Dear Reader

In January 2018, the leadership at the American Botanical Council, American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, and the National Institute for Natural Products Research at the University of Mississippi decided to change the name of the Botanical Adulterants Program to include the word “Prevention”. The numerous positive comments from members of the dietary supplements industry indicate that name change was well received. The Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program (with the new acronym BAPP) will continue its effort to raise awareness of issues of adulteration in the herbal trade, confirm the extent of adulteration in the United States and global markets, and provide guidance on which official or unofficial analytical methods are currently available and fit for purpose to help detect the presence (or absence) of a suspected or known adulterant.

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

ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program

Recent News

Botanical Adulterants Program Becomes Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program

As announced in a press release on January 10, 2018, the program’s management at ABC and its partners at the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia and the National Center for Natural Product Research at the University of Mississippi decided to change the name by adding the word Prevention in order to further emphasize the purpose and intent of the program.

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Bulletins on Adulteration of Cranberry and Ginkgo Published by the Program

Dietary supplements made with extracts from cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon, Ericaceae) have seen consistent growth in sales over the past years and are among the most popular herbal supplements available. The beneficial effects of cranberry for the prevention of lower urinary tract infections are at least in part due to the presence of proanthocyanidins (PACs).

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Botanical Adulteration Prevention Program Takes Initiative to Develop Industry-Accepted SOP to Appropriately Dispose of or Destroy Irreparably Defective Botanical Ingredients

At the Rocky Mountain Dietary Supplement Forum in Boulder, Colorado, Mark Blumenthal revealed a new BAPP initiative that strives to get irreparably defective botanical ingredients out of the supply chain.

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ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program Welcomes New Supporters and Underwriters

The ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program is grateful to the following companies that have recently committed to financially underwriting the Program:

International Vitamin Corporation
Natural Partners, Inc.

Regulatory Alerts

Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority Finds Adulterated Chlorella

The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) published results from the analysis of 15 chlorella (Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorellaceae) powders sold in the Czech Republic.

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Industry Alerts

Evidence for Adulteration of Ginkgo Leaf Extracts from Europe

Sydney, Australia-based Network Nutrition-IMCD has forwarded the results from an evaluation of finished product market samples (capsules and tablets) of mono-herbal formulations containing Ginkgo biloba leaf extracts, sourced from stores in Europe.

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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.

58th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Pharmacognosy (ASP) MORE

Previous Issues of “Botanical Adulterants Monitor”

Available here.

Science Update

Genetic and Chemical Analysis of Commercial Herbal Teas and Extracts Shows Substitution of Speedwell (Veronica officinalis) with Germander Speedwell (V. chamaedrys)

Reviewed: Raclariu AC, Mocan A, Popa MO, Vlase L, Ichim MC, Crisan G, Brysting AK, de Boer H. Veronica officinalis product authentication using DNA metabarcoding and HPLC-MS reveals widespread adulteration with Veronica chamaedrys. Front Pharmacol. 2017;8:378. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00378.

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GC-MS Combined with Chemometric Analysis Allows to Assess Provenance and Quality of Lavender Essential Oils

Reviewed: Beale DJ, Morrison PD, Karpe AV, Dunn MS. Chemometric analysis of lavender essential oils using targeted and untargeted GC-MS acquired data for the rapid identification and characterization of oil quality. Molecules. 2017;22(8):E1339. doi: 10.3390/molecules22081339.

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Investigation into the Authenticity St. John’s wort Herbal Medicine and Dietary Supplement Products

Reviewed: Booker A, Agapouda A, Frommenwiler DA, Scotti F, Reich E, Heinrich M. St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) products – an assessment of their authenticity and quality. Phytomedicine. 2018;40:158-164.

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Admixture and Substitution of Eleutherococcus senticosus and Rhodiola rosea Dietary Supplements with Materials from the Genus Eleutherococcus and Rhodiola, Respectively

Reviewed: Ruhsam M, Hollingsworth PM. Authentication of Eleutherococcus and Rhodiola herbal supplement products in the United Kingdom. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2018;149:403-409.

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The Impact of Processing Steps on DNA Size and Quantity in Botanical Ingredients

Reviewed: Lu Z, Rubinsky M, Babajanian S, Zhang Y, Chang P, Swanson G. Visualization of DNA in highly processed botanical materials. Food Chem. 2018; 245:1042-1051.

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Useful Links and Resources

For more information and updates on the work of the three partner organizations of the ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program, please visit ABC at www.herbalgram.org, AHP at www.herbal-ahp.org, and NCNPR at www.pharmacy.olemiss.edu/ncnpr.

Other Helpful Resources and Links

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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 headed by three nonprofit groups dealing with education and research on medicinal herbs and other beneficial plants: the American Botanical Council, the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, and the National Center for Natural Products Research at the University of Mississippi. The program is underwritten or endorsed by more than 130 natural products 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 that 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. All publications of the Program are available free-access on its homepage including the “Botanical Adulterants Monitor,” an e-newsletter that conveys Program news, regulatory updates, and recent scientific publications related to adulteration, contamination, identity, and authenticity of botanical raw materials, extracts, and essential oils. 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 March 12, 2018)*

*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.

Financial Underwriters

21st Century Healthcare

AdvoCare International L.P.

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Aloecorp, Inc.

Amen Clinics

Amway/Nutrilite Health Institute

Arbonne International

Arizona Nutritional Supplements

Artemis International, Inc.

Atrium Innovations

Aveda Corporation

Beachbody, LLC

BI Nutraceuticals

Bioceuticals

Bionorica SE

Blackmores

Botanical Liaisons

Bruker BioSpin

Capsugel

Cepham, Inc.

Chemi Nutra

CNCA Health

Complete Phytochemical Solutions

Crila Health

dicentra, Inc.

Doctor’s Best

Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps

DolCas Biotech, LLC

Douglas Laboratories

Draco Natural Products

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

GE Nutrients, Inc.

Global Health Industries

GNC, Inc.

Healthy Lifestyle Brands, LLC

Helios Corp.

Herb Pharm

Herbalife International, Inc.

Horphag Research

iHerb

Indena USA, Inc.

Indfrag Limited

Ingredient Identity

International Vitamin Corporation

Ixoreal Biomed, Inc.

Jarrow Formulas

Layn USA, Inc.

Linnea

Markan Global Enterprises, Inc.

Martin Bauer, Inc.

MediHerb / Integria Healthcare

Metagenics, Inc.

Financial Underwriters
(cont'd)

Natreon, Inc.

Natrol

Natural Alternatives International, Inc.

Natural Factors Nutritional Products, Inc.
/Bioclinic Naturals

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage

Natural Partners, Inc.

Natural Remedies Pvt. Ltd.

Nature's Sunshine Products

Nature's Way

Naturetech

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

Nutraceuticals Corp.

Organic India

Ortho Molecular Products

Pacific Nutritional Inc.

Paragon Laboratories

Pathway International Pty Limited

Perrigo Company

Pharmatoka SAS

Pharmavite, LLC

Phoenix Formulations

PLT Health Solutions, Inc.

Polyphenolics, Division of Constellation Brands, Inc.

Pure Encapsulations

Rainbow Light Nutritional Systems

RFI Ingredients, LLC

Rosenbush and Zimmerman Family Fund

Sabinsa Corporation

Schwabe North America

Seroyal

SFI Flordis

Shaklee Corp.

Standard Process, Inc.

Strategic Sourcing, Inc.

Thorne Research, Inc.

Tishcon Corp.

Traditional Medicinals, Inc.

TSI Group

Unigen

Univera, Inc.

Valensa International

V.D.F. FutureCeuticals

Verdure Sciences

Vitamin Shoppe

VitaQuest International

Whole Foods Market

ZMC-USA

Trade Associations

American Herbal Products Association (US)

Australian Self Medication Industry (Australia)

Australian Tea Tree Industry Association (Australia)

British Herbal Medicine Association (UK)

Canadian Health Food Association (Canada)

Complementary Medicines Australia (Australia)

Consumer Healthcare Products Association (US)

Council for Responsible Nutrition (US)

International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplement Associations (IADSA)

National Animal Supplement Council (US)

Natural Products Association (US)

Natural Products New Zealand (NZ)

United Natural Products Alliance (US)

Nonprofit/Professional Associations

Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine

American Association of Naturopathic Physicians

American Herbalists Guild

American Society of Pharmacognosy

AOAC International

Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia Convention of the United States
Integrative Healthcare Policy Consortium

Irish Register of Herbalists (IRE)

National Institute of Medical Herbalists (UK)

Natural Health Products Research Society of Canada (NHPRS Canada)

Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute

Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research (GA)

Colleges/Universities

Bastyr University

Boucher Institute for Naturopathic Medicine

Center for Natural Products Technologies, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois-Chicago

Hong Kong Baptist University’s School of Chinese 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

BotaniCert (France)

British Columbia Institute of Technology

ChromaDex

Covance Laboratories

Creative Accord, LLC

Eurofins Scientific Inc.

Flora Research Labs

NSF International

PhytoLab (Germany)

Spectrix Labs

Tampa Bay Analytical

Media

Alive Publishing Group

Delicious Living

Engredea

Holistic Primary Care

Informa Exhibitions US

Integrator Blog

Media Relations, Inc.

Modern Healthcare Practitioner

Natural Foods Merchandiser

Natural Medicine Journal

Natural Products INSIDER

Newhope360.com

Nutraceuticals World

NutraingredientsUSA.com

Nutrition Business Journal

Nutrition Industry Executive

Nutritional Outlook

Vitamin Retailer

WholeFoods Magazine

Law Firms & Regulatory Consultants

Amin Talati & Upadhye, LLC

Greenberg Traurig, LLP (James Prochnow)

Law Office of Holly Bayne, P.C.

Robert Forbes & Associates

Susan Brienza, LLC

Ullman, Shapiro & Ullman, LLP

Contract Research Organizations

KGK Synergize

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