AHPA regularly reviews scientific literature for new research that may be useful to the herbal products and supplement industries. The following are some recent articles published in peer-reviewed journals.

Turmeric, Boswellia Formula Eases Osteoarthritis Pain
This study found that a novel composition prepared from extracts of Terminalia chebula fruit, Curcuma longa rhizome, and Boswellia serrata gum resin is a safe and effective intervention for managing joint discomfort, demonstrating efficacy as early as 14 days. The herbal formulation conferred significant pain relief, improved physical function, and improved quality of life among osteoarthritis patients.

Journal of Medicinal Food, May 2018
DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2017.0065.

Quality Testing of 87 Turmeric Supplements from Retail
Eighty-seven unique turmeric dietary supplements were sampled from the retail market; a majority (94%) contained turmeric-derived curcuminoid extracts (TD-CE), which were combined with other bioactives such as piperine in some products. Curcuminoid content was within 80% of the anticipated level for the majority of products analyzed, but curcuminoid composition (percentage curcumin) did not meet USP criteria for TD-CE in 59% of products, which may suggest possible unlabeled use of synthetic curcumin in some products. Lead content exceeded USP limits in only one product, and residual solvent levels were quantified within USP-specified limits in all samples tested.

Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, May 2018
DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201800143.

Safety of Green Tea Extract Consumption in Adults
A review of adverse event (AE) data from 159 human intervention studies yielded findings consistent with toxicological evidence that a limited range of concentrated, catechin-rich green tea preparations resulted in hepatic AEs in a dose-dependent manner when ingested in large bolus doses, but not when consumed as brewed tea or extracts in beverages or as part of food.

Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, June 2018
DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2018.03.019.

Grape Seed Extract Benefits Prehypertensive Men During Exercise
The findings of this study indicate that a single dose of grape seed extract (GSE) reduced blood pressure, peripheral vasoconstriction, and the work of the heart while enhancing oxygen delivery in prehypertensive males during exercise. These effects may be due, in part, to endothelium-dependent vasodilation. The authors proposed that an acute GSE treatment intervention may minimize potential increases in the risk of cardiovascular events during dynamic exercise in people with prehypertension.

Journal of Medicinal Food, May 2018
DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2017.0133.

Pharmacological Foundations of Cannabis Chemovars
The authors of this study developed an advanced Mendelian Cannabis breeding program utilizing chemical markers to maximize the yield of phytocannabinoids and terpenoids to improve therapeutic efficacy and safety. Specific chemovars may produce enhanced analgesia, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, antidepressant, and anti-anxiety effects while simultaneously reducing adverse effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, such as panic, toxic psychosis, and short-term memory impairment.

Planta Medica, January 2018
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-122240.

Chlorogenic Acid Promotes Glucose Homeostasis
This study evaluated the effect of chlorogenic acid administration on glycemic control, insulin secretion, and insulin sensitivity in patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The authors concluded that chlorogenic acid administration in patients with IGT decreased fasting plasma glucose and insulin secretion while increasing insulin sensitivity and improving both anthropometric evaluations and the lipid profile.

Journal of Medicinal Food, May 2018
DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2017.0110.

Review of Genus Lycium as Food, Medicine
This paper presented a botanical, ethnobotanical, and historical review of gogi, wolfberry, and other species of Lycium that have been used traditionally. The authors investigated how uses differ between regions with different cultural backgrounds and how traditional and current therapeutic and preventive health claims correlate with pharmacological findings. The study concluded that the focus so far has been on only two species and that the genus can potentially yield a wide range of other products with different properties.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology, February 2018
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2017.10.010.

Acute Hematological, Mood Effects of Bitter Orange Extract
This study examined acute hematological and mood perception responses to supplementation with p-synephrine alone and in combination with caffeine during quiet sitting. Data from the study indicated that consumption of 103-milligram p-synephrine does not negatively impact acute blood parameters, does not augment the effects of caffeine, and does not produce stimulant-like perceptual mood effects.

Phytotherapy Research, April 2018
DOI: 10.1002/ptr.6090.

Efficacy of Artichoke Leaf Extract in NAFLD
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel-group trial sought to determine if artichoke leaf extract (ALE) has therapeutic utility in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The results showed beneficial effects of ALE supplementation on both ultrasound liver parameters and liver serum parameters with no side effects reported.

Phytotherapy Research, March 2018
DOI: 10.1002/ptr.6073.

Geodiversity in Gymnema Sylvestre Varieties
An LC-MS-guided strategy targeting 3 beta-glucuronide oleane-triterpenes in Vietnamese Gymnema sylvestre isolated four known compounds and nine previously undescribed compounds named gymnemosides ND1–ND9. None of the isolated compounds were reported in the Indian G. sylvestre sample, further supporting the geodiversity of this botanical. Three compounds, gymnemosides ND7–9, exerted significant stimulatory effects on the uptake of 2-NBDG in 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells and thus have potential as lead molecules for anti-diabetes agents.

Phytochemistry, June 2018
DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2018.02.013.

St. John’s Wort Chemotypes: Metabolomic-Assisted Fingerprinting
This article reported on a detailed phytochemical investigation of different parts (herba, leaf, flowers) of wild-collected and cultivated Hypericum perforatum populations. The advanced chromatographic tools revealed significant variability in the secondary metabolites content of the examined methanolic extracts. The cytotoxic activity of the crude extracts was assessed at concentrations ranging between 0.01 and 100 μg/mL, on Caco-2 intestinal cancer cell cultures, and a cytotoxic behavior was shown only at the highest concentration of 100 μg/mL.

Food and Chemical Toxicology, April 2018
DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2018.02.057.

Single-Lab Validation for Determining Kavalactones, Flavokavans in Kava
A high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV) method was developed, optimized, and validated for determining six major kavalactones and three flavokavains in kava raw materials and finished products based on AOAC single-laboratory validation guidelines.

The results of the study demonstrated that the method is fit for the purpose of determining methysticin, dihydromethysticin, kavain, dihydrokavain, yangonin, desmethoxyyangonin, flavokavain A, flavokavain B, and flavokavain C in kava raw material and finished products (dry-filled capsule, liquid phytocaps, and tincture).

Planta Medica, June 2018
DOI: 10.1055/a-0637-2400.

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Holly Johnson, PhD
American Herbal Products Association (AHPA)

Holly E. Johnson PhD, is the chief science officer at the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) where she is the primary scientific resource for the organization, providing individualized technical guidance to member organizations and helping the herbal industry use the latest science, technology and research to ensure consumers continue to have informed access to innovative, safe and effective herbal products. Dr. Johnson took her PhD in Pharmacognosy at the College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois – Chicago (UIC), under renowned Pharmacognosist and researcher Dr. Norman Farnsworth. She is currently a Research Associate with the National Tropical Botanical Garden and serves on AOAC Stakeholders Panels and Expert Review Panels for Foods and Dietary Supplements. She is a member of the USP Medical Cannabis Expert Panel, the Editorial Board of the AOAC International Journal, and also serves on the Advisory Boards of the American Botanical Council and the American Herbal Pharmacoepia. She can be reached at hjohnson@ahpa.org; 301-588-1171, ext. 103.