratory Guidance Documents (LGDs) in which analytical methods on botanicals and extracts in categories that are known to be adulterated are reviewed and evaluated for their ability to detect the suspected adulteration. As part of the series, LGDs on skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) extract, and black cohosh (Actaea racemosa) have been published in 2015. The presentation will give an overview of the Program.
Assessment of quality of botanical dietary supplements is challenging due to the complex nature of the molecular components that vary with growing location, seasonal conditions, harvesting conditions and processing conditions. The ability of NMR to analyze complex mixtures as a non-targeted fingerprinting method combined with rapid sample preparation makes it an attractive analytical tool for the routine analysis of botanical extracts. In this presentation we will show our work towards developing an NMR based quality control tool for crude botanical extracts including grape seed, pine bark, skullcap, ginseng, cranberry and blueberry. This presentation includes (1) evaluation of NMR reproducibility between different instruments and different operators to establish robust screening methods, (2) statistical methods used to characterize the botanical extracts, (3) sample characterization to provide information such as the varietal, sample purity, and natural variation in samples, and (4) identification of the presence of single components within a crude extract and quantification of these components.
The goal of this bulletin is to provide general information about olive oil and possible causes of adulteration, mislabeling, counterfeiting, and fraud of the product. The guidelines for genuine olive oil are adapted from the International Olive Council (IOC; Spanish – Consejo Oleicola International [COI]) and other legitimate, appropriate sources. The contents provide information on possible adulterants in olive oil, the underlying causes of adulteration, and how to test for the presence of these adulterants. The bulletin also serves as a summary of the relevant scientific information available, bearing in mind that the amount of published literature on olive oil is extensive. Data on trade and market dynamics are included. Extracts made from olive leaves, which are popular ingredients in dietary supplements, are not covered in this bulletin. Similarly, this bulletin will focus primarily on the current deceptive practices in the global olive oil trade rather than historical adulterations.
Abstract The origin of the natural/organic products industry, with its roots in healthy foods and beverages, can be traced back to the beginning of the last century. The difference between natural and organic is that there are no definitions or regulations of natural products; organic products are largely defined and regulated within the United States. There are nongovernmental agencies working on standards and are able to supply eco‐seals to products (ECOCERT and BDIH, for example). Advertising self‐regulation has grown due to the public distrust of advertising claims in general. This article contains information on natural cosmetic formulations using natural fragrances, natural lipids, quercetin, curcumin, ayurvedic ingredients, and traditional Chinese herbs. Natural and organic cosmetic sales are part of the fastest growing sector in the cosmetic industry. Safety of the use of natural products is discussed. Natural does not always mean safe so extensive research is being performed in re toxicology, allergy problems, and whether the use of natural preservatives or preservative free can be considered safe. Biodegradability is a central aspect of the sustainability profile and environmental preferability of formulated products.
Botanical dietary supplement use is widespread and growing, therefore, ensuring the safety of botanical products is a public health priority. This commentary describes the mission and objectives of the Botanical Safety Consortium (BSC) - a public-private partnership aimed at enhancing the toolkit for conducting the safety evaluation of botanicals. This partnership is the result of a Memorandum of Understanding between the US FDA, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute. The BSC serves as a global forum for scientists from government, academia, consumer health groups, industry, and non-profit organizations to work collaboratively on adapting and integrating new approach methodologies (NAMs) into routine botanical safety assessments. The objectives of the BSC are to: 1) engage with a group of global stakeholders to leverage scientific safety approaches; 2) establish appropriate levels of chemical characterization for botanicals as complex mixtures; 3) identify pragmatic, fit-for-purpose NAMs to evaluate botanical safety; 4) evaluate the application of these tools via comparison to the currently available safety information on selected botanicals; 5) and integrate these tools into a framework that can facilitate the evaluation of botanicals. Initially, the BSC is focused on oral exposure from dietary supplements, but this scope could be expanded in future phases of work. This commentary provides an overview of the structure, goals, and strategies of this initiative and insights regarding our first objectives, namely the selection and prioritization of botanicals based on putative toxicological properties.
