Skullcap Laboratory Guidance Document to be published

The first Laboratory Guidance Document of the Botanical Adulterants Program is currently under the final stages of peer-review. The document contains an extensive evaluation of published macroscopic, microscopic, chemical, and genetic methods to authenticate Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora, Lamiaceae) aerial parts and to detect the presence of known adulterants. Presented are a comparison of the various published analytical approaches (official and unofficial), strengths and limitations of each method, and recommendations on the optimal and preferred methods to be used in industry and independent third-party labs. In addition to experts from ABC, AHP, and NCNPR, the document has been peer reviewed by numerous specialists on analytical methods from independent analytical laboratories and by directors of quality control analytical labs at various companies in the herbal products industry that are involved in the Botanical Adulterants Program. The final version is slated for publication in the first half of 2014. The skullcap Laboratory Guidance Document provides practical solutions to potential problems raised in Steven Foster’s extensive article on skullcap adulteration published by the Program in HerbalGram #93 in 2012 (http://cms.herbalgram.org/herbalgram/issue93/FEAT_skullgerm.html). Other Laboratory Guidance Documents in progress include bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus, Ericaceae), black cohosh (Actaea racemosa, Ranunculaceae; syn. Cimicifuga racemosa), and so-called “grapefruit seed extract,” i.e., herbs and extracts that are confirmed to be adulterated as documented in articles published by the Program and elsewhere. (These HerbalGram articles are available on the Program homepage at http://abc.herbalgram.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Adulterants).