Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program

At the end of December, Alkemist Labs released a list of the herbs and fungi that most frequently failed identity tests during the second half of 2024. Notably, seven of these ingredients, indicated with an asterisk (*) below, were also on Alkemist's list for the first half of 2024. According to Nutritional Outlook Petra Erlandson of Alkemist Labs mentioned that all the ingredients were tested using High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC). Erlandson said: “We share this information with the industry so companies can be more vigilant. Additionally, we think it’s important that those sourcing raw material familiarize themselves with American Botanical Council’s Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program (BAPP) and its tools, and develop a policy for handling serious quality issues in advance.” Click the link to get more details: https://lnkd.in/eQqVhx6b

𝐀𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬: 𝐄𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐇𝐏𝐓𝐋𝐂 The functional mushroom extract market is experiencing rapid growth, yet the quality and authenticity of many products remain questionable due to a lack of validated identification methods. Today, we recommend a recent webinar organized by CAMAG and Nammex: Organic Mushroom Extracts. Prof. Dr. Melanie Broszat and Coleton Windsor introduced a fit-for-purpose, validated HPTLC method that helps to authenticate several fungal species and thus address industry concerns over mislabeling and product efficacy. The webinar lets you find out how this new technique was specifically designed for the identification of multiple fungal species and gain insights into composition and quality differences between commercially available fungal products: https://lnkd.in/gahd9Mri

Happy Holidays from the Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program! As the year comes to a close, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to our followers, underwriters, and supporters. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a healthy 2025!

𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐏𝐂𝐑 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐍𝐀 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐬 A recent study aimed to investigate the authenticity of 50 commercial ginseng supplements containing Asian ginseng (𝘗𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘹 𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘨, Araliaceae), American ginseng (𝘗. 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘶𝘴), or Chinese ginseng (𝘗. 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘨) roots. Supplements were tested by using multiplex PCR and DNA barcoding with three genetic markers (𝘳𝘣𝘤𝘓, 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘒, and ITS2). ITS2 had the highest amplification success (74%), while 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘒 had the highest sequencing success (60%). DNA barcoding alone identified species in 68% of products, and multiplex PCR identified species in 60%. The combination of both methods resulted in a 72% identification rate. Based on the combined results, 24% of products (n = 12) were found to contain only the expected species, 16% (n = 8) contained both the expected species and an undeclared species, 32% (n = 16) contained only an undeclared species, and 28% (n =14) could not be identified. Combining DNA barcoding and multiplex PCR improved species identification. The article also discusses the challenges of authenticating the plant species in the supplements due to DNA degradation and cross-contamination and highlights the need for orthogonal approaches such as HPLC or HPTLC. Click to read the article: https://lnkd.in/dG2hmiHP

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐚 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐧! Bacopa [𝘉𝘢𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘪 (L.) Wettst.] shares the common Sanskrit name brahmi with another well-known medicinal plant, gotu kola (𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢 [L.] Urban, Apiaceae), and similar therapeutic properties are attributed to both of them in Ayurvedic medicine. These two herbs are traded interchangeably, especially in regions where traditional Ayurvedic medicine is practiced. This bulletin aims to give a summary of general information on the aerial parts and extracts of bacopa, including an overview of adulteration and mislabeling of bacopa raw materials and products. Stay tuned for more information on this topic!

Today, we’re excited to share the LinkedIn highlights of 2024! Among the 95 posts we shared so far this year, the following three have garnered the highest impression scores, according to LinkedIn statistics: 1.      Celebration of the thirteenth anniversary of NCNPR: 7,702 impressions https://lnkd.in/enWCZCt6 2.      Upcoming  BAPP article in Natural Products Reports on the estimated extent of adulteration: 7,438 impressions https://lnkd.in/eH5GZaNg 3.      Introduction of Lal Hingorani, author of the BAPP saffron bulletin: 6,777 impressions https://lnkd.in/e8x5YqmU Thank you for your continued interest in reading about our work, and promoting the quality and authenticity of botanical ingredients. Your engagement and support make this work more meaningful and impactful!

The InovafitoBrasil Summit 2024 was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 21-22 November 2024. This event brought together industry members, government representatives, entrepreneurs, and scientists from various countries. The event was organized by The Brazilian Society of Pharmacognosy and Biominas Brazil. On the first day of the event, Stefan Gafner was one of the panelists in the “Global innovations: successful case in Europe, United States, and India” session along with UMESH PATIL (Moderator, India), Patricia Rijo (Portugal), and Fabio Boylan (Ireland). We thank Douglas chaves for the invitation and his kind hospitality.

𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐔𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐬𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐡𝐚 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: 𝐀𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐏𝐋𝐂 Ashwagandha (𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘢, Solanaceae) is a widely popular medicinal plant originally used in traditional Indian systems of medicine. A recent study published in 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘴 investigated the authenticity and composition of ashwagandha root extracts in food supplements labeled as containing 5% withanolides (WLs) sold on Austrian markets. Using microscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV), the researchers found that none of the 10 tested supplements met the manufacturers' claims. Microscopic analysis revealed the presence of plant fragments and starch granules in the supplements, which should be absent in properly prepared extracts. The WL content was around 0.15%, similar to that of the raw root, indicating that the supplements might be mislabeled and contained powdered root rather than concentrated extracts. The study highlights the need for simple, cost-effective evaluation methods to ensure the quality and authenticity of dietary supplements. Click to read the article: https://lnkd.in/gmcz4GDJ

Considering supporting ABC this Giving Tuesday? Your contribution helps provide the vital resources to operate ABC’s unique and essential 501(c)(3) nonprofit research programs, including the award-winning Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program. You make it possible for ABC to continue delivering on its educational mission to promote the responsible use of herbal medicine around the world. Together, we can help bring the knowledge of herbal medicine closer to communities everywhere. Support ABC here: https://bit.ly/49BCfa9

𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐫𝐚: 𝐌𝐙𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 The Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research (GA) is organizing an online workshop exploring advancements in mass spectrometry-based metabolomics using MZmine, an open-source tool for mass spectrometry data processing. The event will be on December, 6, 2024, 3:00–5:00 PM (CET) and it will cover workflows for compound annotation, molecular networking, and spectral library generation, with applications in LC-MS, ion mobility spectrometry, and mass spectrometry imaging. Experts will discuss metabolomic strategies for streamlining natural products research, from data mining to targeting the isolation of valuable bioactive compounds. Featuring speakers Prof. Jean-Luc Wolfender (University of Geneva), Dr. Robin Schmid (MZIO GmbH), and Dr. Corinna Brungs (University of Vienna), the workshop will combine interactive demonstrations and insights into current opportunities, challenges, and innovations. Register now to stay at the forefront of research innovation: https://lnkd.in/dmFAssi7