Herbalife announced that the Association of Official Analytical Collaboration (AOAC International), a global authority in analytical science, has recognized the company’s method for identifying and measuring anthraquinones, also known as aloins, in aloe vera. Aloe regulatory groups require producers of ingestible aloe products to monitor naturally-occurring compounds, like aloin A, aloin B, and aloe-emodin to meet safety guidelines.

The certification recognizes Herbalife’s longstanding method as the world’s first AOAC-approved approach for detecting aloins, which will help to reinforce safety and quality benchmarks in the botanical and dietary supplement industries.

The method was developed by Herbalife scientists and is validated by independent laboratories. It is used to test every batch of Herbalife’s Aloe-based products, which are sold in more than 90 markets.

“This AOAC validation is an important milestone for Herbalife and the industry as a whole,” said Gary Swanson, SVP of global quality at Herbalife and lead author of the study on the testing method. “We are proud to lead scientific innovation that enhances botanical ingredient safety, benefitting not only Herbalife products and our customers, but also advancing standards across the industry.”

The study on the method involved eight different independent laboratories, which all tested the same set of six aloe vera samples that were a variety of raw materials and finished products. The study ensured the accuracy of the High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method to measure aloin A, aloin B, and aloe-emodin.

“This multi-laboratory validation study supported approval of an analytical method developed by Herbalife scientists as the AOAC 2016.09 Official Final Action Method,” said Katerina Mastovska, PhD, deputy executive director and chief science officer, AOAC INTERNATIONAL. “AOAC official methods undergo rigorous scientific evaluation and are highly credible and globally accepted. As such, this method will help strengthen botanical quality and safety standards worldwide.”

Herbalife has achieved five patents and has published three studies focused on developing safe extraction methods for aloe vera, which preserve the plant’s beneficial compounds. The company is one of the few in the world to use advanced proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, an analytical technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves, to identify the molecular structure of its raw materials.

Herbalife’s Seed to Feed process ensures that every ingredient meets stringent standards for identity, purity, potency, and safety. Herbalife performs internal testing in ISO 17025-accredited laboratories, and adheres to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and NSF International Standards.