June 2005 Report

Priority Herbs for Methods Validation and Justification

For consideration at the May 1 meeting, the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia and the American Herbal Products Association have indicated that the following herbal ingredients should be given the highest priority for development and validation of analytical methods based on the indicated justification.

Such justifications should accompany any and all ingredient submitted for ranking to the AOAC Task Force on Dietary Supplements. Remember: Submit ingredients by April 14, 2006, to Bob Rathbone at AOAC at rrathbone@aoac.org

BOTANICAL	JUSTIFICATION
Eleuthero root (Eleutherococcus senticosus)	Prevent potentially toxic adulterations with Periploca sepium; relevant to AHPA trade recommendation and development of AHP monograph.
Hoodia gordonii aerial parts	Need for basic identity information.
Skullcap herb (Scutellaria lateriflora)	Prevent potentially toxic adulterations with Teucrium spp.; differentiate Scutellaria spp.; relevant to AHPA trade recommendation and development of AHP monograph.
English plantain leaf (Plantago lanceolata)	Prevent adulteration with Digitalis lanata; relevant to AHPA trade recommendation and development of AHP monograph.
Black cohosh root/rhizome (Actaea racemosa) and other Actaea species	Prevent economic and potentially toxic adulterations; relevant to AHPA trade recommendation and development of AHP revision.
Slippery elm bark (Ulmus rubra)	Prevent economic adulteration with grain (e.g., rice) flour; relevant to development of AHP monograph.