White Paper Reviewing Analytical Methods for the Evaluation of the Identity, Purity, Strength, and Composition of Botanical Dietary Supplements to be Released

This extensive document, written by James Neal-Kababick (Director, Flora Research Laboratories, LLC; Grants Pass, OR) and Roy Upton (Executive Director, American Herbal Pharmacopoeia; Scotts Valley, CA), and reviewed by a number of experts in the field of dietary supplement analysis, is intended as an easy-to-understand introduction to the methods for analysis of dietary ingredients and supplements for people with a limited understanding of analytical chemistry. It is designed to help understand the strengths, limitations, and applicability of the various approaches to botanical analysis. It is also meant to provide some fundamental understanding of methodology to laboratory personnel who must learn a new analytical technique or to laboratory managers who consider investing in new technologies. The document covers botanical, organoleptic, microscopic, genetic, and chemical methods, including a number of techniques for the determination of inorganic compounds that are rarely discussed in connection with dietary supplements. For a quick overview, the white paper also includes a short table comparing the most widely used methods for botanical dietary supplements and their strengths and limitations.