The American Herbal Products Association (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.

Curcumin Significantly Reduced Levels of a Biomarker for Muscle Damage in Placebo-Controlled Trial
This investigation examined the effects of curcumin supplementation on oxidative stress (OS), inflammation, muscle damage, and muscle soreness. Nineteen males participated in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial to examine the effects of curcumin supplementation (1.5 g/day) compared to a placebo following a muscle-damaging protocol. The authors concluded that curcumin may reduce muscle damage and perceived muscle soreness without negatively impacting a natural inflammatory response following exercise, and future research should investigate chronic curcumin supplementation and its mechanistic effects on muscle recovery from exercise.

Journal of Dietary Supplements, April 2019
https://doi.org/10.1080/19390211.2019.1604604

Maritime Pine Bark Extract—Protective Effects from Post Exercise Oxidative Stress
This study examined if 14 days of supplementation with maritime pine bark extract leading up to and following an exercise test would increase performance and reduce biomarkers associated with muscle damage, inflammation, and oxidative stress. The study used a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design. Twenty apparently healthy young male participants ingested either 800 mg pine bark extract or placebo for 14 days prior to the first exercise trial and for 2 days post-exercise. The authors found that maritime pine bark extract was effective at affording protection from oxidative stress post-exercise and noted that further work should be undertaken to evaluate the findings with other exercise modes or in participants with known metabolic syndrome.

Journal of Dietary Supplements, March 2019
https://doi.org/10.1080/19390211.2019.1578847

A Review of the Neuroprotective Potential of Ginkgo Biloba
This review described the current literature on the role of Ginkgo biloba in retinal diseases associated with neurodegeneration. The authors concluded that G. biloba extracts might be a good option to improve certain neurodegenerative retinal diseases, but more research is needed to determine the safety and efficacy of G. biloba in these retinal degenerative processes.

Planta Medica, July 2019
https://doi.org/10.1055/a-0947-5712

Chemical Composition of Wild Harvested & Cultivated Black Cohosh
This study compared contents and chromatographic fingerprints of phenolic acids and triterpene in black cohosh rhizomes from commercial batches from wild harvests and individual plants from the wild and from cultivation. Phenolic acids’ contents and profiles were generally comparable between wild harvesting and cultivation, but the total triterpene glycoside content was significantly lower in cultivation. In individual plants, different profiles of triterpene glycosides occurred. Potentially, such differences have an impact on the efficacy of black cohosh herbal products, if cultivated plant material is used for manufacturing.

Planta Medica, August 2019
https://doi.org/10.1055/a-0981-4287

Elderberry Constituents— Effects of Cultivar & Harvest Year on Composition
This study examined the effect of harvesting year on elderberries composition and bioactivity. The composition of the main Portuguese cultivars, “Sabugueiro,” “Sabugueira,” and “Bastardeira,” were evaluated during three consecutive years. Harvesting year had a stronger influence on the chemical composition than cultivars, including total sugars, anthocyanins, and phenolic compounds, being related to the different climatic conditions, especially water status. The results of this study provided novel information from a nutritional perspective and for breeding programs aiming to select cultivars with enhanced levels of health-promoting compounds or for other industrial applications of elderberries.

Food Chemistry, August 2019
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.125366

Analysis of Impurities in Commercial Samples of CBD Derived from Hemp
The authors of this study reported the isolation by semi-preparative liquid chromatography and the unambiguous identification of a second impurity present in CBD produced by hemp extraction. The authors suggested the name of cannabidibutol (CBDB) for this cannabinoid and carried out comprehensive spectroscopic characterization, including NMR, UV, IR, circular dichroism, and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). An HPLC-UV method was also developed and validated for the qualitative and quantitative determination of cannabidivarin (CBDV) and CBDB in samples of hemp CBD produced according to Good Manufacturing Practices regulations for pharmaceutical and cosmetic use.

Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, October 2019
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpba.2019.06.049

Effects of Site & Harvest Time on Terpene & Cannabinoid Composition in Hemp Cultivated in Italy
This study explored the possibility of recovering the essential oil (EO) from the inflorescence after seed harvest. Crops harvested in September exhibited higher total dry yield as well as higher inflorescence and stem yields, while neither the site nor the harvesting period influenced the seed production, which was significantly influenced by harvest time and cultivation site interaction. Both seed fixed oil and crude protein content were affected by the cultivation site only. The highest seed oil content was reached in the upland area, while the plants grown in the plain area exhibited the largest seed protein content. The EOs extraction yields were slightly higher in the earlier harvest for both sites.

Industrial Crops and Products, November 2019
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2019.111541

A Method for Authentication of Origin of Cacao Beans
To investigate possibilities of tracing by analytical methods, 48 carefully selected cocoa samples from 20 countries have been profiled using a combination of stable isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR). IRMS contributed primarily to discrimination between countries, while 1H NMR significantly contributed to separation of varieties, but also the regions within individual countries. This study demonstrated that the combination of these two analytical methods is an effective tool to enhance accuracy and precision in cocoa authenticity testing.

Food Chemistry, November 2019
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.125105

Two New Alkaloids Isolated from Traditional Chinese Medicine Binglang the Fruit of Areca Catechu
Two new alkaloids (1 and 2), along with 41 known compounds (3-43) were isolated from the dried fruit of Areca catechu L. The structures were elucidated on the basis of the IR, UV, MS and 1D, 2D NMR spectroscopic data. Compounds 26 and 33 showed weak cytotoxicity against human gastric cancer cell line.

Fitoterapia, October 2019
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2019.104276

Red Clover—Chemical Profiles & Variability Over Time in Traditional Preparations
The authors of this study compared the chemical dynamics between red clover traditional preparations of infusions, decoctions, and tinctures, while also identifying the chemical variability over time in a traditional tincture. For this purpose, eight isoflavone aglycones as well as two glucosides, ononin and sissotrin, were used as marker compounds. Infusions, decoctions, and tinctures were shown to produce different chemical profiles and dynamic chemical variability of the red clover tincture was observed over time (one-month). The outcomes showed that tinctures, taken over a period of time, are dynamic medicinal formulations that allow for time-controlled release of bioactive compounds.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology, June 2019
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2019.111865

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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.