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New Dietary Supplement Method for Aconite Granted First Action Status; Determines Potentially Toxic Compounds in Consumer Products and Raw Materials AOAC on November 14, 2008, adopted as Official First Action 2008.11 a method for determining aconite in dietary supplements and raw botanical materials. The method, developed by Siu-kay Wong of the Hong Kong Government Laboratory under AOAC’s recently completed contract with the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements, is the first method approved for determining aconitum alkaloids, derived from aconite root, used in many dietary supplements for enhancing sexual ability and circulation, restoring health, and relieving pain. The absence previously of a standardized method for processing aconite roots has resulted in drastic variation in the alkaloids contents, and, hence, the safety of supplement products containing aconite roots. The new method, “Determination of Aconitum Alkaloids in Dietary Supplements and Raw Botanical Materials Using LC-UV with Confirmation by LC/MS,” allows dietary supplement manufacturers to set quality standards and regulatory agencies to monitor the safe use of dietary supplements containing aconite roots. The diester-diterpene Aconitum alkaloids are highly toxic compounds and commonly present in the aconite roots. Cases of intoxication arising from consumption of improperly processed aconite roots have been reported in many countries. Proper processing by heating, steaming, and soaking of the aconite roots is critical in hydrolyzing the highly toxic diester-diterpene Aconitum alkaloids to compounds of much lower toxicity. For the full collaborative study, see the January/February issue of the Journal of AOAC INTERNATIONAL. Full coverage of this method and other initiatives being developed under the newest NIH/AOAC will be included in the January/February issue of Inside Laboratory Management.
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