Herbs for Lower Back Pain • Sage for Anxiety • Horse Chestnut for Venous Insufficiency

HERB PROFILE Peppermint Mentha x piperita Family: Lamiaceae (Labiatae)

INTRODUCTION In traditional herbal medicine peppermint has reportedly been used as a tonic for preventing gas, relievi ng spasms, and other ep~ermint is one of the most popular herbs used in today's soctety.1 A summer-growing, perennial aromatic herb, stomach ailments.3·6 Its traditional use also includes treatment of P peppermint is a hybrid of Mentha spicata (spearmint) cholera and diarrhea, to raise body heat and induce perspiration, and M. aquatica (watermint). The plant grows wild throughout to treat colds, flu, hys teria and nervous disorders,3 as well as to Europe and North America in moist areas and is thought to be assist in alleviating tension headaches.4 Today, the peppermint of Mediterranean origin. The leaves and stems of peppermint plant is commonly added to cough and cold remedies because of contain volatile oils that give the plant its pungent fragrance and its high menthol content, which provides a sensation of coolness taste. The oil contains menthol, which is responsible for the sensa­ and easier breathing.? tion of coolness that is characteristic of peppermint. I The tobacco industry uses peppermint oil largely as a flavoring and for its high concentration of menthol and cooling sensation HISTORY AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE in filtered cigarettes, cigars, and both chewing and pipe tobacco.6 The genus Mentha was named after the Greek nymph Minthe. 2 Due to its unique fragrance, peppermint is often found in soaps, Legend has it that Minthe was the lover of Pluto, the God of the detergents, creams, lotions, and perfumes.6 Greek underworld. When Pluto's wife heard of the affair, she MODERN RESEARCH murdered Minthe in a fit of rage Studies have been conducted to evaluate peppermint's docu­ and jealousy. In remembrance of mented and potential effects on various gastrointestinal and Minthe, Pluto brought her back neurological conditions such as dyspepsia8,9, IO ,II and tension to life as a fragrant plant. The headaches (oil used topically) .I2,I3 Peppermint's antispasmodic name peppermint is from the and antidiarrheal effects are topics of continued research.l4 species name piperita meaning Enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules have been shown to be "peppery," which distinguishes effective in clinical trials for treating irritable bowel syndromel5, 1 peppermint from other forms 6,17, 18, 19,20,21 and the oil has been used effectively to reduce fecal of mint.2 odor in cholostomy bags22 and to reduce colonic spasms during 2 The Roman naturalist Pliny barium enema23, 4 and colonoscopy.25,26 the Elder (circa 23-79 CE) wrote FUTURE OUTLOOK that Greeks and Romans used The world production of peppermint is more than 4000 tons peppermint to adorn themselves per year with the United States accounting for over 90% of the and their tables at feasts, and production.27 There has been a steady increase in demand for that their cooks used it to flavor peppermint because of its many uses and because of recent expan­ both wine and sauces.3 There is some evidence that M. x piperita sion into the Asian market. The plant requires certain environ­ was cultivated by Egyptians, and it appears in 13th century mental conditions that greatly limit suitable areas for cultivation. Icelandic medical documents. However, it was not used medici­ Because of the high demand and climatic constraints, it is becom­ nally in Europe until the mid-18th century.3 ing common for peppermint crops to be harvested twice each Peppermint has a long history of unique uses. Aristotle (circa season (double harvesting) in the United States. Double harvest­ 384-322 BCE) referenced peppermint in his writings as an ing can lead to rootstock depletion and can diminish the quality aphrodisiac.2 Alexander the Great (356-323 BCE) forbade his of oil produced. Horticulturists have also encountered a growing soldiers to have peppermint because it was thought to promote pest infestation that is leading to excessive leaf loss and conse­ erotic thoughts and deplete soldiers of the desire to fight. Arabs quently lower oil quality.27 used peppermint in their social drinks as a virility stimulant and HG -Gayle Engels, Meredith Podraza, and Adrian Sierant Romans would spread peppermint on their floors to help get rid of pests.2 REFERENCES Peppermint has many modern uses worldwide.4 Leaf prepara­ I. Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckmann J, eds. Herbal Medicine: tions are made from either fresh or dried leaves, while the oil is Expanded Commission E Monographs. Austin, TX: American Botani­ distilled from freshly-harvested sprigs.4 Many believe that pepper­ cal Council; Newton, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications; mint is too intense for subtle dishes, bur leaves or their essential 2000. oil are commonly found in tea, chocolate, confections, chewing 2. Onstad D. Whole Foods Companion. White River Junction, Vf: gum, jellies, and sauces.5 Peppermint can also be added to chilled Chelsea Green Publishing Co.; 1996. 3. Grieve M. A Modern Herbal. Vol. 2. New York: Dover Books; soups or rice on warm days to help cool down the body.5 1971. Continues on page 4 Photo by Steven Foster. ©2006 stevenfoster.com www.herbalgram.org 2006 HerbaiGram 72 I 1

PEPPERMINT advisory board Continued from page I Each issue of Herba/Gram is peer reviewed by members of our 4. Blumenthal M, H all T, Goldberg A, Kunz Advisory Board and other qualified experts before publication. T, Dinda K, Brinckmann J, Wollschl aeger B, eds. The ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs. Cindy K. Angerhofer, PhD Edward M. Croom, Jr., PhD Austin, TX: Ameri can Botanical Council; Director of Botanical Research, Aveda Institute, Adjunct Associate Professor of Pharmacognosy, Minneapoli s, Minnesota University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mi ssissippi 2003. 5. Wood R. The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia. John Thor Amason, PhD Wade Davis, PhD Middlesex, UK: Penguin Books; 1999. Professor of Biology, Department of Biology, Explorer-in-Residence, National Geographic Society, 6. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Washington, D.C. Natura/Ingredients Used in Foods, Drugs, and Dennis V. C. Awang, PhD, FCIC Steven Dentali, PhD Cosmetics. New York: John W iley & Sons, MediPiant Natural Products Consulting Services, Vice President of Scientifi c and Technical Affairs, Inc.; 1996. White Rock, B.C., Canada American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, 7. Bruneton J. Pharmacognosy: Phytochemistry Maryland Medicinal Plants. 2nd ed. Paris: Lavoisier Bruce Barrett, MD, PhD Publishing; 1999. Associate Professor of Family Medicine, Hardy Eshbaugh, PhD 8. Friese J, Kohler S. Peppermint oi l-caraway University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School Professor of Botany & Ass istant Curator, Willard oil fixed combination in non-ulcer dyspepsia Sherman Turrell Herbarium, Miami University, Marilyn Barrett, PhD comparison of the effect of rwo Galeni- Oxford, Ohio Pharm acognosy Consulting Service, cal preparations. [in German]. Pharmazie. Sa n Carlos, California Trish Flaster, MS 1999;54(3):210 -215. Executive Director, Botanical Liaisons, LLC, Boulder, CO 9. Madisch A, H eydenreich C, Wieland V, Ezra Bejar, PhD Hufnagel R, Hotz J. Treatment of func­ Joe Graedon, MS Director ofTechnical Sciences, Herbalife International, tio nal dyspepsia with a fixed peppermint oil Inc., Los Angeles, CA Author, syndicated columnist, radio host, and caraway oil combination preparation Durham, North Carolina Bradley C. Bennett, PhD as compared to cisapride. A multicentre, Associate Professor of Biology, Florida International Charlotte Gyllenhaal, PhD reference-controlled double-blind University, Miami Research Assistant Professor, College of Pharmacy, equiva lence stud y. Arzneimitte/forschung. Un iversity of Illinois at Chicago; Research Program John A. Beutler, PhD 1999;49( 11 ):925-932. Manager, Block Center for Integrative Cancer Care, Staff Scientist, Molecular Targets Development 10. May B, Kuntz H , Kieser M, Kohler S. Evanston, IL Program, National Cancer Institute Efficacy of a fixed pep permint oil/caraway Frederick, Maryland Mary Hardy, MD oil combination in non-ulcer dyspepsia. Director, Cedars-Sinai Integrative Medicine Medical Arzneimittelforschung. 1996;46(1 2): 11 40- Josef Brinckmann Group, Los Angeles, California 1153. VP of Research and Development, Traditional 11. May B, Ko hl er S, Schneider B. Efficacy and Medicinals, Inc., Sebastopo l, CA Christopher Hobbs, LAc, AHG tolerability of a fixed combination of pepper­ Herbalist, botanist, licensed acupuncturist, Francis Brinker, NO mint oil and caraway oil in pa tients suffering Davis, California Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Medicines, from functional dyspepsia. Aliment Pharmacol Program in Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona, David Hoffmann BSc, FNIMH Ther. December 27, 2000;14( 12): 1671 -1 677. Tucson Medical Herbalist, Author, and Research Associate 12. Gobel H , Fresen ius J, Heinze A, Dworschak Traditional Medicinals, Sebastopol, California M, Soyka D. Effectiveness of Oleum Menthae Donald J. Brown, NO piperitae and paracetamol in therapy of Director, Natural Products Research Consultants, Maurice M. lwu, PhD tension headache. [in German). Nervenarzt. Seattle, Washington Bioresources Development and Conservation 1996;67(8):672-681. Program, Senior Research Associate at the Division of John H. Cardellina, PhD 13. Gobel H , Schmidt G, Soyka D. Effect of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute Expert Chemist, Developmental Therapeutics Program, pep permi nt and eucalyptus oil preparations of Research, Washington, D.C. National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland on neurophysical and experimental alge­ Timothy Johns, PhD simetric headache parameter. Cephalalgia. Thomas J.S. Carlson, MS, MD 1994; 14(3):229-234; di scuss ion 182. Associate Adjunct Professor, Professor, School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition; Centre for Indigenous People's Nutrition and the 14. Micklefield G, Jung 0, Greving I, May Department of Integrative Biology; Director, Center for Environment, McGill University, Montreal, Canada B. Effects of intraduodenal application of Health, Ecology, Biodiversity, & Ethnobiology; peppermi nt oil (WS(R) 1) and caraway oil Curator of Ethnobotany, University and Jepson Herbaria; Kenneth Jones (WS(R) 1520) on gastroduodenal motil­ University of California, Berkeley President and Medical Writer, Armana Research, Inc, ity in healthy volunteers. Phythother Res. Halfmoon Bay, BC, Canada Jean Carper 2003; 17(2): 135-40. Author and syndicated columnist, Washington, D.C. Edward Kennelly, PhD 15. Li u J, Chen G, Yeh H , Huang C, Poon S. Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Biological Jerry Cott, PhD Enteric-coated peppermin t-oil capsules in Sciences, Lehman College, City University of New York, Pharmacologist, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: a Bronx, NY Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, prospective randomized trial. J Gastroenterol. Rockville, Maryland lkhlas Khan, PhD 1997;32(6):765-768. Associate Professor of Pharmacognosy, Assistant 16. Carling L, Svedberg L, Hulten S. Short-term Paul Alan Cox, PhD Director, National Center for Natural Products Research, treatment of the irritable bowel syndrome: Executive Director, Institute for Ethnomedicine University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS a placebo-controlled trial of peppermint Jackson, Wyoming oil against hyoscyamine. Opuscula Medica. Steven King, PhD Lyle E. Craker, PhD 1989;34:55-57. Vice President, Professor, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, 17. Lawso n M, Kn ight R, Tran K, Walker G, Sustainable Supply and Ethnobotanical Research, University of Massachusetts, Amherst Robers-T homson I. Failure of enteric­ Napo Pharmaceuticals Inc. coated peppermint oil in the irritab le bowel syndrome: a randomized double-blind cross-

4 I HerbalGram 72 2006 www. herbalgram .org over study. j Gastroent Hepatol. 1988;3: 235- 238. advisory board 18. Nash P, Gould S, Barnardo D. Peppermint oil does nor relieve the pain of irritable bowel (continued) synd ro me. Br j Clin Pract. 1986;40:292-293. 19. Dew M, Evans B, Rhodes J. Peppermint oil fo r the irritabl e bowel syndrome: Richard Kingston, PharmD, CSPI John M. Riddle, PhD a multicentre trial. Br j Clin Pract. President, Regulatory and Scientific Affairs, Safety Call'" Professor of History, Department of History, 1984;38(11-12):394,398. International Poison Center; Professor, Department of North Carolina State University, Raleigh 20. Rees WDW, Eva ns BK, Rhodes J. Treating Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, College of Eloy Rodriguez, PhD irritable bowel syndrome with peppermint Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN oil. Br Med j. 1979;6:835-836. James Perkins Professor of Environmental Studies, 2 1. Pinier M, Ernst E. Peppermint oil fo r Thomas l. Kurt, MD, MPH School of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Cornell University, irri table bowel syndrome: a critical review Clinical Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Ithaca, New York University ofTexas Southwestern, Dallas, Texas and meta-analys is. Am j Gastroenterol. Holly Shimizu 1998;93(7): 11 3 1- 11 35. Roberta A. Lee, MD Executive Director, US Botanic Garden, Washington, DC 22. McKenzie J, Gallacher M. A sweet smelling Medical Director, Co-Director Integrative Medicine, Victor Sierpina, MD success: use of peppermint oil in hel ping Continuum Center for Health and Healing; Director of Associate Professor of Family Practice Medicine, patients accept their colostomies. Nurs Time. Medical Education and Integrative Fellowship, Beth University oflexas Medical Branch, Galveston 1989;85(27):48-49. Israel Medical Center, New York, NY 23. Sparks M, O 'Sull iva n P, Herrington A, James E. Simon, PhD Martha M. Libster, PhD, RN, CNS Morcos S. Does pepperminr oil relieve Professor of New Use Agriculture, Director ofthe Center Associate Professor of Nursing, East Carolina University, spas m during barium enema? Br j Radio/. for New Use Agriculture and Natural Plant Products, Greenville, NC 1995;68(812) :84 1-843. Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 24. Jarvis L, Hogg J, Houghton C. Topical Tieraona Low Dog, MD Beryl Simpson, PhD pepperminr oil fo r the relief of spas m at Clinical Asst. Professor, Director of Botanical Studies, C. L. Lundell Professor of Botany, Department of Botany, barium enema. Clin Radio!. 1992;46:A435. Program in Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona University oflexas at Austin 25 . Duthie H . The effect of pepperminr oil School of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona on colonic motili ty in man. Br j Surg. S. H. Sohmer, PhD Gail B. Mahady, PhD 198 1;68:8 20. President and Director, Botan ical Research Institute of Research Assistant Professor, Department of Medical 26. Leicester R, Hum R. Peppe rminr oil to Texas, Fort Worth Chemistry &Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, red uce colonic spas m during endoscopy. University of Illinois, Chicago Barbara N. Timmermann, PhD Lancet. 1982;2(8305) :989. Chairperson-Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, Robin J. Maries, PhD 27. Peterso n L, Bienvenu F. Pepperminr Oil. The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kan sas New Rural industries: a Handbook for Farmers Director of the Bureau of Research and Science, Natural and Investors. Ava ilable ar: http://www.ri rdc. Health Products Directorate, Health Products and Food Arthur 0. Tucker, PhD gov.au/pub/handbooklpeppermint.html. Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa Research Professor of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Delaware State University, Dover Accessed August I, 2006. Dennis J. McKenna, PhD Executive Director, Institute for Natural Products Nancy Turner, PhD board of trustees Research; Senior Lecturer, Center for Spirituality and Professor and Ethnobotanist, Environmental Studies Healing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis Program, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Michael J. Balick, PhD Marc S. Micozzi, MD, PhD Director and Philecology Curator, New York Botanical Garden, Executive Director for Integrative Medicine, Daniel T. Wagner, RPh, MBA, PharmD Bronx, New York Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA; Owner, Nutri-Farmacy, Wildwood, Pennsylvania Neil Blomquist Director, Policy Institute for Integrative Medicine, Andrew T. Wei I, MD President, Sustainable Solutions Consulting Services Washington, DC Author, Director ofthe Program in Integrative Sebastopol, California Daniel E. Moerman, PhD Medicine and Associate Director of the Division of Peggy Brevoort William E. Stirton Professor of Anthropology, Social Perspectives in Medicine, College of Medicine, President, Brevoort, LLC, Kapa 'au, Hawaii University of Michigan/Dearborn University of Arizona, Tucson Norman R. Farnsworth, PhD William Obermeyer, PhD Bernd Wollschlaeger, MD Research Professor of Pharmacognosy, Senior University Vice President of Research and Technology, Family practice physician; Clinical Assistant Professor Scholar, University of Illinois at Chicago ConsumerLab.com, Annapolis, Maryland of Medicine and Family Practice, University of Miami, School of Medicine, Florida Steven Foster Samuel W. Page, PhD President, Steven Foster Group, Inc., Brixey, Missouri Scientist, International Programme on Chemical Safety, Jacqueline C. Wootton, MEd World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland President, Alternative Medicine Foundation, Inc. Fredi Kronenberg, PhD Director, HerbMed" HerbMedPro™, Potomac, MD Director, Rosenthal Center for Complementary and Alternative Joseph E. Pizzorno, Jr., NO Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and President Emeritu s, Bastyr University, Seattle, Surgeons, New York Washington, and Editor, IntegrativeM edicine: A ad hoc advisor: Clinician's Journal Morris Shriftman David M. Eisenberg, MD CEO, Mozart, Inc., San Rafael, California Mark J. Plotkin, PhD Director, Osher Institute, Author, Executive Director, Amazon Conservation Team, Division for Research and Education in Complementary James A. Duke, PhD (emeritus) Arlington, Virginia Botanical Consultant, Economic Botanist (USDA, ret. ), Herbal and Integrative Medical Therapies, Vineyard Inc. I Green Farmacy Garden, Fulton, Maryland Harvard Medical School, Boston, Ma ssa chu setts Mark Blumenthal (ex officio) Founder and Executive Director

ww w.herbalgram.org 2006 HerbaiGram 72 I 5 dear reader American Botanical Council Mark Blumenthal Founder and Exec utive Director Black Cohosh Safety Wayne Silverman, PhD Chief Administrative Officer o black cohosh preparations require a warning for possible liver toxicity? Yes, accord­ Sean Barnes ing to some regulators, and no, according to many herb experts. The popular herb Herba/Gram Art Director D used for menopausal symptoms is under increased scrutiny. We reported in our last Courtney Cavaliere issue that Australian health authorities issued a required label warning in February. Then agen- Herba/Gra m & Herba/EGram cies in the EU and UK issued label warnings in July. In August, Health Ass istant Editor Canada released a consumer advisory but did not go so far as to require Lauren Dickson a label warning. They acknowledged that there is simply inadequate data Customer Service Coo rdin ator to prove a causal link between the use of black cohosh and the reported Gayle Engels liver toxicity cases, many of which were poorly documented. The identity Educati on Coordin ator of the herbal material in most implicated preparations lacked adequate confirmation, a persistent problem with such reports. Michael Finney Herba/Gram Man aging Ed itor In September a lawsuit against two dietary supplement manufactur­ ers, whose products were implicated by a patient who received a liver Lori Glenn transplant in Nebraska, was dismissed by the presiding judge who stated HerbCii p Managing Editor that the plaintiffs case and the testimony of her scientific experts failed Cassandra Johnson to meet the test for adequate scientific merit. This is reasonable, as no Herba/EGram Managing Editor published scientific evidence to date shows any confirmed molecular or mechanistic basis for Nancy Moon suspecting black cohosh rhizome or its extracts as being hepatotoxic, nor any hint thereof. Exec utive Assistant Human clinical trials in which the levels of liver enzymes have been monitored reveal no basis Ellyn Polis for suspected hepatotoxicity. Receptioni st/A dm ini stra tive As reported in our last issue, the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) conducted a one­ Assistant day workshop in November 2004 on the safety of black cohosh, concluding that there was George Solis inadequate evidence to suggest a causal link to the reported cases of liver toxicity, but also HerbCiip Production Assista nt requiring that all NIH-funded clinical trials begin to monitor liver enzymes (elevated liver Nathanael Sponseller enzymes are an indicator of liver dysfunction). Gardener At least two reasons can be offered to explain the appearance of a potential problem. One is that in any population of humans, there will be unexplainable cases of spontaneous liver Cecelia Thompson toxicity. One study of adults in a Canadian health care system concluded that there are 24 Finance Coordinator such cases per every 100,000 patients, with the etiology of these cases being unrelated to any Aileen Truax detectable organic dysfunction, hepatotoxic drugs, etc. Development/Marketing Another potential explanation is the possibility that the "black cohosh" in some of the impli­ Coordinator cated products may have been another herb, or possibly a different species of black cohosh. A Margaret Wright recently published study analyzed 11 "black cohosh" preparations sold in the United States and Accounting Coordinator found that 3 of the products contained different species of Actaea (A. cimicifuga, A. dahurica, and A. yunnanensis) but nor the proper species (A. racemosa, syn. Cimicifuga racemosa) required by US industry trade policy and FDA regulation for the name "black cohosh." Whether these other species of Actaea might contain some hepatotoxic compounds or not remains unclear at this time. Nevertheless, the evidence thus far strongly supports the overall safety of properly manufac­ tured herbal preparations containing black cohosh. The world-renowned Professor Norman R. Farnsworth of the University of Illinois at Chicago, a founder and trustee of ABC and the principle investigator of an NIH-funded clinical trial on black cohosh, has said that insuffi­ cient scientific and clinical evidence currently exist to confirm the alleged hepatotoxicity of black cohosh, and any regulatory policy suggesting required warnings is premature and "not rational." Numerous other experts agree. Nevertheless, some companies have begun to consider adding warnings on black cohosh preparations, not because the currently available evidence warrants such action, but because they are concerned about product liability exposure. Ironically, the presence of such warn­ ings on herb products may reduce consumer usage-an unfortunate development considering Mission: Provide education that black cohosh is one of the safest and probably the most effective alternative treatments to using science-based and traditional conventional hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms. HG information to promote responsible use of herbal medicine-serving the public, researchers, educators, healrhcare professionals, industry, and media.

6 I HerbaiGram 72 2006 www.herbalgram.org ECHINAMIDE ~ Clinically proven effective

Seed-to-Shelf o Full spectrum Echinacea purpurea extract o Triple standardized o Certified organic farming o Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) o Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)

... guarantees ECHINAMIDE®'s purity, potency and effectiveness batch-to-batch.

ECHINAMIDE® is indicated when the immune system becomes compromised or as a preventative treatment to provide year round immune system support.* It is the only patented triple-standardized phytomedicinal that has com­ pleted two Phase II clinical trials with statistically significant and reproducible evidence of effectiveness as an immune system stimulant.'·'

' Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 29:75-83, 2004 2 International Immunopharmacology 2002; 2 :381-387 3 ECHINAMIDE. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry 2002; 13: 487-492 CUNKAU Y ,.OVlN ...\c tire Defeme lJJlCnYl' /fntlt1 I 1 t/11111 \1 r11p

• ,.fOP'.,fDrr '*rDDI l ormu#Q ECHINAMIDE' "ECHINAMID~ exerts an immunostimulatory effect via its patent­ . "'""""H_.,l,_ (/111/l'tl\frcll'Echinacea purpurea's three key 0 (~lflnl OrfiD'Ik la..-crol , active compounds-alkylamide, polysaccharide and cichoric acid. , ......

"The Phase II clinical trials demonstrated that ECHINAMID~ enhances the innate immune response leading to a faster recovery from upper respiratory infections. The ECHINAMID~ treatment groups showed sustained elevated levels of natural killer cells and neutrophils, which contributed, on average, to the 23% reduction in symp­ tom severity and a 27% reduction in the duration of the cold."

-Dr. Richard Barton, Clinical Trial Investigator Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Britislr Columbia .. ~.. ~----~., ® www.naturalfactors.com

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drog Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat cure or prevent any disease.

------~l__ A _B_CN_e_ws__ j~------ABC Adds Two New Members to Advisory Board by Nancy Moon

n a June 2006 press release, the American Botanical Council announced the appointment of new members to its Advisory Board: I John A. Beutler, PhD, and John H. Cardellina, PhD.

Dr. Beutler is a well-known pharma­ association, and he is botanicals and products made from botani­ cognosist (o ne who studies drugs of natu­ also the past-president cals." ral origin) and Dr. Cardellina is a highly of the American Soci­ In addition to numerous other duties, the regarded natural products chemist. Both ety of Pharmacognosy, primary role Advisory Board members play scientists are employed as researchers at a professional organiza­ at ABC is participating in the peer review the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a tion of research scien­ of ABC publications. They also assist in division of the US Department of Health tists. In addition to his an advisory capacity, helping to determine and Human Services' National Institutes research at NCI, Dr. ABC policy and activities. Drs. Beutler and ofHealth (NIH). Cardellina serves as a Cardellina join 64 other scientists, clini­ "We are deeply grateful and honored to book reviewer for both Ca rd ell in a cians, and other experts who currendy have these two respected, world-class scien­ journal ofNatural Products and journal of comprise the ABC Advisory Board. The tific researchers become formally associated the American Chemical Society. names of all 66 ABC Advisory Board with ABC," said ABC's Founder and Exec­ "I am delighted and honored to be part members are listed in ABC's quarterly utive Director Mark Blumenthal. "We have of the ABC team, in some small way," said peer-reviewed journal, H erbaiGram, and enjoyed many years of cooperation with Cardellina. "I've always appreciated the on the ABC Web site (www.herbalgram. and support from each of these outstand­ effort and commitment of ABC to provide org). HG ing gentlemen and we thought it was past accurate, timely, and useful information on time for us to publicly acknowledge their contributions to ABC's nonprofit educa­ tional mission ." ABC Medicinal Tree Garden John A. Beutler is a Staff Scientist in the rees have provided humankind with medicines since ancient times. It has long Molecular Targets Development Program been part of the ABC garden plan to develop a "Medicinal Tree Walk" along at the NCI in Frederick, MD. Dr. Beutler the south edge of the Case Mill Homestead property at ABC Headquarters. received his doctorate in pharmacognosy T from Professor Ara Der The first trees planted in the young tree Salicaceae), and witch hazel (Hamamelis Marderosian at the garden were a couple of ginkgos (Ginkgo virginiana L., Hamamelidaceae). Philadelphia College of biloba L., Ginkgoaceae) and hawthorns Because ABC wants a wide variety Pharmacy and Science (Crataegus monogyna Jacq. and C. laevi­ of medicinal trees on the property, the (now known as Univer­ gata [Poir.] DC, Rosaceae) that were relo­ garden staff occasionally plants a tree from sity of the Sciences). He cated from other gardens. A year or two a different geographical area not really has extensive expertise later, garden staff planted black walnut knowing whether it will do well in Central in the study of plant­ Uuglans nigra L., Juglandaceae), thuja Texas or not. Thus far, the trees that ABC derived anti-tumor (Thuja occidentalis L., Cupressaceae), has lost and is fairly certain won't grow in Beutler agents. Dr. Beucler is cascara sagrada (Frangula purshiana Austin include horse chestnut (Aesculus currently the co-editor­ [DC] J.G. Cooper, Rhamnaceae), smooth hippocastanum L., Hippocastanaceae) and in-chief of Review of Natural Products sumac (Rhus glabra L., Anacardiaceae), sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L., and was formerly the editor of the Quar­ and hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens Eleagnaceae). terly journal of Crude Drug Research, now L., Hydrangeaceae). This year, a few There are still a number of trees that published as Pharmaceutical Biology. more trees were added, including tea tree ABC staff desires for its flourishing medic­ "It's a pleasure to formalize the long­ (Melaleuca alternifolia [Maiden & Betche] inal tree garden. Among them are pome­ standing relationship I have had with Cheel, Myrtaceae), bay (Laurus nobilis L., granate (Punica granatum L., Punica­ Herbal Gram and ABC," said Beutler. "The Lauraceae), southern magnolia (Magnolia ceae), mimosa (Aibizia julibrissin Durazz., work of ABC is really important for public grandiflora L., Magnoliaceae), and two Fabaceae), buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica health, both in highlighting useful herbs, species of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globu­ L., Rhamnaceae), and a variety of fruit­ and pointing out potentially risky ones." lus Labill. and E. melliodora A. Cunn. ex bearing trees. The best time to plant a tree John H . Cardellina is the Expert Chem­ Schauer, Myrtaceae). may have been 20 years ago, but the next ist at the Developmental Therapeutics ABC received a few trees and shrubs too best time is now. In a few years, it will be Program at NCI in Frederick. Dr. Cardel­ late to plant this year. They were planted time to lay the path that will allow staff lina was formerly the vice-president for in larger pots and are being tended until and visitors to ramble among the medici­ botanical sciences at the Council for they can be planted this fa ll. They include nal trees and learn about their benefits to Responsible Nutrition in Washington, DC, slippery elm (Ulmus rubra Muhl., Ulma­ human health. HG a leading dietary supplement industry trade ceae), purple willow (Salix purpurea L., -Gayle Engels

10 I HerbaiGram 72 2006 www.herbalgram.org ABC News ------~l------J~------ABC Announces Major Redesign and Upgrades to Web Site BC's content-rich Web site-www.herbalgram.org-will soon be easier to navigate and will offer you more of the information Ayou want about the traditional uses and modern science behind medicinal plants. Whether you are a healthcare practitio­ Austin, Texas, Convio works with more help, ABC can better serve you through ner, srudem or professor, herbalist, scien­ than 600 other non-profit organizations electronic communications, and can tist, or employee in the naru ral products around the world. The privately-held also devore more in-house educational industry, yo u can now register yo ur pref­ company was founded in 1999 and has resources to fulfilling ABC's nonprofit erences with ABC when you visit the Web shown dramatic growth during the past mission-educating people about the site and receive customized e-mail updates 7 years. traditional and sciemific information rhar on the information you wam, such as ABC chose Convio because of its supports the responsible use of herbal research reviews, feature articles from proven track record and the benefits this medicine. HG our quarterly journal Herba!Gram, herb partnership will bring to ABC and its -Aileen Truax profiles and monographs, clinical updates, members and stakeholders. With Convio's upcoming evems, the latest media cover­ age on herbal topics, and more. ABC members wil l cominue to receive access to protected areas of ABC's site ABC Employee Profile: Cassandra Johnson through a secure username and password, ecause nonprofit organizations are typically under-funded, employees of and the online membership and shopping nonprofits must be trained to perform numerous and varied tasks, many of transactions are still secure and easier to Bwhich are not always in the same domain of activity. ABC is no exception. use than in the past. Cassandra Johnson is someone who wears lots of different hats and covers many To upgrade the Web site and improve bases here at ABC, all of which are essential to the organization's daily opera­ communications with you, ABC has part­ tions. She initially started working in various administrative nered with Convio-an Imernet software and editorial areas. Her responsibilities in those capacities and services company assisting non-profit have included editing HerbClips, working with the Develop­ organizations with their online presence ment Department, and acting as receptionist-all at the same and with electronic communications to time. With a journalism degree from the University of Texas, their members and supporters. Conve­ her work for ABC has continued to gravitate towards edito­ niently based near ABC's headquarters in rial programs. Over the past year, Cassandra has acted as the managing editor of HerbalEGram, ABC's monthly electronic newsletter for all ABC members. Johnson Cassandra also is involved in maintenance of the ever-grow- Benefits of Membership ing ABC Web site. This includes posting the new FasTraks Include HerbalEGram HerbClips and HerbClip News to the Web site twice monthly. She edits the Web site in response to requests from staff, which includes updating the home page, f you are already an ABC correcting any typos, posting press releases, and posting new items to the ABC member but not receiving our conference and event calendar. She is also in charge of maintaining statistics on monthly electronic newsletter I Web site traffic and usage. HerbalEGram, please visit www. Her other varied tasks include helping to fulfill requests from ABC members herbalgram.org and update your and ensuring that they receive their many benefits. She also performs editing work Member Profile or call 800-373- for the Education Department. Recently, she was assigned the task of managing 7105 or 512-926-4900. book reviews for Herba!Gram . If you are not a member of As if all this were not enough, Cassandra also assists the Development Depart­ ABC, please join today. You ment in many ways, including preparing new member and renewed member will receive a subscription to our acknowledgement packets for mailing and maintaining donor records for the quarterly, peer reviewed journal Combined Federal Campaign, a program through which federal employees can HerbalGram, our monthly e-news­ identify nonprofit organizations for donations via payroll deductions. And she letter HerbalEGram, Member performs numerous other development-related tasks. All these duties are handled Advisories, and access to www. by Cassandra reliably and efficiently, with no complaints as to her heavy work­ herbalgram.org, fearuring thou­ load. sands of peer-reviewed articles, The bottom line is that Cassandra Johnson performs many different functions profiles, monographs, critical for ABC that cross a wide spectrum of activities, helping to ensure that ABC reviews, photos on hundreds of continues to grow and function properly while providing its many members with herbs and medicinal plants, and increasing benefits. HG more. -Mark Blumenthal

www.herbalgram.org 2006 HerbaiGram 72 I 11 ------~l__ A _B_CN_e_w_s _J~------

ABC Publishes Crucial Quality Control Manual for Accurate Identification of Herbs and Herbal Products he occasional misidentification of herbs can result in improper use and potential safety issues. As part of its educational mission to promote responsible use of medicinal plants the American Botanical Council (ABC) proudly announces its newest T publication, a crucial quality control manual for herb and dietary supplement companies. The Identification of Medicinal Plants: A Handbook of the Morphology of Botanicals in Commerce focuses on the straightforward visual, macroscopic (examination under hand lens or dissecting microscope) identification of more than 150 species of botanicals used in commercial herbal products in North America.

Written by Wendy Applequis t, PhD, a cology, and numerous others, botanis t at the M issouri Botanical Garden particularly those with expe­ (MBG) , the handbook is intended ro rience in botanical identifica­ provide wides pread access ro the informa­ tion in se tting quality stan­ tion required fo r the acc urate identifica­ dards in the herb industry. tion of medicinal plants. T his will ensure James A. Duke, PhD, inter­ availability ro a wider group of quality nati onally noted herbal expert contro l and laborarory technicians in the and author, sa id the new herb and dietary supplement industry, as handbook is a "great book" well as botanists, medicinal plant collec­ containing "good science" and ro rs, researchers, students, and others. "good an " and that it is "very "As an independent science-based useful." educational orga nization, ABC is commit­ "As a collector of books red ro helping make available resources and articles on powder analy­ rhar promote the highes t quality herb sis and the nomenclature of and botanical preparations," said Mark medicinal plants, this book Blumenthal, founder and executive direc­ is a good accompaniment tor of ABC. "Proper identity is the initial that pulls together informa­ requirement for herbal quality, and this ti on fro m a wide number of book will become a standard reference sources. G reat job and a great for all in the herb industry ro help ensure addition ro my bookshelf!" Passionflower Passiflora incarnata by Barbara Alongi optimum quality control fo r the greates t sa id Arthur 0. Tucker, PhD, research from The Identification of Medicinal Plants: A Handbook benefit to consumers." professor and co-director of the Claude E. of the Morphology of Botanicals in Commerce by Wendy T he handbook fea tures Phillips Herbarium at Dela­ Applequist. 113 botanical emries cover- ware State University. ing more than 150 differ­ The ldenttflcatton of Medtdnol Planu Josef A. Brinckmann, ent species of botanicals in vice-president of research in having as complete a picture as possible commerce, plus 87 detailed and development at Tradi­ for accurate identification of herbs, this black- and-white line draw­ ti onal Medici nals, a leading book is a necessity." ings. It also comains a brief marketer of medicinal herbal T he book retails for $89.95, with a review of bas ic plant struc­ teas, stated, "T he botanical discount for AB C members. ABC is ture, some practical advice glossary, the detailed macro­ currenrly taking advance orders and will on identification, an intro­ scopic descriptions including begin shipping orders in O ctober. To duction to botanical nomen­ sensory characteristics, and order now, call 800-373-7105 and reques t clature, a glossary, a reference the illustrations will make item #B539. HG list, and an index. this an often-used handbook --Tara Hall T he first step in quality sitting alongs ide the pharma- Book D ata control of botanical prepara- copeias and other essential tions is ensuring the correct identificati on laboratory handbooks." The Identification ofM edicinal Plants: A Handbook of the Morphology ofBot ani- of rhe plant materi al intended for use. Sidney Sudberg, a chiropractor and cals in Commerce by We ndy Applequist. Derailed descriptions by Dr. Applequist, acupuncturist who now is director of Austin , TX: Ameri can Botani cal Council ; assistam curator at M BG, plus drawings Alkemists Pharamaceuticals, Inc., a third­ 2006. Item #B539; Hardcove r; 231 pp.; by Barbara Alongi provide excellent guid­ parry quality contro l and consulting labo­ 87 B&W line drawings; $89.95. ISBN 10: ance for pro perly, effectively, and effi­ ratory for the herb industry said, "This 0-9655555- 1-8; ISBN 13: 978-0-9655555- cienrly identi fy ing botanicals. book is indispensable to anyo ne who loves 1-7 T he book has already received accolades plants, and herbs in particular, and wants from numerous herbal experts in a va riety ro know that they have the correct species. of fields including academia, pharma- As a quality control professional interested

12 I HerbaiGram 72 2006 www.herbalgram.org where Nature and Science come together

A pharmaceutical company specializing in phytomedicines, LabCat pursues rigorous quality control and uses good manufacturing practices to produce standardized extracts. Ethical and sustainable practices are evident in the process, from soil preparation to monitoring plants during cultivation to commercial output. LabCat seeks to preserve plant species and at the same time offer safe and efficacious products. These methods have made LabCat a globally recogn ized name in phytomedicine. Consider LabCat as a partner for your future projects for raw materials and finished products. Call+ 55-47-3451-9143 in Brazil or 908-835-9008 in the U.S. E-mail [email protected] or [email protected]

PARliER IN ntE USA: MARKAN GLOBAL labCat ENTERPRISES, INC. The ~ntemational division o Laborat6rio Ca.tarinense ------~~ rganization Newj....,______

Journal ofNatural Products Dedicates Special Issue to Farnsworth by Courtney Cavaliere

pedal issue of the journal ofNatural Products (JNP) was published in March 2006 in honor of Norman R. Farnsworth, PhD, esearch professor of pharmacognosy and distinguished university professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Among his umerous positions, consultancies, and activities, Dr. Farnsworth is also a fo unding member of ABC's Board of Trustees.

The special JNP issue featured an editorial documenting Dr. sance man, who along with such distinguished colleagues as Arthur Farnsworth's contributions to pharmacognosy and natural prod­ E. Schwarting, Varro E. Tyler, and Jack L. Beal, among others, ucts research, includ­ almost half a century ago, helped transform pharmacognosy from ing his many research descriptive medical botany and mycology into the dynamic chem­ and academ ic achieve­ istry- and biology-based multidisciplinary science that it is today." ments, his service on The journal issue further recognized Dr. Farnsworth through its various expert commit­ selection of articles, all of which were chosen to reflect Dr. Farn­ tees and panels, and his sworth's broad scientific interests. establishment of the Contributors to this special edition included Fredi Kronenberg, NAPRALERT data­ PhD, Edward]. Kennelly, PhD, Gordon M. Cragg, PhD, Mahabir base.1 According to the P. Gupta, PhD, Michael Heinrich, PhD, John M. Pezzuto, PhD, editorial, co-written by Elaine Elisabetsky, PhD, D. Doe! Soejarto, PhD, Barbara N. long-time Farnsworth Timmermann, PhD, Ikhlas A. Khan, PhD, Arnold Vlietinck, colleagues Harry H.S. PhD, David G.I. Kingston, PhD, Lars Bohlin, PhD, Tom]. Mabry, Fong, PhD, Geoffrey A. PhD, Connie M. Weaver, PhD, V. Srini Srinivasan, PhD, Gabriel Cordell, PhD, and A. I. Giancaspro, PhD, David B. Roll, PhD, Jennifer Salguero, RPh, Douglas Kinghorn, PhD, Norman Farnsworth, PhD, speaks at ABC's John P.N. Rosazza, PhD, and John M. Cassady, PhD. "Professo r Farnsworth is American Botanical Celebration in January T he journal of Natural Products is a publication of the Ameri­ the quintessential renais- 2006. Photo ©2006 stevenfoster.com can C hemical Society (ACS) and the American Society of Pharmacognosy (ASP). (It was originally called Lloydia, in honor of the famous medicinal plant researcher John Uri Lloyd, and was initially published as the official journal of ASP.) Dr. Farnsworth was a founding member of ASP, and he is the organization's only founding member still actively engaged in academia and conduct­ ing natural product drug discovery and botanical dietary supple­ ment research.' The issue honoring Dr. Farnsworth is the third of the journal's 69th volume. It is available for purchase through ACS (http: I /pubs .acs.org/journals/jnprdf/media/ order_info.html). T he Table of Contents and the editorial described above are accessible online, free of charge, at http:/ /pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/sample.cgi/ jnprdf/2006/69/i03/html/np068000l.html. Several articles in recent HerbalGram issues have featured Dr. Farnsworth's latest awards and accomplishments.2 ,3,4 An arti­ cle in the May 2006 issue of HerbalEGram and the 7 lst issue of Herba!Gram, " APRALERT Herbal Database Available on Internet," provides an update on the increased accessibility of NAPRALERT, the world's largest database on medicinal plant research, established by Dr. Farnsworth and his coll eagues in 1975 .5 HG

References 1. Fong HHS, Cordell GA, Kinghorn AD. Editorial. journal ofNatu­ ral Products. 2006;69:3 11-313. 2. Cavaliere C. Farnsworth honored with ASP research achievement award. HerbaLGram . 2006;69: 19. 3. Anon. Farnsworth recognized with Pharmanex prize for scientific co mributions. HerbalGram . 2002;55: 10. 4. Hum L. Farnsworth nam ed distinguished professor at Univers ity of Illinois. Herbal Gram . 2001 ;53: 16. 5. Anon. NAPRALERT herbal database available on lmernet. Herbal Gram . 2006; 7 1: 16.

14 I HerbaiGram 72 2006 www.herbalgram.org ------l~ rganization NewJr------

NNFA Becomes NPA, Opens New Offices by Madeline Hollern

he summer agenda of the National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA) annual convention went beyond celebrating the organization's 70th anniversary this year. Within 6 weeks of June and July of 2006, NNFA, the national trade association T for the health and natural products industry, accomplished the following major achievements: changed its company name to the Natural Products Association (NPA); moved its headquarters to Washington, DC; opened a branch office in Beijing, China; and expanded its product testing program for supplements for athletes.

Name Change T he new office will work closely wirh N PA in the United Stares in orga nizing annual trade miss ions and will act as a li aison to NNFA announced its name change during its 70'" anniversa ry visiting dietary supplement companies looking for business trans­ celebrati on on July 15 , 2006.1 Members of the association vo ted ac tions in C hina. The office is nor rhe first overseas ve nture of rhe on the new name, which passed with a large majority. The name is intended to "more accurately describe the organization's diverse company; in 1998 NNFA Japan was es tablished. Both ve nrures membership and position rhe association to kee p pace wirh rhe aim to obtain consumer and industry-friendly regulati ons. dynamic natural products marketplace," according to an N PA "It's great to see rhe Natural Products Associati on's C hina initiative reach rhis milestone," sa id N PA Executive D irector and press release. CEO David Seckman.3 "Ex peri ence has demonstrated rh ar rhe "Our new name not only refl ects the breadth of our ex isting combinati on of a trusted in-country contact who is both fa miliar membership, but it also recogni zes the association's position as with rhe local marketplace and has es tabli shed relati onships with the overarching trade organization for the natural products indus­ try," sa id NPA President David Taylor. 1 "Along with our recently key officials are imperative to entering and thriving in C hina." adopted miss ion and vision sraremenrs, our name change will Product Testing Expansion allow us to emphas ize that we rea lly are rhe 'big rent' organi zation for retailers and suppliers of natural products." To ass ure customers rhar sports supplements do nor contain NPA launched a comprehensive re-branding effort for the traces of banned steroidal and stimulant ingredients, N PA is ex panding irs TruLabel random testing program.4 Plans for rhe summer and fall to promote the new name and reconnect with stakeholders and consumers of natural products. Since its found­ ex pansion we re announced July 15, 2006, in res ponse to raised ing in 1936, the organization has changed names 4 rimes. After concerns among arhleres and sporrs orga niza tions. its first yea r as rhe America n H ea lth Food Association, rhe ririe "T he noti on rhar dietary supplemenrs conrain unlisted ingre­ changed to the Natural Hea lth Foods Association. In 1943 rhe dienrs rhar are res ponsible fo r positive steroid and other banned organizati on changed irs name aga in to the ational Dietary substance res ts is simply wrong," sa id Daniel Fabrica nr, PhD, vice Foods Association, and in the 1980s it switched to rhe Nati onal presidenr of scienri fic affairs fo r the PA.4 "By res ting products N urrirional Foods Association. through our TruLabel program we're looking to provide sound evidence rhar our member manufact urers are committed ro provid­ Headquarter Shift ing quality and uncompromised res ults for their customers." On June I, 2006, NPA (then N NFA) opened its Washington, N PA's TruLabel has operated since 1990 and is one of rhe dietary supplement industry's oldest self-regul atory programs. In addition D C headquarters. According to a company press release, the new to TruLabel, NPA has had a companion sel f-reg ulatory effort for locati on, in the Dupont circle of Washington, is intended to fos ter continued growth of rhe organiza ti on, irs advocacy efforts, and its rhe pas t 7 years with a third-parry certification program, which also representati on for rhe natural pro ducts industry. 2 strives to ensure quality throughout the manu fac turing process . "We are ex tremely proud," sa id NPA President Dav id Taylor. 2 PA membership is comprised of more than 9,600 retailers, "We see this move as a tremendous inves tment for our member­ manufac turers, wholesa lers, and distributors of natural products, ship, and a symbol of our ongoing commitment to effective Was h­ including foods, dietary supplemenrs, and health and bea uty aids. 2 More information on N PA is available at irs Web sire, ington representation for the natural products industry." T he association's new address is 1773 T St., NW, Was hington, hrrp://www.naturalproducrsassoc.org. HG D C, 20009. References New China Office I. Nati onal N utritional Foods Association becomes Natural Products Association [press release]. Washi ngton, DC: Natural Products In July, NPA announced rhe opening of a new branch office in Associati on; July 15, 2006. Beijing. T he building will establish a phys ical presence for N PA 2. National Nutritional Foods Association announces new Washin g­ in China, where dietary supplement sales are ex pected to grow to to n, DC headquarters [press release]. Washington D C: National more than $10 billion within rhe nex t few yea rs.3 utritional Foods Association; June I, 2006. "The Natural Products Ass ociation has long recognized rhar 3. atural Products Association announces opening of C hina office strong intern ati onal presence is beneficial for our membership and [press release). Washi ngton, DC: Natu ral Products Association; July the industry," sa id Randy Dennin, chairman of rhe Natural Prod­ 15, 2006. 4. Natural Products Association expands product testing program to ucts Association C hina.3 "We are committed to facilirarina trade 0 ensure purity of supplements for athletes [press release]. Was hing­ among nations and have a strong stake in maintaining high stan- ton DC: Natural Products Associati on; July 15, 2006. dards for product quality, both domes tically and internationally." www. herbalgram.org 2006 HerbaiGram 72 I 15 ------;~esearch & World Ne~~------

Panel Explores Safety of Soy on Reproduction and Fetal or Infant Development by Courtney Cavaliere

panel of 14 independent experts convened by the US Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR) and the National Toxicology Program (NTP) determined that the phytoestrogen genistein found in soybeans does not pose reasonable threat to human reproduction and development, based on available data. The panel noted that insufficient data exists, however, to permit a determination of the safety of soy infant formula.l

During a 3-day meeting, held March preparing monographs of genistein and $4 billion in the United States in 2003 15-17, 2006, in Alexandria, VA, the panel soy formula based on the panel's findings and are expected to continue to ri se, reviewed srudies oflaboratory animals and and on public comments submitted to according to rhe Soyfo ods Association of humans to determine whether genistein or CERHR by July 5. T he monographs will North Ameri ca .5 HG soy formula might cause adverse effects on be ava ilable to the public on rhe CERHR human reproduction and/or development Web si te and distributed to appropriate References of a fet us or infant. T he panel ultimately federal health and regulating agencies. 1. National Toxicology Program Center for expressed negligible concern for reproduc­ A recent editorial by Kenneth D .R. the Eva luation of Risks to Human Rep ro­ tive and developmental effects from expo­ Serchell, PhD, professor of pediatrics at duction: ex pert panel evaluation of ge nis­ tein and soy formula [meeting summary]. sure of adults, who they claim are unlikely rhe University of C inci nnati College of March 15-17, 2006. Center for the to consume daily levels of genistein suffi­ Medicine, addressed the panel's findings. 2 Eval uation of Risks to Human Reproduc­ cient to cause adverse effects in such areas. According to D r. Setchell, soy formula's tion Web sire. Available at: http://cerhr. T he panel members further expressed 40-yea r history of use with little docu­ n iehs. nih .gov/ chem icals/ gen iste in -soy/ negligible concern for adverse effects in mentation of adverse effects arres ts to its SoyMeecing%20Summary. pdf. Accessed neonates and infants who consume up safety. H e further pointed our that animal Apri l 24, 2006. to 0.01 -0.08 mg/kg body weight/day of res ting does not adequately demonstrate 2. Setchell K. Assessing risks and benefits of genistei n (the aglycone form of genis­ the potential effects of soy or genistein ge ni stein and soy. Environmental Health Perspectives. 2006; 11 4(6):332-333. tin) contained in soy formula. Of the on human infants, signaling a need for 3. Barrett J. The science of soy. Environmen­ unt of genistein/genistin in soy prospective studies of risks and benefits total amo tal Health Perspectives. 2006; 11 4(6) :353- formula only about I% is present in the of soy, in place of further animal trials. 358. uncomplexed aglycone form. With respect According to an article in Environmen­ 4. Core J. Srudy examin es long-term health to soy fo rmula's overall reproductive or tal Health Perspectives, rhe world 's largest effects of soy in fa nt formula. Agricultural developmental toxicity, rhe panel argued longitudinal study of children and their Research. 2004: 52(1);8-1 0. Available at: that poor srudy des igns, i nsufficienr consumption of soy-based formula, cow's http:/ /www.ars.usda.gov/is/ AR/archive/ sample sizes, and otherwise insufficient milk-based formula, and breast-milk is jan04/soy0104.pdf Accessed May 22, 2006. data of case-studies and trials prevented its currently underway, under the direction 5. Soy Food Sales and Trends page. Soyfoods members from arriving at a clear determi­ of Thomas Badger, PhD, of the Arkansas Association of North America Web site. nation of safety. C hildren's Nutrition Center.3 Avai lab le at: http:! /www.soyfoods.org/ The fu ll genistein and soy fo rmula Ir is estimated that 20-25% of infants sales/sales. html. Accessed May 22, 2006. expert panel reports are available at the in the United States consume soy infant CERHR Web sire, at http://cerhr.niehs. formula at some point during their devel­ nih.gov/. CERHR and NTP are jointly opment.3.4 Soy food sa les reached nearly

16 I Herba!Gram 72 2006 www.herbalgram .org Burgundy Botanical Extracts

For NUTRACEUTICALS and PHARMACEUTICALS A BRAND NEW PLANT For FOOD &BEVERAGES • Located near Macon (100 kms north of Lyon, France) • Food-Grade solvents only • Batch records for registration purpose CUSTOMS EXTRACTION • More than 1,000 tons I year as capacity GRAPE MAX'"' Grape Seed Extracts GRAPEMAX Extra-Pure 95 % Polyphenols (Folin) GUARAMAX'"' Guarana Extracts EXTRACTION FACILITIES GUARAMAX'"' W • Solid-Liquid Extraction : 24,000 liters capacity Water Extraction of Guarana for Extraction Operating from 50 kg to more than 100 tons as Plant (raw material) • Liquid-Liquid purification equipment SOYMAJCTM • Multi-stage spray-dryer : enables microgranulation, combining Soy lsoflavones 2 extracts as one powder, using freeze-grinded plant as carrier, adjusting the particle size to your needs, etc. TEAMAJCTM.W • Blender Green Tea Extract (water extraction) YERBAMAX Mate Extracts BMSRange Blends of Formulated Plant Extracts for Beverages And many others : DEVIL'S CLAW, OLIVE TREE LEAVES, R&D • Pilot : 1,000 liters Extraction Vessel PROPOLIS, BLACKCURRANT, ROOIBOS TEA ... 250 Vh Concentration Vessel • Pilot Spray-dryer • Semi-pilot : 71iters Extraction vessel • Laboratory extraction Burgundy Botanical Extracts

Actiparc de Pont de Vaux For further information, please contact our U. S. Distributor : Les Chapelles Sud F.01190 REYSSOUZE PHARMLINE Inc. Greg Berthomieu at (845) 651 4443 Tel. : +33(0)492082600 ·Fax : +33 (0)492082601 E-mail : [email protected] • www.burgundy-extracts.com 41 , Bridge Street · PO Box 291 ·FLORIDA New York 10921 ·USA www.pharmlineinc.com ------~ Research &World News ~------

Moroccan Argan Trees Threatened by Climbing Goats by Madeline Hollern

en the drought-ridden meadows of Morocco fail to satiate its native goats, the land-based animals look upwards for ources of sustenance-way up to the branches of the Argan tree. T he trees' water-filled leaves and olive-like fruit often W:empt the goats into climbing the thorny evergreens. In an unorthodox spectacle, the goats hoist themselves up the trees' twisted trunks, perch atop the branches like birds, and ingest the trees' fruit and water.1

Argans (Argania spinosa L. , Sapotaceae) use of its wood has reduced the number of May to August, when the fruit ripens and have been enticing goats for centuries . surviving trees to 50% of what it was 50 eventually fa lls to the ground. So fa r the T he tree is a relic species of the Tertiary years ago, making its future uncertai n. ban has left enough fruit on the ground to Period (which took place about 65 to 1.6 Although locals often refer to the Argan supply the growing number of oil coopera­ million years ago) .2 T hro ughout history, tree as "The Tree of Life ," their poor treat­ tives while still pro tecting the trees. 2 the goats' grav ity-defying behavior has ment of the tree's environment has largely The alliance has also created a global indirectly provided a service to Moroccan contributed to its steady demise.3 Increas­ marker for Arga n oil, which is one of locals. After eating the Argan fruit whole, ing amounts of people with large domes­ the ra res t and most expensive oils in the goats spit up or excrete its pits, much to the ticated grazing herds continue to move world .3 Monaco's Prince Albert II has into the area, res ult­ sponso red cooperatives to encourage the ing in overgrazing oil's export, while worldwide chefs and of the fragil e ecosys­ society matrons are praising the culinary tem. Even worse, the quali ties of the oil and its ami-aging effect tree has never been on skin.2 To make Argan oil, each nut has germinated from seed to be cracked open to remove the kernels, or transplanted from so making one liter of oil ca n take up to cuttings on a wide 20 hours of work. 1 The edible hazelnut­ scale.2 Unsustainable like oil is used in a Berber breakfas t condi­ collections of fire­ ment call ed amlou while the cosmetic oi l, wood, timber, and rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, fruit have also caused is used fo r massage, facials, aftershave a sharp decline in the lotion for men, hair conditioning, and nail tree's population, as fortify ing. 2,4 T he oil sells for over $25 for has the abandonment an 8.45 oz bottle in some Europea n and of traditio nal land American gourmet food shops.2,5 management in favor By increasing the economy and provid­ of more modern agri- ing jobs to locals, the Argan tree remains Photo ©2006 Fouad Zahiri cultural practices like a necessary economic asset to Moroccans, plowing and irrigated who in turn fight to keep their "Tree of delight of Berber farmers, who gather the crops. Global warming and the disap­ Life" alive and thriving. HG pits fo r industrial purposes. Undigested pearance of spiny "nurse" plants such argan pits ca n be split to extract bitter as Rhus pentaphylla Jacq., Anacardiaceae References internal kernels, which fa rmers grind and and Ziziphus spp., Rhamnaceae, which !. Argan: the Tree of Life. Al-bab Web si te. press to make nutty oils used for cook­ protected Argan tree seedlings, could also Avail abl e at: hnp://www.al-bab.com/ ing or cosmetics . But the tree's profit­ be culprits.3 maroc/env/argan.htm . Accessed August 4, 2006. able possibilities go beyond these oils, as To combat the demise of the Arga n tree, 2. Smith C. Hu ngry goats arop a tree, doing Argans have also traditionally been used several entities have created an alliance their bit fo r go urmands. The New York for purposes ra ngi ng from timber, fi re­ to raise awareness of its inherent va lue. Times. 2005; 300:A4. wood, and charcoal to ornaments, soap, G roups like UNESCO, Prince Albert II 3. The Moroccan Argan Tree. The Tree.org and medicine) of Monaco, and Cooperative Amal, the Web site. Ava ilable at: hnp: //www.the­ Argan trees, also known as Moroc­ country's fi rst oi l cooperative , are d iscour­ tree.org. uk!SpecialBr anch/ In Tree/ goats. can ironwoods,3 grow primarily between aging locals fro m chopping down the tree htm. Accessed August 4, 2006. Essaouira and Agadir in Southwest fo r firewood and encouraging more care­ 4. Mo rse K. Ardent for Arga n. Saudi Aramco World. 2004;55:1-5. Moro cco.1 T hey can survive heat, drought, ful goat grazing. 2 UNESCO has declared a 5. Natural Arga n O il from Morocco. and poor soil , making them suitably 10,000-square-mile patch of land between Earthy Delights Web site. Available at: adapted fo r harsh African enviro nments. the Atlantic and the Atlas Mountains as a http:/ /www.earthy.com/N atural_Atgan_ T he trees grow up to 10 meters high and "biosphere reserve," providing money to Oil_from_Morocco_ C54.cfm. Accessed typically live up to 200 yea rs.Z But despite manage the preservation of the trees. To August 10, 2006. the adaptability of Argan trees, current halt overgrazing, C ooperative A mal led a overgrazing by goats and commercial over- campaign to ban grazing in the trees from

18 I Herba!Gram 72 2006 www.herbalgram.org Crater Lake, Oregon Still waters run deep. A.M. Todd- Botanical Therapeutics Division has been quietly manufacturing herbal extracts for the dietary supplements industry for many years. We can manufacture your custom extracts, complex multi-herb extracts and blends. In addition There is more going to our manufacture of a wide range of standard extracts, we on at A. M. Todd can source and QC finished extracts directly from China and worldwide. And our Botanical Innovation T " products are Botanical Therapeutics charting a course in an exciting new direction. You've known and trusted A. M . Todd Company as your than you know. source for mint and other flavors since 1869. Put our expertise in extraction technology to work for you. This time call us first. A.M. TODD 1.800.827.4372 or 435.713.4888 BOTANICAL THER APE UTI CS or email us at [email protected] ------~lResearch ReviewJ~------

Special Saw Palmetto and Stinging Nettle Root Combination as Effective as Pharmaceutical Drug for Prostate Symptoms 0 eviewed: Engelman U, Walther C, Bondarenko B, et al. Efficacy and safety of a combination of Saba! and Urtica extract in lower fturinary tract symptoms. Arzneim-Forschung!Drug Res. 2006;56(3):222-229. More than 60% of males in the second PRO 160/120 (a fixed combination of 160 from BPH not requiring surgery. Inclusion half of life show evidence of benign mg saw palmetto fruit extract, ws· 1473, criteria included age ~ 50 years, maximum prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), i.e., based on and I20 mg stinging nettle root extract, urinary flow rare ~ 12 mils at a urinary clinical observations of urinary symptoms ws• 1031 (both made by Dr. Willmar volume ~ 150 ml, and initial IPSS total and/or on histological examination. BPH Schwabe GmbH & Co.)-has been shown score~ 13. During a 2-week placebo run­ may result in obstruction and irritation in published clinical trials to improve in phase, 140 subjects were randomized to of the lower urinary tract with symptoms peak urinary flow and improve subjec­ receive either 1 capsule 2 times per day of such as incomplete voiding, nighttime tive symptom scores on the International PRO 160/120 plus 1 capsule tamsulosin urination, and decreased urinary flow. Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) better placebo per day (n = 7I) or I capsule per Two types of conventional pharmaceu­ than placebo and comparable to the drug day tamsulosin plus I capsule 2 times per tical drugs have demonstrated efficacy in day of the PRO 160/120 placebo (n = 69). the treatment of these lower urinary tract After the baseline examination, follow-up symptoms (LUTS), although the etiol­ visits were scheduled after weeks 8, 16, ogy of BPH has not been fully elucidated. 24, 36, 48 and 60 of double-blind treat­ The 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, such ment. Safety of the treatments was moni­ as finasteride (Proscar•, Merck), block tored via physical examination, digital­ the conversion of testosterone to dihy­ rectal examination of the prostate, and drotestosterone, which is believed to be laboratory tests at pre-treatment and after responsible for some of the swelling of weeks 24 and 60. the prostate. The selective alpha1-adre­ Efficacy of treatment was assessed noceptor antagonists block post-synaptic primarily by the change in the IPSS total alpha1-adrenergic receptors, resulting in score between baseline and at the end of relaxation of smooth muscle in the blad­ the 60th week of treatment. Secondary der neck and prostatic urethra. Drugs that outcome measures included peak urinary act selectively on specific alpha-1 subtypes flow rare (measured by an electronic cause fewer unwanted side effects (e.g., uroflow recorder), average urinary flow sexual dysfunction) than 5-AR inhibitors. rate, urinary output, duration of mictu­ In placebo-controlled studies, the selec­ rition (urination) and flow increase, and tive alpha1A-adrenoreceptor antagonist residual urinary volume. The primary tamsulosin (Flomax•, Boehringer-Ingel­ Saw palmetto Serenoa repens Photo ©2006 analysis, conducted on the intention to stevenfoster.com heim), has been shown to effectively treat principle, was based on the full anal­ reduce subjective LUTS symptoms within ysis set (FAS)-"all patients who were 2 weeks of initiating treatment. Improve­ finasteride. 1 The IPSS is a self-rating ques­ randomized and received the investiga­ ment in peak urinary flow rate and resid­ tionnaire regarding lower urinary tract tional treatment at least once ...." After ual urinary volume reached statistical symptoms, including frequency, urgency, eliminating patients for protocol viola­ significance after 4 weeks of treatment nocturia, weak stream, and incomplete tions, the per protocol analysis (PP) was and reached maximum benefit after 12- emptying. conducted on 78.9% (56 of 71) in rhe 14 weeks. In rhe trial being reviewed here, research­ PRO 160/120 group and 78.3% (54 of69) Plant extracts are also extensively ers compared the efficacy and tolerability for the ramsulosin group. The subset of used in many European countries in of PRO 160/120 to tamsulosin in patients "responders"-patients who had an IPSS the management of BPH and they are with LUTS. The srudy was a prospec­ total score ~ 7 at endpoint-was analyzed becoming more popular in the United tive, randomized, double-blind, double­ as well. States. Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens [W. dummy, multicenter trial that utilized The FAS showed that the IPSS score Bartram] Small, Arecaceae) fruit (berry) PRO 160/120. Tamsulosin in 0.4 mg decreased from a median of 20 points at extract and stinging nettle (Urtica dioica slow-release capsules was purchased from baseline to a median of 11 points in the L., Urticaceae) root extract are the most the domestic marker. (In a double-dummy PRO 160/120 group and a median of 10 commonly used herbal preparations in design, both treatment groups receive an points in the tamsulosin group at week Germany, where 61.6% of men with active treatment as well as a placebo, as 60 (medians with 95% confidence inter­ LUTS are treated with phytomedicines. In explained below.) val). In both the FAS and PP analysis the randomized, double-blind clinical trials, The trial enrolled 149 subjects who were median intraindividual decrease in rhe both of these extracts have demonstrated recruited from outpatients in 23 private IPSS score was 9 points. The responder effectiveness in treating LUTS symptoms. urological practices and outpatient clinics rare (IPSS ~ 7 at endpoint) was 32.4% A product that combines both extracts- in Germany. Study subjects were suffering for PRO I60/120 (22 of 68 patients) and

20 I HerbaiGram 72 2006 www.herbalgram.org ------~lResearch ReviewJ~------

27.9% for tamsulosin (19 of 68 patients) Regarding the secondary outcome tor antagonist tamsulosi n" for the amelio­ in the FAS (P = 0.034 for non-inferiority measures, both groups demonstrated ration of BPH-associated LUTS. The of PRO 160/120). The responder rates in "considerable improvement" in peak and authors also concluded that "Both drugs the PP analysis were 32. 1o/o (18 of 56) for mean urinary flow, and decreased the reduced the subjective symptoms of BPH PRO 160/120 and 29.6% (18 of 54) for duration of urination and the amount of to a comparable, clinically re leva nt extent tamsulosin (P = 0.074 for non-inferior­ residual urine. Neither treatment had an that had a direct, beneficial influence on ity). Both treatments were also compa­ effect on urinary volume, flow increase, the patients' quality of life." This trial rably effective in a sub-group analysis prostate size, or sexual functioning. should help restore some of the compro­ of patients with a baseline IPSS of s; 19 The resea rchers concluded that the mised public and professional perception points (moderately severe symptoms) as saw palmerto-nerrle root combination of saw palmetto preparations for treat­ well as in patients with a baseline score of phytomedicine was safer rhan rhe conven­ ing BPH symptoms that was adve rsely ~ 20 points (severe symptoms). tional drug. Fifteen PRO 160/120 patients affected by the publication of a recent trial In the LUTS-based Quality of Life (21.1 o/o of 7 1) reported 18 adverse events with a negative outcome, in which a saw assessment (single item, range 0 [very (AEs) while 19 tamsulosin patients (27.5 % palmetto extract did not provide statisti­ good] to 6 [very bad]) , the PRO 160/ 120 of 69) reported 23 adverse events. Resea rch­ cally beneficial effects in patients with group improved by a median of 2 points, ers assessed these AEs and classified 6 more adva nced (moderate to severe) BPH while the tamsulosin group improved by in the PRO 160/120 group and 9 in the symptoms. 2 HG a median of 1 point (FAS , baseline versus tamsulosin group as being drug related. -Cathleen Rapp, NO treatment end). In the PRO 160/120 This corresponds ro less rhan 1 AE in 1000 group, 36 patients (50.7% of 71), and in treatment days. The authors therefore rare References the tamsulosin group, 34 patients (49.3% both drugs as having excellent tolerability I. Si:ikeland J. Combined saba! and urrica of 69), showed an improvement in qual­ "a lbeit with a 30% advantage regarding AE exrracr compared wirh finasteride in men ity of life of at least 2 points. The authors rates in favor of PRO 160/ 120." with benign prostatic hyperplasia: analy­ sis of prostate volume and therapeutic write, "With a margin of 13% for non­ In conclusion, the authors write that outcome. Br J Urol. 2000(86) :439---442. inferiority of PRO 160/ 120, treatment "this study supports the non-inferiority 2. Bent S, Kane C, Sh inohara K, et al. Saw with the herbal drug was significantly not of the [herbal combination] extract PRO palmetto for benign prostatic hyperplasia. inferior to treatment with ramsulosin (P 160/ 120 in comparison to the well inves ti­ New Eng!} Med. 2006;354:557-566. = 0.04)." gated and widely used alphaTadrenocep-

www.herbalgram.org 2006 HerbalGram 72 I 21 Research Reviews

Review of Herbal Medicines to Treat Low Back Pain D eviewed: Gagnier JJ, VanTulder M, Berman B, Bombardier C. Herbal medicine for low back pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. ftA.prill9, 2006;(2):CD004504.

Back pain is a common condition. In the United States, it is of 50 mg harpagoside, a white willow bark extract at a standard­ the most common cause of disability in people younger than 45 ized dosage of 240 mg salicin per day, and cayenne plaster seem years. 1 Low back pain is the second most frequent cause of work to reduce low back pain more than placebo. "These herbal medi­ absence in industrialized nations2 and is a frequent reason for cines could be considered as treatment options for acute episodes visits to a physician.3·4 These authors conducted a review of the of chronic low back pain," they write. scientific literature to determine the effectiveness of herbal medi­ Following are the studies reviewed by these authors. cines compared with placebo, no intervention, or other interven­ tions in the treatment of nonspecific low back pain (defined as Oral Herbal Medicines Versus Placebo "pain between the lowest rib and the bottom of the buttocks that One 4-week trial tested an extract of devil's claw (Dolotef- is not caused by serious, underlying problems such as rheumatoid fin", Ardeypharm GmbH, Herdecke, Germany) standardized to arthritis, infection, fracture, cancer, or 50 mg harpagoside (H) per day versus sciatica due to a herniated disc or other placebo in 118 patients with chronic pressure on nerves"). low back pain.5 Results showed a signif­ Included in this review were random­ icant increase in the number of pain­ ized controlled trials (RCTs) includ­ free patients in the 50 mg H group (9% ing adults (older than 18 years) suffer­ to 17%) over the placebo group (2% ing from acute (lasting up to 6 weeks), to 5%). In another 4-week trial, 197 subacute (lasting 6 to 12 weeks), or patients were given either a daily dose chronic (lasting longer than 12 weeks) of devil's claw extract (WS 1531", W. nonspecific low back pain. Herbal medi­ Schwabe Pharmaceuticals, Karlsuhe, cine was defined as "all or part of a plant Germany; standardized to 100 mg H or that was used for medicinal purposes, 50 mg H), or placebo.6 The number of administered orally or applied topically." patients who were pain free for at least Outcome measures were pain intensity, 5 days in the fourth week of treatment functional status, overall improvement, was significantly higher in the 100 mg and work status. group than in either the placebo group The authors searched the following or the lower dose (50 mg H) group. databases: Cochrane Complementary Two studies compared dried white Medicine Field Trials Registry (Issue 3, Devi l's claw Harpagophytum procumbens willow bark with placebo. In the first 2005); MEDLINE (1966 to July 2005); Photo ©2006 stevenfoste r. com study, 210 patients were divided into 3 EMBASE (1980 to July 2005); and Clini- groups and given either 2 doses of white cal Evidence (January 2005). In addition, they reviewed refer­ willow bark standardized to either 120 mg or 240 mg salicin per ence lists in review articles, guidelines, and retrieved articles, and day or placebo.? The number of patients who were pain free for at contacted persons with expertise in herbal medicine and low back least 5 days in the fourth week of treatment increased from base­ pain to identify additional trials. Methodological quality and line in the placebo group (n=4), 120 mg salicin group (n=15), clinical relevance were assessed separately by 2 of the authors; and the 240 mg salicin group (n=27). The authors note that the disagreements were resolved by consensus. trend for dose was significant, with the group receiving 240 mg For this review, 10 citations met the inclusion criteria. Three salicin showing more improvement in the pain index than the studies used an oral form of the herbal species devil's claw (Harp­ group receiving 120 mg salicin. A second trial was designed to agophytum procumbens, [Burch.] DC. ex Meisn., Pedaliaceae); 3 test platelet aggregation of white willow bark extract (Assalix", used an oral white willow bark (Salix alba L., Salicaceae); and 4 Bionorica, Neumarkt, Germany) but did not measure clinically used topical cayenne (Capsicum frutescens L., Solanaceae). Four relevant outcomes. 8 studies compared various oral herbal medicines with placebo; 2 studies compared oral herbal medicines with standard pain Oral Herbal Medicines Versus Standard Pain Medication medications; 3 studies compared topical herbal medicines with A study of 88 patients with acute episodes of chronic, nonspe­ placebo, and 1 compared a topical herbal medicine with a topical cific low back pain were given devil's claw (Doloteffin•) standard­ homeopathic medicine. ized to 60 mg H per day or 12.5 mg rofecoxib (Vioxx•, a nonste­ The authors note that most of the trials reviewed are of moder­ roidal anti-inflammatory drug) per day. Between the 2 groups, ate or high quality, but they tested only the effects of short-term no statistically significant differences were seen in the number of (up to 6 weeks) use. Also, the authors of half of the studies were patients who were pain free for at least 5 days in the sixth week judged to have a potential conflict of interest, and 2 others did not of treatment.9 discuss conflict of interest. In a second study, 228 patients were given either a daily dose of After conducting the review, the authors of this review conclude willow bark extract (Assalix"), yielding 240 mg salicin, or a daily that an aqueous devil's claw extract at a standardized daily dosage dose of 12.5 mg of rofecoxib. The study revealed no differences in

22 I HerbaiGram 72 2006 www. herba lgram.org ------llResearch ReviewJ~------effectiveness in the short term for patients with acute episodes of 2. Praemer A, Furner S, Rice DP. Musculoskeletal Conditions in the chronic, nonspecific low back pain.IO United States. Park Ridge, Ill : American Academy of Orrhopaedic Surgeons; 1992. Topical Herbal Medicines Versus Placebo 3. Coste J, Delecoeuilleri e G, Cohen de Lara A, Le Pare JM, Paolaggi JB. C linical course and prognostic factors in acute low back pain: In one trial, 40 patients with acute mechanical low back pain an inception cohorr study in primary ca re practice. BMJ. February were treated for 14 days with either a cream called Rado-Salil* 26, 1994;308:577-580. (containing ethysalicylate, methylsalicylate, glycosalicylate, sali­ 4. Andersson GBJ. Epidemiological features of chronic low-back pain. cylic acid, ca mphor, menthol, and oleoresin capsicum; Will­ Lancet. August 14, 1999;354:581-585. Pharma; The Netherlands) or a placebo cream containing oils 5. Chrubas ik S, Zimpfer C H , Schun U, Z iegler R. Effectiveness of of bergamot (Citrus bergamia Risso & Poir. , Rutaceae) and oil Harpagophytum procumbens in the trea tment of acute low back pain. of lavender (Lavandula spp. L., Lamiaceae).ll An improvement Phytomedicine. 1996;3: 1- 10. in pain score was seen in the Rado-Salil group, as well as a more 6. C hrubasik S, Junek H , Breitschwerdt H , Conradt C, Zappe H . Effectiveness of Harpagophytum extract WS 1531 in the treat­ favorable rating by both patients and physicians. (It is certainly ment of exacerbation of low back pain: a randomized placebo­ questionable whether the bergamot and lavender essential oils are controlled, double-blind study. European Jo urnal ofAnaesthe siol.ogy. inert and thus whether they should have qualified as candidates 1999; 16:11 8-29. for use as a placebo.) 7. C hrubas ik S, Eisenberg E, Balan E, Weinberger T, Luzzati R, In another trial, 154 patients with acute episodes of chronic, Conradt C. Treatment of low back pain exacerbations with willow nonspecific low back pain were randomly assigned to a placebo bark ex tract: a randomized double-blind study. American journal of plaster group or a group using a capsicum plaster (comaining Medicine. 2000;109:9-1 4. 8. Krivoy N, Pavlotzky E, C hrubasik S, Eise nberg E, Brook G. Effects 12 mg of capsaicinoids per plaster) for 3 weeks. 12 A 30% reduc­ of sa licis cortex extract on human platelet aggregation. Planta tion in pain was reported in 60.9% of patients in the capsicum Medica . 2000;67:209-212. group and 42.1 o/o of those in the placebo group. After treatment, 9. C hrubasik S, Model A, Black A, Pollak S. A randomized double­ 13.5% of the capsicum group and 6.6% of the placebo group were blind pilot study comparing Doloteffin and Vioxx in the treatment completely symptom-free. of low back pain. Rheumatology. 2003;42: 14 1-1 48. In another study of patients with chronic low back pain, 320 I 0. C hrubasik S, Kunze! 0 , Model A, Conradt C, Black A. Treat­ patients were randomly assigned to a placebo plaster group or a ment of low back pain with a herbal or synthetic anti-rheumatic: capsicum plaster group for 21 days.13 (The topical capsicum plas­ a randomized controlled swdy. Willow bark extract for low back ter contained an ethonolic extract of cayenne pepper standard­ pain. Rheumatology. 2001;40:1388-1393. II . Ginsberg F, Famaey JP. A double-blind study of topical massage ized to 22 mcg/cm 2 of capsaicinoids.) Reduced pain, as well as with Rado-Salil. Ointment in mechanical low back pain. The jour­ improved function, was seen in the capsicum plaster group. nal ofInternational Medical Research. 1987; 15:148-153. 12. Keitel W, Frerick H , Kun U, Schmidt U, Kuhlmann M, Brede­ Topical Herbal Medicine Versus Homeopathic Treatment hoorst A. Capsicum pain plaster in chronic non-specific low back In one trial, 161 patients (mixed group with new acute low back pain. Arzneimtel Forschung. 200 I ;5 1. pain and acute episodes of chronic low back pain) were randomly 13. Frerick H , Keitel W, Kuhn U, Schmidt S, Bredehorst A, Kuhlmann treated for 7 days with either a Spiroflor SRL homeopathic gel M . Topical treatment of chronic low back pain with a capsicum (VSM ; The Netherlands) or a Cremor Capsici Compositus plas ter. Pain. 2003;106:59-64. 14. Starn C, Bonnet MS, van Haselen RA . The efficacy and safety of a FNA gel (Ratiopharm; The Netherlands).14 Each of the gels was homeopathic gel in the treatment of acute low back pain: a multi­ applied at 3 g per day. Both groups showed a significant reduction centre, randomized, double-blind comparative clinical trial. British in pain. The authors reported no statistically significant or clini­ Ho meopathic j ournal. 2001 ;90:21-28. cally relevant differences in effectiveness between the 2 gels. Both groups showed a significant reduction in pain on the VAS (Visual Analog Scale), with a decrease of 38.2 mm in the SLR group and 36.6 mm in the CCC group. In the SLR group, 50% of subjects reported that treatment was 80% effective and 18% reported total (100%) effectiveness. In the CCC group, this was 55 % and 15 %, respectively. The authors of this review conclude that "An aqueous extract of Harpagophytum procumbens at a standardized daily dosage of 50 mg harpagoside, an extract of Salix alba at a standardized dosage of 240 mg salicin/day, and a plaster of Capsicum frutescens seem to reduce pain more than placebo. These herbal medicines could be considered as treatment options for acute episodes of chronic low-back pain." HG -Shari Henson and Courtney Cavaliere References I. Barkan J, Reis S. Talking about pain: a pati ent-centered study of low back pain in primary care. Soc Sci Med. 1995;40(7):977-988. www.herbalgram.org 2006 HerbaiGram 72 I 23 ------~lResearch ReviewJ~------

Sage Leaf Extract Reduces Anxiety in Clinical Trial D eviewed: Kennedy D, Pace S, Haskell C, Okello E, Milne A, Scholey A. Effects of cholinesterase inhibiting sage (Salvia I.'\.officinalis) on mood, anxiety and performance on a psychological stressor battery. N europsychopharmacol. 2006;31:845-852.

In human, animal, and in vitro labo­ on 30 healthy volunteers (mean age: 24 tuted with 53% ethanol and assayed for ratory resea rch, ga rden sage (Salvia yea rs) at the University of Norrhumbria, cholines terase activity. officina/is L., Lamiaceae) has been shown Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. Participants Subjects underwent a battery of tests to inhibit cholinesterase enzymes, enzymes received placebo, 300, or 600 mg of dried and ingested the day's treatment. T hen at that break down acetylcholine (Ach), a leaf sage ex tract (MedicHerb UK Ltd, 1 hour and 4 hours post-dose rhe partici­ chief neurotransmitter. Compounds that Buckinghamshire, U K) in a counterbal­ pants completed the battery of tests again. inhibit acetylcholines terase (AChE), rhe ance design (a n ex perimental design in T he res ts included (1 ) the Defined Inten­ specific enzyme that metabolizes Ach, which all subjects receive treatments to sity Stressor Simulation (DISS) computer­ may improve mood in some people by determine the best sequence) with a 7-day ized battery, which rates negative mood, helping to maintain optimal levels of washout period between treatments. arousa l, and stress-related physiological Ach and rhus brain ac tivity. Lemon balm To make the tes t material, 300 mg responses; (2) the Stare-Trait Anxiety (Melissa officina/is L., Lamiaceae) also has dried sage leaf and 3 ml of 80% etha­ Inventory (STAI), which measures fluctu­ demonstrated these cholinergic proper­ nol were placed in a glass container. ating levels of anxiety; and (3) the Bond­ ties and has been shown to significantly T he mixture was ultrasonically extracted Lacier visual analogue mood scales, which reduce the negative mood consequences for 10 minutes. T he ex tract was then measures the mood effects of anxiolyrics . of a psychological stressor battery. 1.2 The decanted and filtered. T he procedure was T he dried sage leaf extract was also tested authors of this trial used the lemon balm repeated twice more. A rotary evapora­ in vitro to assess its AChE activity. study as a model to evaluate the anxiety tor was used for 15 minutes to evaporate In vitro, sage ethanol extract dose­ and mood modulating capabilities of sage. the solvent, and the fla sk was weighed to dependently inhibited AChE and buryr­ This randomized, double-blind, placebo­ determine rhe extract's dried weight. The lcholinesrerase (B uC hE), another simi­ controlled, crossover study was conducted supernatant (clear liquid) was reconsti- lar enzy me. The extract more selectively inhibited BuChE than AChE. BuChE is less specific and is found in plasma and li ver, while AchE is found in neuronal Earn a tissue and red blood cells (RBC). T he authors point out that the activity of sage may also involve other properties yet to be Master of Science Degree discovered. In the absence of a stressor, both doses in Herbal Medicine of sage had a significant improvement on ratings of mood (P < 0.05) . The lower ADVANCED STANDING NOW AVAILABLE CORE & RESIDENTIAL FACULTY dose reduced anxiety, and the higher FOR EXPERIENCED HERBALISTS dose increased alerrness, calmness, and James Snow, Director of Herbal Medicine OVER 800 HOURS OF EXTENSIVE contentedness (P < 0.05). Both doses of Program, Chair-Herbal Division, RH (AHG) CLINICAL TRAINING & PRACTICUM sage modulated the stress-inducing effects Kevin Spelman, BS, RH (AHG), MCPP of the DISS battery, but the lower dose Chair-Clinical Division was associated with increased anxiety and Claudia Joy Wingo, BSN, DMH decreased alertness. T he stressful situation Acting Chair-Cli nical Division el iminated the stress-reducing capability Bevin Clare, BS, RH (AHG) of the low dose of sage. To this end, the Simon Mills, MA, FNIMH, MCPP authors believe that the lower dose fa lls James Duke, PhD below the treatment threshold required to Tina Lightner, MS, RH (AHG) benefi cially modulate mood and perfor­ mance. They believe the higher dose is VISITING FACULTY within the beneficial therapeutic window. The dose findings in this study are the 7Song, RH (AHG) opposite of that reported in other stud­ Mary Bove, ND, CPM ies that used the essential oil or erhanolic Jerry Cott, PhD extracts of S. lavandulifolia (Va hl)_3.4 In Jill Stansbury, ND those studies, the lower dose was within Roy Upton, RH (AHG) the therapeutic window and the higher David Winston, RH (AHG) dose was nor. T he authors point out that Eric Yarnell, ND these diverge nt findings underscore the lack of current understanding regarding

24 I HerbaiGram 72 2006 www.herbalgram.org ------~~esearch ReviewJ~------

the consequences of different extraction References techniques. The authors conclude that a I. Kennedy DO, Scholey AB, Tildesley single 600 mg dose of the dry leaf extract N, et al. Modulation of mood and preparation ca n improve mood and cogni­ cognitive performance following acute tive performance in healthy young indi­ administration of Melissa afficinalis viduals. According to Jerry Cott, PhD, a (lemon balm). Pharmacal Biachem Behav. psychopharmacologist at the US Depart­ 2002;72(4):953-964. 2. G, ment of Health and Human Services, Kennedy DO, Wake Savelev S, et al. Modulation of mood and cogniti ve "There are other explanations for these performance following acute administra­ results that do nor involve dose or extrac­ tion of single doses of Melissa afficinalis tion technique. The primary one is rhe (lemon balm) with human CNS nico­ lack of a specific test for mood and the tinic and muscarinic receptor-bind- lack of a concurrent control (placebo) ing properties. Neurapsychapharmacai. treatment. The results of cognitive tests 2003;28(1 0): 1871 -1 88 1. can change over time when administered 3. T ildesley NT], Kennedy DO, Perry EK, Ballard C, Savelev S, Wesnes KA, Scholey on multiple occasions for reasons rhar Sage Sa lvia officina/is AB. Salvia iavandulaefolia (Spanish sage) may have nothing to do with the treat­ Photo ©2006 stevenfoster.com enhances memory in healthy young ment" (]. Cott personal communica tion vo lunreers. Pharmacal Biachem Behav. to C. Cavaliere, June 23, 2006). Such trials monitored the effec ts of sage 2003;75:669-674. As noted just above, preparations from on factors thought ar rhar time to be 4. Tildesley NTJ, Kennedy DO, Perry EK, 5. lavandulifolia have previously shown associated either with Alzheimer's symp­ Ballard C, Wes nes KA, Scholey AB. potential neurological and cognitive toms or irs prevention, including inhibi­ Cognitive and mood effects of acme benefits in humans. A recent review in tion of AChE, antioxidant activity, eico­ ad ministration of Salvia iavanduiaefolia H erba!Gram examined the essential oil sa noid synthes is (part of the inflammatory (Spani sh sage) ro healthy yo ung volun­ teers. Physial Behav. 2005;83:699-709. and extracts of S. lavandulifolia for their response), and binding to the estrogen 5. Houghron P. Activity and constiruenrs receptor. HG potential as a treatment fo r Alzheimer's of sage relevanr ro the potenrial treat­ disease, based upon the results of m ultiple - H eather S. Oliff, PhD menr of symproms of Alzheimer's disease. studies usi ng these sage preparations.S HerbalGram . 2004;61 :38-53.

A Breakthrough in Natural Products There's not a day that goes by where your immune system isn't challenged in some shape or form. Fatigue, stress, travel, work, crowds and yes, even the weather all contribute to the weakening of your body's defense system. Fortunately, there is a new next generation, natural product that you can take when you need to strengthen your immune system: COLD-fX. •

Backed by 10 years of studies and clinical trials, along with peer reviewed papers in 8 major medical journals, COLD-fX has been scientifically proven to strengthen your immune system. • It's made of unique polysaccharides isolated from a natural plant source, thus leaving unwanted chemicals behind.

Twice patented for composition and process, this breakthrough product delivers consistent and proven biological activity in each capsule.

Strengthen your Defense.TM

www.herbalgram.org 2006 HerbaiGram 72 I 25 ------~lResearch ReviewJ~------

Trial Demonstrates that Herbal Combination ColiMil®is Effective for Colicky Infants viewed: Savino F, Cresi F, Castagno E, Silvestro L, Oggero R. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of a tandardized extract of Matricariae (sic) recutita, Foeniculum vulgare and Melissa officina/is (ColiMil) in the treatment of R reastfed colicky infants. Phytother Res. 2005;19:335-340. Infantile colic, one of the most common problems afflicting 15- (aged 21-60 days) diagnosed with severe colic according to 30% of Western infants within their first 3 months of life, is of Wessel's criteria were divided into 2 groups. According to Wessel's unknown etiology. It is a syndrome characterized by paroxysmal diagnostic criteria, crying lasts for more than 3 hours a day, more (s udden or spasmodic), excessive, and inconsolable crying. Crying than 3 days a week, and for more than 3 weeks. The treatment usually starts at the sa me time each day, being more intense in the group received ColiMil (n = 41), and the control group (n = 47) afternoon and evening and las ting 2-3 hours. The causes of colic received a placebo (inverted osmosis water, fructose, pineapple are believed to be organicistic (e.g., "abnormal gastrointestinal flavor, citric acid, and sorbate potassium). Two subjects were with­ function and allergic disorders") and behav ioral (e.g., "inadequate drawn from the treatment group and 3 subjects from the control and inappropriate maternal- infant interaction"). group; however, no subject was withdrawn due to "any problems ColiMil" (Colimil, Milte-Milan, Italy) consists of extracts of related to the trial." Parents recorded crying time, medication lemon balm (Melissa officina/is L., Lamiaceae) herb, sweet fennel administration, and any observed side effects in a structured diary (Foeniculum vulgare Mill. var. dulce, Apiaceae) seed, and German throughout treatment and after therapy ended for a total of 21 chamomile (Matricaria recutita L., Asteraceae) flower-herbs days. Parents also completed a questionnaire at day 21. known to be effective treatments for gastrointestinal distress and Subjects received either the placebo or ColiMil twice a day anxiety. The aim of this randomized, double-blind, prospec­ before breastfeeding for 7 days (2 mllkg/day). Each dose of tive clinical trial was to evaluate the effect of Coli Mil on colicky ColiMil consisted of the following standardized extracts: Sweet breastfed infants. The study took place at the D epartment of fennel fruit powdered extract (PE) standardized to 0.05% to 0.1 o/o Pediatrics of the Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Univer­ essential oil (EO) (164.29 mg), chamomile fl ower PE standard­ sity of Turin, Italy between March 2001 and March 2003. Infants ized to 0.3% apigenin (1 77.69 mg), lemon balm EO standardized to 2% rosmarinic acid (96.89 mg), 0.85 mg of vitamin B1, 3.24 mg of calcium pantothenate, and 1.20 mg of vitamin B6. Responders were considered infants whose crying time was (Advertisement) reduced by at least 50% per day. Eighty-eight infants completed the trial. At baseline (day 0) daily average crying time was simi­ CRN SEEKS BOTANICALS EXPERT lar between the 2 groups: 201.2 min/day for the ColiMil group (S D 18 .3) and 198.7 min/day (SD 16.9) for the placebo group The Council for Res ponsible Nutrition (CRN), a Washington, (P=0.507). For the first 3 days of treatment, reduction in crying D.C.-based trade association representing dietary supplement time was similar between the placebo and ColiMil groups. At day industry ingredient suppliers and manufacturers, founded in 7, a reduction of crying time was observed in 85.4% of patients 1973, is in search of a Botanicals Expert to increase the receiving ColiMil and in 48.9% of infants receiving the placebo awareness of the evolving botanical research base that supports (P<0.005). Average daily crying time at day 7 was 76.9 min/day an appropriate role for plant-based dietary supplements and to for the ColiMil group and 169.9 min/day for the placebo group use that science as the basis for influencing and responding to (CI 95% = -102.89, -83.11 , P<0.001). Crying was still reduced 15 regulatory and legislative initiatives, industry activities and days after treatment was completed in the ColiMil group (day 21 media coverage of botanical and herbal dietary supplements. average daily crying time= 82.1 min/day) . Neither group reported The Scientist will: provide scientific expertise in botany, adverse side effects. pharmacognosy and toxicology; ensure that CRN's legislative or Based on these results, the authors conclude that ColiMil is a other policy positions are based on a sound scientific rationale; safe and effective treatment for severe colic in breastfed infants. and also organize botanical/regulatory components of CRN They also suggest that "each component [i.e., each herbal extract] sponsored events. A Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Biology, of the phytotherapeuric agent [the formulation] should be evalu­ Organic Chemistry, Botany, Pharmacognosy, Toxicology or ated in order to improve the effectiveness of the treatment" and Natural Medicine and minimum of five years relevant that further studies at different therapeutic doses are needed to experience in the field of Botanical Science or Natural Products determine if this activity is dose-dependent. HG Chemistry is required. Excell ent written and oral --Marissa Oppel, MS communication skills are required with some history of publication in peer-reviewed journals. Must have the ability to multi-task and work in collegial, fast-paced environment as a team playe r. Interested candidates should visit http:/ / www.crnusa.org for a full job description or contact Marie Hooper, CRN's Director of Administration and Human Resources, at [email protected] for more information.

26 I HerbaiGram 72 2006 www.herbalgram.org For more than 70 years we have focused exclusively on your health and wellness needs. We provide you the best in innovative nutrition with a dedicated staff to help you - live well. Research Reviews

Swiss Horse Chestnut Seed Extract Treats Patients with Chronic Venous Insufficiency: A Review of 5 Clinical Trials fl eviewed: Suter A, Bommer S, Rechner J. Treatment of patients with venous insufficiency with fresh plant horse chestnut seed ft.extract: a review of 5 clinical trials. Adv Ther. 2006;23(1):179-190.

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) afflicts approximately effect on the catalytic breakdown of proteoglycans in the cel l wall. 6- 10% of adults in industrialized countries, and its prevalence This article is a review of 5 clinical trials of varying methodologi­ increases with age. T his disease is characteri zed by venous stasis cal quality on the safety and efficacy of 4 different formulations res ulting from va lvular incompetence. Early manifestations of of H CSE made by the sa me company (Aesculaforce•; Bioforce CVI include edema (swelling) of the ankle and calf. Various types AG, Roggwil, Switzerland; marketed in the United States as of horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L. , Hippocastanaceae) Venaforce•) in patients with CVI and varicose veins. The 4 seed ex tract {H CSE) have been used to treat CVI in European Aesculaforce preparations investigated in the 5 clinical trials are countries for decades. Published data support its use for allevi­ described as follows: {1) an alcohol tincture containing 39 mg ating the pain, cramps, itching, and edema associated with this aescin (the drug-extract ratio of the tincture is 1:2.6; the dosage disease, and the evidence for the efficacy of HCSE has been regimen is equal to 1.5 g of fresh plant); (2) tablets containing 20- ample enough to be acknowledged in a positive monograph by the mg aesci n; (3) tablets containing 50-mg aescin; and (4) gel with German Commission E. I 2% aescin (external use). All studies were conducted in compliance A recent systematic review of 17 clinical trials on oral prepara­ with Good Clinical Prac tice. Changes in several symptoms associ­ tions of H CSE involving over 1400 patients, has concluded that ated with CVI were assessed, including heaviness and tension in H CSE is an effective treatment for CVI compared to placebo the legs, edema, blue discoloration, pain, burning, and itching. and reference treatments. 2 T he risk/benefit ratio ofHCSE for the In study 1 (p rospective, open, multicenter) , 77% of 38 patients short-term treatment of CVI was considered positive, with adverse had a cl inica lly therapeutic effect after an average of 4 weeks of effects being mild and infrequent. treatment with the alcohol tincture (25 drops per day), and 60% T he primary active ingredients ofH CSE are collectively known of the pati ents rated the efficacy as "good " to "very good " for alle­ as aescin, which comprise a mixture of alkylated triterpene viating leg swelling, pruritus {itching), heav iness and tension in glycosides. T he mechanism of action appears to be an inhibitory the legs, and cra mps.3 T he tincture was well tolerated; 3 adverse THE MOST CLINICALLY TESTED BRAND FOR NATURAL RELIEF OF ~NOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS.* The brand Remifemin®has average, a 70% reduction term sleep patterns.* been used safely and effectively of menopausal symptoms ­ Researcli on this blend in Europe for 50 years for hot making it the world's most has shown that women with flashes and night sweats .* Numer­ clinically tested brand for occsional sleeplessness had, on ous clinical studies have scien­ natural menopausal therapy. * average, an 88% improvement tifically proven Remifemin to Relief for occasional in ability to fall asleep, stay be safe and effective for, on sleeping problems along asleep, and in sleep quality.* with the other symptoms of menopause is now available ~~ with new Remifemin Good Night.* In addition to the RemiSure"' standard propri­ etary Black Cohosh extract, it also has a IJroprietary Restful Sleep BlenCi which is non-habit forming and works to safely Reduce hot flashes support the body's own long- Reduce hot flashes and night sweats by, and night sweats plus, on average, 70%.* For more information on average, an BSO;{, - Liske J. J Womens Health Gend Based Med. visit Remifemin.com improvement in sleep.* 2002 Mar;11 (2): 163-74 -Friede M. Nerveheilkunde. 1999;18:91-95.

'These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Th is product is not intended to diagnose, treat. cure or prevent any disease.

28 [ HerbaiGram 72 2006 www.herbalgram.org ------~lResearch ReviewJ~------events were reported (2 in the placebo group). References In study 2 (randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind), I. Blumenrhal M , Busse WR, Goldberg A, Gruenwald J, H all T, symproms improved in the treatment (20 mg aescin per tablet; 2 Riggins CW, Rister RS , eds. Klein S, Rister RS , trans. The Complete tablets per day) and placebo groups (n = 52); ankle circumference German Commission E Monographs- Therapeutic Guide to Herbal decreased significantly more (P < 0.05) in the treatment group than Medicines. Austin, TX: American Botanical Council ; Boston: Inte­ in the placebo group.4 Three reports of gastroinrestinal problems grative Medicine Communications; I 998. were reported (2 in the placebo group and 1 in the treatment group). 2. Pinier MH, Ernst E. Horse chestnut seed extract for chronic venous In study 3 (open, si ngle-center), mean symprom scores improved insufficiency. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006; I :CD003230. 3. Bommer S, Shah D. Degenring FH. Aesculaforce N : Therapie und in all 78 patients after treatment with 50 mg aescin for 8 weeks, 1 tablet per day.5 Most of the patients (95%) rated the rolerability of the treatment as "good" or "fairly good," and 51% of the patients rated the overall efficacy as "good" or "very good." Several adverse events were reported; however, only 4 were judged ro be related ro the study medication. In study 4 (open, uncontrolled, multi­ center), more than 85% of the patients (n = 64) and phys icians rated the over­ all efficacy of the aescin gel as "good" or "moderate," and 92% of the patients rated the rolerability robe "good."6 Ankle circumference and mean individual and rota! symprom scores all decreased significantly (P < 0.05). None of the adverse events reported were judged ro be related ro the study medication. In study 5 (open, uncontrolled), 39 patients completed 8 weeks of therapy with a combination of the aescin gel (applied morning and evening) and the 20-mg tablets (1 per day).G All symprom scores decreased by the end of treat­ Horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum. Photo ©2006 stevenfoster.com ment, signi ficantly so for heaviness and pain in the legs and blue discoloration. Efficacy and rolerability scores of between 5 and 8 on a 10-point scale were reported. Prophylaxe chronisch-veniise r lnsuffizienz [Aesculaforce N: Therapy The review of these clinical trials concludes that the Aescula­ and prophylaxis of chronic venous insufficiency]. Schweiz Zschr force" HCSE products, whether taken orally or applied ropically, GanzheitsMedizin. I 994;4: 184- I 86. 4. Shah D . Bommmer S, Degenring FH . Aesculaforce bei chronisch "provide effective treatment for patients with stage I and II CYI, veniiser insuffizienz. Placebokomrollierre doppelblind-studie zum as assessed by both objective and subjective methods" and their nacjweis der wirksamkeit und vertragli chkeit eines phytotherapeuti­ effectiveness is comparable with that of standard compression kums. [Aesculaforce in chroni c venous insufficiency. Placebo-cont­ therapy. The products tested were well rolerated and sa fe , and the rolled double-blind study to demonstrate the efficacy and tolerabi­ authors conclude that "Aesculaforce represents a rea l alternative lity of a plant remedy.] Schweiz Z Ganzheitsmed. I 997;9:86-9 1. therapy for those with mild to moderate forms of ve nous insuf­ 5. Dickson S, Gallagher J, Mclnryre L, Suter A, Tan J. An open study ficiency." to assess the safery and efficacy of Aesculus hippocastanum tabl ets A weakness of this review is that it covers both controlled and (Aescularforce 50 mg) in the treatment of chronic venous insuffi­ ciency. J Herbal Pharmcother. 2004;4: 19-32. uncontroll ed trial designs, as well as different dosages and modes 6. Geissbi.ihler S, D egen ring FH. Treatment of chronic venous insuf­ of administration, e.g., the use of a ropical gel vs. tablets for inter­ ficiency with Aesculaforce vei n gel. Schweiz Z Ganzheitsmed. nal use, vs. a combination of both. In addition, 2 of the 3 authors 1999;11:82-87. are employed by the manufacturer of the preparations, contribut­ 7. Horse C hestnut. In: Blumenthal M, Hall T, Goldberg A, Kunz T, ing ro potential bias. Nevertheless, the individual trials are each Dinda K, Brinckmann J, Wollschlaeger B. The ABC Clinical Guide sufficiently powered for their conclusions ro be relevant and the to Herbs. Austin, TX: American Botanical Council; 2003:250-258. results of this review are consistent with those of other trials and 8. Hippocastani semen (Horse-chestnut seed) . In: ESCOP monographs: reviews of H CS£J .8 HG The scientific foundation for herbal medicinal products. 2nd ed. Exeter, UK: European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy; New -Brenda Milot and Mark Blumenthal York: Thieme New York; 2003:248-256.

www.herbalgram.org 2006 Herba!Gram 72 I 29 ------~l Editorial J~------Echinacea Taxonomy-Is the Re-classification of the Genus Warranted? by Mark Blumenthal and Lowell E. Urbatsch, PhD

ystematic botany is primarily concerned with classifying and naming plants, assessing their relationships to one another, as well as gaining insights into the nature of species. In earlier times the lack of a systematic process for determining the names and Sgroupings of plants into families, genera, species, etc., was the source of considerable confusion among botanists, biologists, physicians, pharmacists, herbalists, and others.

In the mid-1700s the Swedish biologist Carl von Linne at some point their genetic makeup might change to the degree (Linnaeus) developed what became the modern classification where individuals from the two sites can no longer interbreed system fo r plants and animals and the generally accepted method with one another. At this point they would certainly be regarded for naming them, i.e., the binomial system of nomenclature.' as distinct species. Now generally referred to as the Linnaean hierarchical sys tem of Another complexity in assessing species limits involves classi­ classificati on, orga nisms are placed into a se ries of more inclusive fying populations separated geographically that exhibit physical categories such as species, ge nera, tribes, families, orders, etc., differences but which might interbreed in certain areas where they based on their characteristics. In the case of plants, features of do grow together. T he ability of different plant species to hybrid­ their fl owers, leaves, fruits, seeds, and now, chromosomes, and so ize with one another to a limited extent in nature or extensively on are eva luated in this regard. Each kind of organism (i.e., all under controlled conditions provides important information. It similar individuals that in nature interbreed) is assigned a bino­ is not uncommon, for example, that many herbaceous species mial (genus name plus specific epithet), ge nerally referred to as of plants hybridize under controlled conditions and to a limited the species name or scientific name. Similar species are placed in extent in nature. Bur the fact that different species can hybridize the sa me genus, similar genera might be grouped in a tribe, and is not necessarily a basis for concluding that they, in fact, represent similar tribes within a family. a single rather than two or more species. Since Linnaeus' time and es pecially within the pas t 20 yea rs, T he stages in species formation are ge nerally thought to be classificati on systems have become more ri gorous, and also a great continuous so that the exact point where two differing popula­ deal has been learned about the characteristi cs of species. Present­ tions can be regarded as different species is often subject to inter­ day systematic botanists attempt to develop taxonomic categories, pretation. How different in appearance should populations be in (species, genera, fa milies) that are monophyletic (i.e., comprised of order to be called species is a question open to considerable judg­ organisms descended from a common ances tor). By using nucleic ment. acid technology (D NA), ge neti cs, and plant chemistry, along Due to the complex nature of species and to the processes of with traditional taxonomic methods, scientists attempt to show species formation, the systematic botanist is provided a great deal that organisms within a species , ge nus, fa mily, etc., are related by of latitude in interpreting these factors. In non-technical terms descent. T he many fac tors used to assess such relationships are botanists are afforded the opportunity to be "Jumpers" or "split­ highly complex and such data are also subject to the interpreta­ ters." What might be regarded as weakly differentiated species tion of scientists who engage in these studies. Species formation by some may be thought of as strongly supported varieties by itself, meanwhile, is a complex process, generally occurring gradu­ another. However, once a systematic botanist concludes, based on ally over thousa nds to hundreds of thousa nds of years, frequently ava ilable information, that a species should be reduced in rank to causing further complicatio ns in assessing species limits (i.e., what the level of va ri ety or that two species should be combined into individuals belong to a species). one, the rules and recommendations of the International Code of Orga ni sms can be si milar to one another for two basic reasons: Botanical Nomenclature must be followed in assigning the correct (I ) they are ge netically related, or (2) they have independently name to the taxon in ques tion. As a res ult, familiar names that acquired similar characteristics. For example, certain members have long been in use could be changed as the result of ga ining a of the poinse ttia fa mily (Euphorbiaceae) are succulents and look better understanding of the plants investigated. similar to cacti . However, such plants are not closely related genet­ T hese changes are not simply academic, as they can affect the ically, bur have independenrly acquired similar appearances due to labeling of commercial products at a considerable cost to publishers their living and coping with the arid environments in which they and industry, and potentially generate confusion among consum­ live . Consequently, placing such succulent species in the same ers. The most recent example of the renaming of a commercially genus, fa mily, or order would produce an improper classification. popular medicinal plant is the recent renaming of the binomial Similarly, placing George Was hington, for example, in someone's for black cohosh, the popular Native American plant used to fa mily tree because he physica lly resembles members of that treat symptoms of menopause. Although the popular name (or fa mily-but was not shown by birth records to be rel ated-would "standardized common name" 2) is still "black cohosh," the gener­ res ult in an improper genealogy. ally accepted scientific name (binomial) has been changed to or only can environment cause similar characteristics that initially given to it by Linnaeus, A ctaea racemosa L., from and appearances among ge neri ca ll y unrelated plants, it can Cimicifuga racemosa (L.) Nutt., the name that was ass igned to fos ter species differentiation among plants that are genetically this taxon by botanist T homas N uttall in 1818 .3 (To possibly related. G roups of individuals (populations) growing in separate complicate matters, particularly for anyone conducting a litera­ geographic areas often gradually adapt to their particular sites. ture search on the previ ous medical uses of black cohosh, this herb O ve r ti me, they might begin to look different physically and was referred to as M acrotys racemosa by the Eclectic physicians of

30 I HerbaiGram 72 2006 www.herbalgram.org ------~l___ E _dit_o_ria_I __J~------the 19th century, a name which itself represents a misspelling of cation look? It wi ll probably differ to some extent from that of the genus name Macrotrys, bestowed on rhe plant group by C.S. McGregor; it could be the 4 species scheme proposed by Baum Rafinesque in 1808.) Echinacea is a medici nal plant of obvious economic importance Continues on page 80 in the United States, Canada, Europe, and other parts of the world. Although international statistics are difficult to obtain, econometric data from the United States demonstrate the herb's Response from the Authors of popularity. Echinacea (referring to all commercially sold species) was ranked second in total herbal supplement sa les in rhe United Integrating Recent Knowledge States in the Food, Drug, and Mass Marker retail outlets, generat­ ing over $21 million in revenues in this channel of trade in 2005, about the Genus Echinacea according to Information Resources Inc.4 Echinacea is consis­ lumenthal and Urbatsch make arguments for tently rated the top-selling herbal dietary supplement in health retaining McGregor's (1968) widely used Echinacea and natural food stores according to SPINS, a marker research Bclassification for reasonable arguments of commer­ firm.5 cial disruption and taxonomic conservatism. We fully The authors of the article on the following pages propose a agree that it is unnecessary to re-label Echinacea products re-classification of the genus Echinacea.G This genus is currently just to be scientifically up to date. On the other hand, we regarded as consisting of 9 species as initially proposed by Profes­ offer the following suggestions to individuals who might sor R.L. McGregor in 1968.7 As noted in the following article, Baumer al propose that these 9 species be "lumped" to 4 species, want to use the new taxonomy in the future. with the other taxa being termed as varieties of rhe principal 4 McGregor identified the basic groupings of Echinacea, species, based on their prior research and publications on this which he called species. He based his work on classical subjecr.B examination of herbarium specimens, field populations, and For historical perspective, plants in this genus were originally chromosome counts. His choice of species for the grouping published under Rudbeckia by Linnaeus in 1753, later transferred was a subjective decision based on his long experience and to the genus Brauneria in 1790, and then alternatively classed as observations. Our work builds on this important initial Echinacea in 1794. Both Brauneria and Echinacea were used until observational research by using more objective computer­ 1959, when Echinacea became officially accepted and Brauneria ized numerical methods of analysis to sort out statistically was dropped by the 9th International Congress on Botanical different groupings. It is also based on a very large group Nomenclature. of individual morphometric characters and features which One of the co-authors of this article (Urbatsch) wrote the section McGregor did not use (and included phytochemical and on Echinacea for the Flora North America volum~s on the family molecular characters in separate analyses), taken from many Asteraceae (aka Composirae).9 This treatment is essentially that of populations of plants throughout the area of their native McGregor (1968). Based on available information, the McGregor distribution. The results examine the relationships between classification was preferable for several reasons. First, floras tend populations in a sophisticated way without human bias. to be more conservative than papers published in scientific jour­ The results are very clear. Echinacea purpurea is so signifi­ nals reporting the results from individual investigations. Second, cantly different from all other species that it is a subgenus. although Baum et al chose to recognize 4 species of Echinacea Moreover, among the different analyses conducted on the with others reduced to varietal rank, results from various other DNA data, the canonical discriminant analysis strongly investigations (including those of Urbatsch), do not support this supports the 4 species of Binns et a! 2002 (see Figure 7 in Mechanda et aJI) . The species that McGregor recognized, conclusion nor, to be frank, do they robustly support any other classification. Relevant published studies based on different data but which we placed as varieties within our E. pallida and sets differ from one another in the taxonomic conclusions that E. atrorubens complexes, have overlapping populations that could be drawn. The extensive AFLP (Amplified restriction Frag­ are not distinct enough to be rated as fully distinct species according to numerical analysis. So while we agree that ment Length Polymorphism) analys is by Mechanda et al (2004) 10 supports neither the McGregor nor the Baum et al reclassifica­ Echinacea can be classified based on the original McGregor Echinacea tion of the genus Echinacea. It also serves to vividly illustrate how system, it is like viewing the taxonomy of as a complex such issues can be. For example, results from the latter black and white image. Modern methods give us a more study in conjunction with other data could be used to support a sophisticated view. Taxonomy is an unending synthesis that classification where 8 species of Echinacea might be recognized. constantly refines previous classifications on the basis of Based on Dr. Urbatsch 's experience with Echinacea, the 8 species more facts. Why not move up to color? HG classification might be a better alternative than rhe 4 species -Bernard R. Baum, PhD; Shannon E. Binns, PhD; proposal by Baum et al. However, it is the opinion of the coau­ and John T. Amason, PhD thors of this editorial that at this time the McGregor classification Reference works reasonably well. Presently there is no alternative classifica­ 1. Mechanda SM, Baum BR, Johnson DA, Amason JT. Analy­ tion available with substantial support in rhe botanical taxonomy sis of diversiry of natural populations and commercial lines community. Until such a study is produced, name changes in the of Echinacea using AFLP. Can J Bot. 2004;82:461-484. genus Echinacea should nor be made because subsequent changes would most likely be needed. How might such a future classifi-

www.herbalgram .org 2006 HerbaiGram 72 I 31

Abstract the supply chain for phytomedicines and for reasons of wild rare species conservation. his article summarizes the authors' recent research on Conservation of the natural Echinacea resources across North Echinacea published in various refereed journals with an America has socio-political implications due to issues of private emphasis on a new taxonomy. The taxonomy that most T and public land tenure, especially on Aboriginal (i.e., Native people are familiar with is that of McGregor, established in 1968. American) land reserves. Governance of lands and natural In these new studies, the authors recognize 4 species in Echinacea resources tends to vary at the federal, state/provincial, or regional and have fitted most of McGregor's species as varieties under levels in both Canada and the United States. The majority (>90o/o) E. pal/ida and E. atrorubens, whereas E. purpurea and E. laevi­ of natural Echinacea populations occur in the United States (see gata remain as before without varieties. The authors' studies on Figure 1 below) , where there is a National Germplasm Conser­ genomics and phytochemistry have lent support to this taxonomic vation Program that addresses all Echinacea taxa among other scheme. This article contains an identification key to the 4 species resources and threatened species in collaboration with the Nature and to the varieties within E. atrorubens and E. pal/ida. Conservancy, the State Departments of Natural Heritage/Conser­ Background vation, and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Up until the 1960s, the taxonomy of the genus Echinacea was Morphological Systematics based on specimens that were collected from parts, but not all, In an attempt to rectify the situation of poor botanical identi­ of its natural geographical range. Further, before the chemistry fication methods with Echinacea on the market, we studied 110 of the 1980s and the molecular biology of the 1990s, Echinacea's wild populations (see Figure 1 below) to gauge the extent of varia­ taxonomic groupings were based on morphology first and subse­ tion between plants in a population and between populations in quently on cytological analyses. For instance, Cronquist described a species. Our objective was to investigate taxonomic groupings 4 species (and one variety) from his morphological observations of based on the degree of morphological similarity between plants, herbarium specimens (including the actual type specimens associ­ and to test the statistical significance of our resulting groupings ated with scientific names). I using morphometric tools. In 1968, R.L. McGregor embarked on a 15-year odyssey study­ ing wild Echinacea plants from populations throughout the entire Methods geographical range. His biosystematic studies included the investi­ Natural populations were taxonomically identified in the field gation of macro- and micro-morphological traits under a common according to McGregor,2 and transplanted to a greenhouse for garden design, and he included some cytological comparisons and morphometric data collection.4,5,6 We measured 74 traits for over some anatomical traits, while making inferences about phyloge­ 300 specimens, which allowed us to calculate the statistical index netic history, relating to evolutionary development in the genus. of similarity between (1) individual plants (assuming no prior McGregor recognized 9 species and 4 varieties.2 He proposed taxonomic groups), and (2) McGregor's taxonomic groups. We that there may be extensive genetic variation within certain wild used a Gower coefficient of similarity (a biostatistical measur­ populations of a single species or variety and that further genetic ing tool),? followed by several clustering methods, and canonical studies were indicated. discriminant analyses to assess the groupings.4 Evidence of Phenotypic Variation Findings Many have relied on McGregor's identification keys to the wild The morphometric analyses supported 2 acceptable cluster solu­ species and varieties. 2 For example, during the herbal medicine tions. The first strongly supported 2 major taxa within Echinacea, boom of the early 90s, botanists, conservationists, and diggers which we determined to be at subgenus level. The species known (w ildcrafters) used them. Many reportedly found that there was currently as E. purpurea (L.) Moench was the sole taxon in such a large amount of variation between plants of a single popu­ lation in the genus Echinacea, and even between plants of the same age cultivated in a greenhouse, that they were unable to identify the plants confidently. Furthermore, the market demand at that time increased the value of wild roots from Echinacea angustifolia (and later from E. pal/ida roots) as well as the aerial parts of E. purpurea. There was a dire need for rigorous and accu­ rate morphological identification so dealers could provide certi­ fied authentic Echinacea to their customers. One solution to the taxonomic problem was the work of Bauer and Wagner; they provided chemical profiles of some secondary metabolites, which were used to distinguish between Echinacea and non-Echinacea (Parthenium integrifolium) dried samples, and they offered some possible means to distinguish between the different species and varieties as welJ.3 Bauer and Wagner determined that E. pal/ida (Nutt.) Nutt. var. pal/ida, Asteraceae [syn. = E. pal/ida (Nutt.) Nutt.) was being cultivated and sold erroneously as E. pal/ida (Nutt.) Nutt. var. angustifolia (DC.) Cronq. [syn. =E. angustifolia DC. var. angustifolia]. Building on Bauer and Wagner's discovery of potential chemotaxonomic traits in the commercial species, we undertook a large-scale taxonomic molecular and phytochemical Figure 1. Map of Echinacea species sampled throughout most of the range of revision. Our goal was to ensure more accurate botanical identi­ the native populations of this genus in 1998-1999 for several integrated studies presented herein (reprinted from Binns et af4). fication of all the different Echinacea taxa for reasons of safety in

www.herbalgram.org 2006 HerbaiGram 72 I 33 Echinacea subgenus Echinacea which contains only E. purpurea, identify the plant in question as subg. Echinacea, E. purpurea (L.) whereas all other infrageneric taxa were in Echinacea subgenus Moench. If one continues to follow the number at the end of the Pallida. T he second most acceptable cluster solution supported statement that is true, one will eventually arrive at the best identi­ 4 taxa, which we determined to be at the species level: (1) E. fication of that particular specimen. Note that if some traits in the purpurea [= Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench nom. cons. prop.],B key are not observable in the specimen in question, then another (2) E. laevigata [= E. laevigata (Boynton & Beadle) Blake], (3) E. specimen with those missing organs must be used for the key to atrorubens, and (4) E. pal/ida. Therefore, we effectively re-classi­ function properly. fied the genus Echinacea into 2 subgenera, one with a single species 1. Basal leaf up to 5 em wide; cauline leaf 0.5 to 4.5 em wide; in it, and the other having 3 species. Our results also supported taproot (may be branching or fusiform) ; leaf blade trichomes an 8 cluster solution using McGregor's identification keys. 2 The 8 multicellular with knobby joints; major veins almost paral­ groups correspond to varieties within 2 species (see Table 1). The lel from a common origin at rhe base; 1-3 series of involucra! revised taxonomy recognizes all of McGregor's taxa, except for bracts ...... 2. subg. Pal/ida one variety, E. angustifolia D C . var. strigosa McGregor, which was 1. Basal leaf greater than 5 em wide; cauline leaf 4.5 to 9 em wide; not distinct from E. pal/ida var. angustifolia. This putative variety fibrous roots (from a caudex); leaf blade rrichomes bicellular may be a morphotype that resulted from inrrogression [movemenr with ledge-like joints; major veins branched; four series of invo- of alleles from one taxon to another through hybrid inrermediates, lucra! bracts ...... subg. Echinacea, E. purpurea (L.) usually found in populations bordering and/or overlapping each Moench other], and it shows the same phenotype [the visible, meas urable 2. Basal leaf greater than 3 em wide; basal leaf margi n serrate, characteristics, which may vary independent of ge netic makeup] or dentate; adaxial leaf blade stalked trichomes absent; in similar ecological zones. 8 stem stalked rrichomes absent; cauline leaf margin serrate ...... E. laevigata (C.L. Boynton & Beadle) Blake Identification Key for Echinacea Species and Varieties 2. Basal leaf up to 3 em wide; basal leaf margin enrire; adaxial A dichotomous identification key is used by biologists to iden­ leaf blade stalked trichomes present; stem stalked trichomes tify organisms to different levels, such as family, genus, species, or present; cauline leaf margin entire ...... 3 variety. It is designed to list traits of organisms as a series of paired 3. Stem stalked trichomes appressed (strigose); leaf blade choices that lead progressively to identification of the organism. stalked uichomes sparse; leaf marginal trichomes differ­ Not all keys lead to the same level of taxonomic identification, ent than blade trichomes (more appressed)...... 4 and it is important to have all traits march rhe key statement that 4. Ray f1orer yellow ...... E. atrorubens Nun. is chosen for any given specimen in order to arrive at the most var. paradoxa(]. B. Norton) Cronq. accurate identification of that organism. In rhe key below, one 4. Ray f1orer pale pink to purple, or white ...... 5 may proceed to take a plant or specimen in question and choose 5. Disk corolla petal fusion more rhan 3/4 total between the pair of statements numbered with "1," which then corolla length; involucra! bract up to 0.2 em wide; leads either to a choice between a pair of "2" statements (and stem branched .. .. E. atrorubens Nutt. var. atrorubens evenrually idenrificarion of plants in rhe subgenus Pal/ida), or to Cronq.

Table 1. Taxonomy of McGregor2 compared to the revised taxonomy of Binns et a1 4 for species and varieties of genus Echinacea. McGregor (1968} E.purpurea E.purpurea

E. pal/ida var. angustifolia

E. sanguinea E. pal/ida var. sanguinea PhotoC2006 Tom Barnes. University of Kentucky. E. pal/ida var. simulata Photo Q2006 stevenfoster.com

E. tennesseensis E. pal/ida var. tennesseensis

34 I HerbaiGram 72 2006 www.herbalgram .org 5. Disk corolla petal fusion less than 3/4 total corolla and 6 vanenes in the genus Echinacea.4 The 2 subgenera are length; involucra! bract greater than 0.2 em wide; novel, but our results confirm the 4 species groups that were stem unbranched .. E. atrorubens Nutt. var. neglecta fi rst suggested using classical taxonomic methodology.1 All of (McGregor) Binns B. R. Baum & Amason our described varieties were previously either species or varieties 3. Stem stalked trichomes hirsute, or straight pubes­ according to McGregor.2 Table 2 on page 37 compares the clas­ cent; leaf blade stalked trichomes dense; leaf marginal sifications of both McGregor2 and Cronquistl,II ,I2 to the revised trichomes identical to leaf trichomes in type and habit taxonomy.4 ...... 6 6. Ray floret up to 4 em long ...... 7 Molecular Systematics Based on DNA Methods of 7. Capitulum up to 2.5 em wide; involucra! bract up Purple Coneflowers: Genus Echinacea to 0.2 em wide ...... E. pal!ida (Nutt.) var. tennesseensis (Beadle) Binns B. How does this genus of Purple Coneflowers fit with t he R. Baum & Amason other Coneflower genera? 7. Capitulum greater than 2.5 em wide; involucra! Echinacea is a genus classified in the Heliantheae tribe within bract greater than 0.2 em wide ...... E. pallida the family Asteraceae. Together with other ge nera in this (Nutt.) var. angustifolia (DC.) Cronq. tribe, Echinacea plants are popularly known to be among the 6. Ray floret greater than 4.0 em ...... 8 "Coneflowers." T he relationship of the genus Echinacea to others 8. Fresh pollen white ... E. pallida (Nutt.) N utt. var. has been studied using techniques which aim to determine the pall ida degree of relationship and the probable evolutionary development 8. Fresh pollen yellow, or lemon ...... 9 of these plants over time. For example, an article published in 9. Ray achene trichomes presenr; stem 1995 by Urbatsch and Jansen reported restriction site analysis of unbranched ...... E. pal/ida (Nutt.) var. simulata the chloroplast genome, which placed the genus in the subtribe (McGregor) Binns B. R. Baum & Amason Ecliptinae. 13 This subtribe is distinct from, yet closely related to, 9. Ray achene trichomes absent; stem Rudbeckiinae, which contains the genera Dracopsis, Ratibida, and branched ...... E. pallida Rudbeckia.I4, I5 Subsequently, Urbatsch eta! used another approach, (Nutt.) var. sanguinea Gandhi & T homas nuclear rONA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences, to Related information for idenrification of species and varieties study evolutionary relationships among the Coneflowers and rela­ (including an inreractive key, and alternative key with McGregor's tives and also to combine the data with their previous chloroplast taxonomy) may be found on the Web site of Agriculture Canada DNA restriction site data.I6 They concluded that Echinacea ought (http://res2.agr.gc.ca/ecorc/echinacea/key-cle_e. htm). This wil l to be classified within the tribe Zinniinae, and that it is definitely eventually be modified online to allow for identification from not related to genera in the Rudbeckiinae. separate plant parts. To identify a whole plant, one can choose In the cladogram of the combined data they used 6 species one of the alternative descriptions at number 1 and then fo llow (sensu McGregor 1968) of Echinacea with similar results of rela­ the leads. tionships among species as in the chloroplast DNA restriction site data, i.e., that E. purpurea is closely related to E. paradoxa. Evolut iona ry hypotheses T he greatest amount of morphological and genetic diversity Species and varieties of Ech inacea observed among geographically-close populations was found in Using Amplified restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism a narrow region of the Great Plains, which is considered by field (AFLP·, see side bar on page 36), Mechanda et a[I7 undertook a botanists to be the center of Echinacea diversity.4,9 The "center of study in parallel to Binns et af4 to seek independent support for diversity" spans several eco-regions that share characteristics of the morphologically based classification (including relationships) having overlapping biogeoclimatic "edges," such as tallgrass prai­ and to complement it in 2 respects: (1) to estimate the genetic rie abutting limestone upland formations and/or shortgrass prai­ ries. T he following areas are included in the hypothetical region: Ozark Mountains of Missouri and Arkansas, prairies of Kansas Rudbeckia sect. macrocline and Oklahoma, and especially Black Hills of so utheastern Okla­ homa where suspected hybridization and introgression may be R. sect. laciniata directing the most active speciation within the genus.4,9 In our work, the evolutionary relationships between the 4 revised species were estimated using a cladistic analysis [based on shared, derived characters which are often also diagnostic] of 36 Echinacea purpurea characters (including some phytochemical ones). See the dado­ gram [an evolutionary tree] (see Figure 2 right), where Echinacea is distinguished phylogenetically from the outgroup [a sister E. pal/ida group] Rudbeckia (98% bootstrap va lue) [a method for assess­ ing the statistical significance of the relationships between taxo­ '----£. atrorubens nomic groups, i. e., positions of branches in an evolutionary tree]. Figu re 2. Cladogram of Echinacea species (reprinted from Binns et a/5). A 40-step Within the Echinacea clade, E. atrorubens and E. pallida share 3 most parsimonious cladogram representing the monophyletic genus Echinacea unique, derived characteristics, and E. purpurea was most basally Moench compared to 3 sections of Rudbeckia in an outgroup. Confidence inter­ divergent. Although historically E. laevigata was confused with vals are indicated in brackets below the branches (bootstrap values using the E. purpurea, IO current morphometric res ults show it to be closely 50% majority-rule consensus method). Cladistic analysis was performed with 36 related to E. pallida and E. atrorubens. characters (Binns et af4). Dark boxes signify synapomorphies and empty boxes In summary, we proposed a hierarchy of 2 subgenera, 4 species signify parallelisms. www.herbalgram.org 2006 HerbaiGram 72 I 35 diversity of the species and varieties, and (2) to provide means of Mechanda et al with an exa mple (refer to Table 11 in their arti­ identification of single plants by DNA fingerprinting. cle).1 7 In the example, 10 DNA bands from a single primer set are Four hundred thirty-five individual plants were sampled from apparently sufficient to identify an unknown plant, or plant frag­ 58 natural populations representing both the area of distribution ment, to one of the 4 recognized species. and the species and varieties of both Binns et af4 and McGregor2 As far as relationships among the 4 species are concerned, classifications. The most notable outcome resulting from the although no attempt was made to use any outgroup (a reference AFLP investigation was that each individual could be uniquely outside Echinacea but close enough to it) in the AFLP study, E. distinguished by a combination of presence/absence of a se t of laevigata and E. purpurea can be construed as forming a sister 124 fingerprints. The main finding of this study was support for group based on the unrooted UPGMA dendrogram (refer to the 4 species classification of Binns et af,4 but not for all the vari­ Figure 4 in Mechanda et a£2004,17 which is not a true phyloge­ eties, most of which were previously recognized by McGregor as netic tree). T his can easily be seen when moving the branches of species.2 The species are recognized by a combination of DNA the dendrogram without changing the topology. Based on this the fingerprints, not by a single or a few single and unique AFLP genus Echinacea consists of 2 parallel pairs: E. purpurea-E. laevi­ bands. Thus, to identify an individual plant to species with AFLP gata and E. atrorubens-E. pallida. This finding supports the gross one needs to resort to more elaborate means, as indicated in morphological similarity seen between at least the first two, since they have sometimes been confused.8,IO T he gene diversity of all the species together in the genus and similarly for the va rieties together (measured on a scale from 0 to 1) was nearly 0.5 for both. The species with highest gene diver­ sity was E. purpurea, also near 0.5 whereas the 3 other species had lower rates at 0.3. Both E. purpurea and E. laevigata do not contain varieties. Although the varieties were not supported by the AFLP res ults, when analyzed for genetic diversity, those of E. pallida had greater va lues than those of E. atrorubens, with the exception of E. pallida var. tennesseensis having the lowest genetic diversity (near 0.2), which is understandable due to its rarity with limited individuals in the populations (E. pallida var. tennesseensis is currently listed as a federally endangered species by the US Fish and Wildlife Service18). The genetic variation was apportioned as follows: 19% among species, 40% among populations within species, and 41% within populations. In other words, the genetic variation among populations was found to be about equal to the genetic variation within populations. But obviously the ki nd of variation was different since every individual was found to possess unique fingerprints. Once you know it's Echinacea , how do you determine what kind of Ech inacea it is? There were major difficulties in identification of plant materials that were reported by wildcrafters, growers, and scientists during the early days of Echinacea's boom in the commercial market­ place (see Morphological Systematics section on page 33). For this reason, 2 coll aborating research teams used modern tools in both morphometric taxonomy4 and molec ular systematicsll to discover which natural taxonomic groups exist currently in wild plant populations. Mechanda et al distinguished wild species and vari­ eties in Echinacea using Amplified res triction Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP"). 17 This generated results about relation­ ships between plants and populations based on DNA. Also, it allowed for independent support for the morphological classifica­ tion by complementing it in 2 respects: (1) it estimates the genetic diversity of all types of Echinacea species and varieties growing in the wild, and (2) it provides a means for stakeholders to identify and trace single plants by DNA fingerprinting. How are the different kinds of Echinacea species and varieties related? Based on work by Mechanda et al, the genus Echinacea consists of 2 parallel pairs: E. purpurea-E. laevigata and E. atrorubens-E. pallida. E. laevigata and E. purpurea can be construed as form­ ing a sister group based on the unrooted UPGMA dendrogram (see Figure 4 in Mechanda et al2004, which is not a true phylo­ genetic tree).17 In this approach, no attempt was made to use any

36 I HerbaiGram 72 2006 www.herbalgram.org outgroup compari son, and the tree is not a true phylogenetic tree were inappropriate for phylogenetic studies _I? However, Kim eta! (as seen by the unchanging topology when branches in the tree are carried out a similar AFLP study to ours, with much less sampling rotated). This finding supports the gross morphological simil arity to assess phenetic/phylogenetic relationships among Echinacea seen between E. purpurea and E. laevigata. 8,10 species and varieties (sensu McGregor).19 Their results, not Both E. purpurea and E. laevigata do not contain varieties. T he surprisingly, did not provide support for the presently accepted other 2 species, E. pallida and E. atrorubens, each contain variet­ classification by Binns et af.4 One reason for this is that AFLP ies by morphometric classification,4 but class ification by AFLP data are usually inappropriate for phylogenetic studies demon­ res ults did not resolve distinct groups at the variety level. In fact, strated on theoretical grounds, as explained by C lark and Lani­ ge netic diversity was measured on a scale of 0 to 1 and found to ga n20 regarding RAPD data. C lark and Lanigan's explanation be 0.5 among species, and also 0.5 for all va rieties together. The equally applies to AFLP data in many respects, including ours species with highest gene diversity was E. purpurea, near 0.5, and (refer to the Discussion section on "Phylogenetic analysis," pages the 3 other species had lower rates at 0.3. Varieties of E. pallida 480-481 in Mechanda et a J1 7). Another reason is that the identi­ had greater diversity ratings than those of E. atrorubens, with the fication of their materi al may be questionable, especially if they exception of the rare E. pallida var. tennesseensis hav ing the lowest relied on McGregor's keys, which have been problematic in the genetic diversity (near 0.2). pasr. 4 A different investigation was carried out by Kapteyn et a! Although hybrids and hybrid populations were reported by using DNA-RAPD.2 1 RAPD has proven to be less amenable to McGregor,2 we were unable to d istinguish them from others by reproducibility than AFLP. Kapteyn et a! used only the 3 main genetic diversity measured with AFLP analys is, although more commercial species (£. angustifolia, E. pallida, and E. purpurea) than one suspected hybrid population in the field was identified and their study remained inconclusive.21 in the morphometric work by Binns et af.4 How can DNA markers be used to authenticate sample Other DNA work done on Echinacea materials of Ech inacea species and commercial lines Urbatsch and Jansen only studied 7 of the 9 Echinacea species (cultivars7) w ithin species? recognized by McGregor2 and found that E. purpurea was closely T hat authenticati on of commercial material of Echinacea is of related evolutionarily to E. atrorubens and E. paradoxa, and prime interest to the consumer goes without saying. Authentica­ that E. simulata was possibly the more ancestral species. 13 Later, tion is needed to ensure the correct and proper content of the Urbatsch et a! reported combined data analysis using 6 species product. Correct identification of the plant material constitutes of Echinacea (sensu McGregor 1968). 16 T hei r cladogram shows one as pect, and correct phytochemical characterization of plant similar re lationships among species to those in the Urbatsch and extracts is another aspect (i.e., the quantitati ve analysis of marker Jansen paper on chloroplast DNA restriction site data, 13 i.e., E. phytochemicals for ass urance of safety, quality, and potentially of purpurea is closely related to E. paradoxa. therapeutic va lue). Both are needed in the natural health prod­ As part of our AFLP study we found that the AFLP fingerprints ucts industry. The study by Mechanda eta! has shown the paten-

Table 2. Taxonomic treatments of Echinacea Moench by McGregor,2 Cronquist,l,ll,l2 and Binns, Baum, and Arnason.4 Synonyms are in square brackets [] . Permission to reprint Binns © 2001 University of Ottawa. McGregor Cronquist Binns, Baum, and Arnason 1. E. angustifolia DC. var. angustifolia 1. E. pal/ida (Nutt.) Nutt. var. angustifolia 1. E. pal/ida (Nutt.) Nutt. var. angustifolia (DC.) Cronquist (DC.) Cronquist E. angustifolia DC. var. strigosa [E. angustifolia DC. var. strigosa E. angustifolia DC. var. strigosa McGregor McGregor] McGregor)

2. E. tennesseensis (Beadle) Small [E. tennesseensis (Beadle) Small] E. pal/ida (Nutt.) Nutt. var. tennesseen - sis 3. E. pal/ida (Nutt.) Nutt. E. pal/ida (Nutt.) Nutt. var. pal/ida E. pal/ida (Nutt.) Nutt. var. pal/ida 4. E. simulata McGregor [E. simulata McGregor] E. pal/ida (Nutt.) Nutt. var. simulata (McGregor) Binns, B. R. Baum & Arnason 5. E. sanguinea Nutt. [E. sanguinea Nutt.] (suggested variety) E. pal/ida (Nutt.) Nutt. var. sanguinea (Nutt.) Gandhi and Thomas 6. E. atrorubens Nutt. 2. E. atrorubens Nutt. var. atrorubens 2. E. atrorubens Nutt. var. atrorubens 7. E. paradoxa (Norton) Britton var. E. atrorubens var. paradoxa (Norton) E. atrorubens Nutt. var. paradoxa paradoxa Cronquist (Norton) Cronquist E. paradoxa (Norton) Britton var. E. atrorubens Nutt. var. neglecta neglecta McGregor (McGregor) Binns, B. R. Baum & Arnason 8. E. /aevigata (Boynton & Beadle) Blake 3. E. /aevigata (Boynton & Beadle) Blake 3. E. /aevigata (Boynton & Beadle) Blake nom. cons. prop. nom. cons. prop. 9. E. purpurea (L.) Moench 4. E. purpurea (L.) Moench nom. cons. 4. E. purpurea (L.) Moench nom. cons. prop. prop. www.herbalgram.org 2006 Herba iG ram 72 I 37 rial of correct identification to species.l7 In another study, the It is well known in chemosytematics that individual species are use of DNA-based markers to predict phytochemical profiles in likely to have their own unique blend of phytochemicals, devel­ extracts of identical material were assessed by Baum et al, using oped in the co-evolutionarily-driven progression towards develop­ AFLP and High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).22 ing novel defense chemicals. Bauer showed that this principle can In this study, we determined both AFLP DNA fingerprints as be used ro distinguish the 3 commercial Echinacea taxa by HPLC well as the quantitative profiles of 2 marker compounds, namely, analysis if other species/varieties are not considered as possible cichoric acid (2,3-0-dicaffeoyltartaric acid) and dodeca-2E, 4E, components of a mix_3,23 Moreover, in Echinacea, there is a high 8Z, lOE/Z-tetraenoic acid isobutyl amide in over 50 accessions of degree of phytochemical redundancy in individual species, i.e., E. purpurea. This small study has shown the potential of DNA they contain 5 or more CADs and 10 or more AAs. As a result of markers to predict the amount of industry marker chemicals. phytochemical research, unique marker phytochemicals have been An extension of this study or a similar DNA-based study may be used qualitatively to certify botanical identification in the indus­ needed to distinguish the true product from adulterants (wrong try. Commercial species/marker relationships used in industry are plant species, wrong plant line, wrong plant part) and contami­ as follows: echinacoside as a marker for E. pallida var angustifolia nants (like bacterial or fungal, foreign matter). versus E. purpurea, and the use of ketoalkene/ynes as markers for E. pallida var pallida. Phytochemical Variation of Echinacea in Wild The recent revision of the genus Echinacea and the detailed Populations study of phytochemistry of all the species and varieties from The phytochemistry of Echinacea species is of key importance wild and cultivated sources reveal a more complex picture.4 This to the herbal industry because the phytochemical markers are is important to the herbal industry for the purpose of assessing some of the most easily identifiable characters for species identi­ contamination of commercial seed lots with wild species or the fication in processed products. Also, they are biologically active use of wildcrafted species of doubtful origin in the product. The substances that have importance in the pharmacology of the prod­ phytochemical variation also supports the morphometric classifi­ ucts. The basic phytochemistry of Echinacea was undertaken in cation of different taxa within the genus by Binns et af,S but the Germany at a time when there was little interest in North Amer­ identification of all the species and varieties using phytochemistry ica in this medicinal endemic prairie genus _3,23 The main groups is confounded by polyploidy [having more than 2 sets of chro­ of importance are caffeic acid derivatives (CADs) (see Figure 3 mosomes which are homologous (same genes, not necessarily the below), lipophilic alkamides (AAs) and ketoalken/ynes (see Figure same gene products/functions)] and cannot be achieved solely on 4 on page 39), although other types of secondary metabolites are the basis of presence or absence of one or a few compounds. The also found in the genus. major findings follow.

HOI!) . 0*0-Gic OH HO~ 0 OJ5-fj ~ OH OH 0 - 0-Rha Cichoric acid Echinacoside (2,3-0-dicaffeoyl tartaric acid)

Caftaric acid Chlorogenic acid (2-0-caffeoyl tartaric acid) (3-0-caffeoyl quinic acid)

HOI(1 ~ HO~H 0 Caffeic acid Cynarin (1 ,3-dicaffeoyl quinic acid) Figure 3. Caffeic acid derivatives in Echinacea species and vari eti es.

38 I HerbaiGram 72 2006 www.herbalgram.org 2 0

16 0

4 ~~y

17 0 ~~y

18 0 6

19 0 7 0

20 8

21

0 22 0

23 0

11 0 0 ~{y 12

25A 0

13 0

Figure 4. Alkamldes. and ketoa lken/ynes in Echtnacea. sp ecies and varieties. www.herbalgram.org 2006 HerbaiGram 72 I 39 The current industry practice, which uses echinacoside as a ri ve E. purpurea marker. positive marker for E. pallida var. angustifolia versus E. purpurea Ketoalkenes/ynes cannot be taken as definitive markers for where it is absent, is an over simplification if all species and vari­ E. pallida var. pallida, as often considered in industry practice. eties are considered. In fact, echinacoside is present in quantifi­ However, they do appear to be markers for polyploids. They are able amounts from roots of all Echinacea taxa except E. purpurea; found not only in E. pallida var. pallida but also in E. pallida va r. namely, 3 species and 7 varieties.4,5 Trace amounts of echinacoside simulata which is sometimes triploid, as well as possibly hybrid­ were found in E. purpurea, so lack of this compound is not the best izing populations of E. atrorubens var. neglecta and E. atrorubens marker. T he absence of alkamide 18 was fo und to be a more defini- var. paradoxa.

0 0

. ~ co Ill a s::: ·- IU a IU -.E IU 10 .... Ill .5 ·-Ill Ill ::s IU ::s s::: Cl'l Cl'l c c s::: c s::: s::: 10 l l a l a > > 0 .g .g ~ 0 ' a Q. Q. Q. LAl LAl :::> LAl

J: N N N

'

0 0 co

co .~ Ill co a s::: IU a ·- IU .E- IU 10 Ill s::: .... Ill ·-Ill IU ·-::s ::s s::: Cl'l Cl'l c c s::: c s::: s::: 10 l l a l a > > a a .g 0 "tt 0 "tt ·-::::: ·- ·-::::: ' a Q. Q. Q. LAl LAl :::> LAl "'

J: N N N

'

40 J HerbaiGram 72 2006 www.herbalgram.org On a positive note, rhe species and varieties are readily distin­ feoylquinic acids prese nr only in rhe former.24 Canonical disc rimi­ guishable on rhe basis of quanrirarive HPLC (high-performance nanr analys is revealed rhar cichoric acid, rhe diene AAs 1-3 and liquid chromatography) profiles of rhe compounds (see Figure 5 on 7, and keroalkene 24 were rhe bes r taxonomic markers. HPLC pages 40 and 41 and Figure 6 on page 42 and 43), bur nor gener­ profiles for rhe lipophilic compounds conrain more information ally on the presence or absence of individual compounds; notably, because rhey conrain a larger number of compounds. the roots of E. angustifolia and E. pallida can be differenriated by Planr age (and planr parr) generally changes rhe ex press ion of rhe occurrence of the CAD s, 1,3-0-(cynarin) and 1,5-0-dicaf- compounds. Young planrs expressed lower amounrs of alkamides in roors and flowers rhan presenr in older planrs. Levels of compounds in young roots can also be increased significa mly by induc­ tion with methyl jasmonate, which suggests they are also inducible by mechanical, insect, or fungal damage. 25 In other studies we showed rhar rhe quan­ titative presence of phyrochemicals, such as ~ 8,9 and cichoric acid in mature planrs, can be ~ ts correlated ro DNA markers (AFLPs) across ..... Q. 22 ..: a wide va riety of Echinacea germplasm. c:: ns This indicates that DNA markers may be :g > useful in screening germplasm for active 01 Ill 01 E c:: E principles where phytochemistry may be less "' IU ~ .Q ~ easy to assess. ...::s In another study, Binns et al addressed 0 the question of how much phytochemical ~ a variation is naturally prese nr wirhin and L&l between wild popularions. 10 This is impor­ ranr for the wild harves t of seed for sa le or cultivation, and the continued wild harvest M N c 0 c)"' c) c) c)00 c)"' of Echinacea populations from cerrai n areas within the native range of these pl ants. E. pallida va r. angustifolia was chosen for study because ir has the largest latitudinal spread of any species/vari ety and occurs from Manitoba to Texas. T here was signi fi­ cant variation in AAs and CADs berween populations studied , which may supporr the existence of distinct chemoraces in

0 rhis variety.IO Forrunarely rhis va riation is largely quantitative, and does nor alter rhe 01 phytochemical profile needed to idenrify a ~ rhe species. Also, since rhese experimenrs :::::~ 00 .s were conducted on seeds from rhe range of a ::s this va riery, grown in uniform conditions, Q...... E rhe variation measured was more likely to ..: c:: Ill ns :g ·-..: be genotypic rarher rhan phenotypic, or > "' ns caused by environmenral influences. a 01 > 01 IU "' E E Along wirh (Norrh) American ginseng ... ~ .g u ~ ::s .,. (Panax quinquefolius L., Aral iaceae) e- ·- Echinacea is possibly Norrh America's most ::s -a Q. M Q. imporrant ethnoboranical product. Since L&l L&l it originates from here, the Norrh Ameri­ N <( can industry musr conrend wirh the generic dive rsity associated with rhe center of origin

M N ~ 0 of rhis medicinal crop. M c) N c) ~ c) 0 0 c)"' "'c) "'c) c)"' "'c) Diversity and ra rity in natural ·sqv populations of Echinacea species and the case for cultivation of this natural resource

Figure 5. HPLC chromatograms of typical root profiles of hydrophilic phytochemicals in each Echinacea D egradation in wild populations and taxon. Peaks are as follows: (A) caftaric acid, (B) chlorogenic acid, (C) cichoric acid, (0) cynarin, (E) echi­ increased rarity has been observed over the nacoside, (F) cichoric acid methyl ester, (G) rutin, (H) caffeic acid, (U) unconfirmed (quinoyl), (UC) uncon­ las t few decades during rhe Echinacea boom . firmed (di-caffeoyl). For compound structures see Figure 3. Absorbance was detected at 326 nm. Publicly-acknowledged rare raxa (a nd rhe www.herbalgram.org 2006 HerbaiGram 72 I 41 states in the United States where they naturally grow, shown State Department of Environment and Conservation, include the parenthetically) include: following measures: restriction of vehicular traffic, added fenc­ E. laevigata (GA, MD, NC, PA, SC, VA) (USFWS, 2004: first ing, limited livestock use of the areas (there is evidence that cattle listed 1982, recovery plan enacted in 1995) l8 graze on plant competitors and thus might increase seedling estab­ E. pallida var. tennesseensis (TN) (USFWS, 2004 first listed lishment and survivorship), public education projects, ecological 1979, recovery plan enacted 1989) 18 monitoring, and acquisition of land by the Nature Conservancy, E. pal/ida var. pallida (MO) as well as by federal and state departments. Very rare populations E. pal/ida var. simulata (MO) will be deemed "recovered " when at least 5 populations are self­ E. pal/ida var. sanguinea (LA, TX, OK) sustaining (i.e., stable or increasing over at least 10 years, with at E. atrorubens var. paradoxa (MO) least 2 juvenile plants for every adult plant). Through this rigor­ E. atrorubens var. neglecta (TX, OK) ous recovery activity and monitoring, E. pallida var. tennesseensis Our taxonomic treatment of the genus did not lead directly to is expected to be down-listed from "endangered" to "threatened" revision or clarification of protection laws regarding Echinacea. in January, 2007 (T. Merritt, Personal Communication, USFWS This is largely because while the taxo nomic nomenclature Cooksville, Tennessee, August 22, 2006). changed, it has not ye r been applied at the practical level of plant identification. Our assessments of diversity within genus Echinacea Is rarity an ecophys iological occurrence? (genotypic and phenotypic) should be considered together with It was found that E. pallida var. tennesseensis plants are not ecological evidence26 in order to guide the taxonomic and practi­ highly competitive compared with other glade species, especially cal protection of species and varieties that are at risk. under rhe effects of allelopathy [release of chemical substances by one species rhar inhibit the germination and/or growth of Ecophysiology, Competition, and Establishment other species of plants] by species such as: juniperus virginiana E. laevigata and E. pal/ida var. tennesseensis are located in L., Cupressaceae, and Dalea gattingeri (Heller) Barneby, Fabaceae marginal and highly vulnerable sites, on calcareous soils, in open [syn. Petalostemon gattingeri Heller].30,32 Moreover, plants of woods, and in cedar barrens . Iris likely that these and other "rare" this variety do not have significantly different ecophysiological taxa in this genus arose in Savannahs, which were caused and requirements in terms of their light and moisture use.29 maintained by fires set by Native Americans. Root phys iology directly affects competitive abilities. Echinacea In Tennessee, where E. pallida var. tennesseensis is the showy plants are raprooted forbs, which have difficulty establishing in stare wildflower, the ecological status and recovery of this both mixed and rallgrass prairie due to the competitive advantage Echinacea taxon has long been researched.27,28, 29, 30,31 Recovery of native grasses. However, E. pal/ida var. angustifolia, Psoralid­ operations in place by US Fish and Wildlife, partnered with the ium tenuiflorum (Pursch.) Rydb. Fabaceae (Siimf1ower scurfpea),

E. laevigata E. pal/ida var. simulata 0.5 0.25 4 0.4 0.2 24

0.3 0.15

~ 0.2 ~ 0.1 ct 7 UA ct p 0.1 0.05

-0.1 -0.05 4 6 8 10 12 4 6 8 10 12 14

Time(min.) Time(min.)

E. purpurea E. pallida var. pal/ida 1.2 4 0.6 0.5

0.8 0.4 0.6 0.3 24 vi vi ..0 ..0 ct ct 0.2 22 25 0.1 18 p

-0.1 4 6 8 10 12 4 6 8 10 12 14

Time(min.) I --- 260nm --- 210nm I Time(min.)

42 I HerbaiGram 72 2006 www.herbalgram.org Dalea spp. L. Fabaceae (Prairie clover), and other taprooted forbs historical ex tinction and coloni za ti on events.27 These 2 taxa are generally outperform rhizomatous forbs, which compete directly distinct but closely related, since the genetic makeup of E. paL/ida with grasses for nutriems.33 Edaphic constraints [factors pertain­ va r. tennesseensis is identical to that of E. pal/ida var. angustifolia ing to soil ecological relationships] due to competition for nutri­ at 50 % of genes studied by isozyme analysis, and there appears to ents and water are higher fo r rhizomatous forbs.26 be a subse t of va r. angustifolia all eles at another 28% of E. pal/ida There is also evidence that ecological variation (such as edaphic va r. tennesseensis genes studied. 4.27 characteristics) affects genomic variability and/or expression of Restoration of native prairie Echinacea populations is likely secondary chemistry. Chemotypes or chemical races were distin­ to depend largely on the other pl ants in rhe community. Seed guished for populations of E. pal/ida var. angustifolia grown from recruitment is low. In some prairie remnants, there is ev idence wild seed,5 despite widespread and mostly continuous distribu­ that wild-harvested Echinacea paL/ida var. angustifolia can re­ tion of E. paL/ida var. angustifolia in a range of habitats. On the sprout from holes where root fragments are left after digging (K. other hand, a significantly lower genetic diversity was measured Kindscher, personal communication, June 5, 1999); however, the in E. pal/ida var. tennesseensisi 7, 27 and was attributed to possi ble degree to which it may compere for es tablishment is still under

E. atrorubens var. paradoxa E. pal/ida var. sanguinea 06 1 2 0.5 24 1 0.4 0.8 8+9 0.3 0.6 vi 0.2 vi A ..0 ..0 2 0.4

Time (min.) Time (min.)

E. atrorubens var. neglecta 1.2 E. pal/ida var. angustifolia 0.13

0.09 8+9 0.8

0.6 4 0.05 vi ..0

-0.03 -0.2 ....__---...-----...-----,....-----,- 4 6 8 10 12 4 6 8 10 12 Time (min.) Time (min.)

E. atrorubens var. atrorubens E. pallida var. tennesseensis 1.2 0.4 8+9 0.3 0.8 0.2 0.6

vi 0.4 12 ~ 0.1

18 10

-0.2 ....__---...-----...-----,....-----,- 4 6 8 10 12 4 6 8 10 12

Time (min.) Time(min.)

1--- 260nm --- 210nml

Figure 6. HPLC chromatograms of typical flowerhead profiles of lipophilic phytochemicals in each Echinacea taxon. Numbered peaks correspond to Figure 4. Lettered pea ks are as follows: (P) unreported polyene that resembles 22 by UV-scan, (*P) unreported polyene (UV-scan identical to 24), (UA) unreported diene alkamide, (UA*) unreported tetraene alkamide. www. herbalgram.org 2006 HerbaiGram 72 I 43 longer-term study. iss ued to dig for personal use (not commercial sale) of E. pal/ida E. purpurea has been used for compari sons of competitive abili­ var. angustifolia roots in Montana, and the harvesting regulation ties (plant size and reproductive capacity) between wild and culti­ does nor apply to aboriginal reservati ons or private landowners. vated populations. Snyder et al showed that wild plants tend to Clearly, Echinacea prairie vari eti es at risk from ecophys iological have increased vegetative growth, while cultiva ted plants display factors and iss ues of genetic constraints, as discussed previously, increased reproductive capacity.34 have also been under risk of human mismanagement. Public land conservation is achieved through scientific input Is rarity a res ult of human activity? provided to land management agencies and lobbying for federal Wilcove et al implicated habitat degradation in the decline legislarion.39 Conservation and restoration on private lands was of 85% of 1880 species of imperiled plants and animals in traditionally achieved thro ugh zoning, condemnation, and tax the United States .35 Thirty-five percent of these were directly regulati on, with lirde success. Innovative bottom-up approaches linked to commercial and residential human devel opments. Road are increasingly addressing priva te la nd degradation and slowing construction and maintenance were almos t equal. However, in or halting the ravaging of natural ecological communities. Land the case of Echinacea, the larges t human influence on rari ty in trusts, open-space tax incentives, "community-based conserva­ certain taxa is undoubtedly wild-harves ting for the herb/dietary tion," and more have begun to effectuate stewardship. T he Plant supplement trade. Conse rvation Alli ance, which for med its "Medicinal Plant Work­ Echinacea harvesting is controve rsial and, likely due to mass ing G roup" in 1999, has es tablished links between the Nature commerciali za tion of the 1990s, it was particularly rampant Conse rvancy and other institutions, NG O s, and the public in a throughout the Native American Indian reservations across the "bottom up" effort to change wild harvesting practices. In fact,

Echinacea purpurea Photo ©2006 Echinacea pal/ida Photo ©2006 Echinacea angus tifolia Photo ©2006 Echinacea sanguinea Photo©2006 Tom stevenfoster.com stevenfoster.com stevenfoster.com Barnes, Universi ty of Kentucky.

G rear Plains. In 1990, North D akotan people were encouraged E. pal/ida va r. pal/ida and E. pal/ida va r. angustifolia were cited to "just grab a shovel and starr digging" while "environmentalists on the list of "Medicinal Plant Species in U.S. Commerce" as top in the stare fea r[ed] that gold fever [was] spreading among shovel priority wa rranting further study; rhe authors based their assess­ wield ing collectors with dollar signs in their eyes."36 "Rooting," as ment on 1989-1999 data fo r trade demand increases, wild popu­ the d igging of E. pal/ida var. angustifolia roots was called, has been lation decl ines, and species decline.40 Finally, government grants an economic opportunity fo r both native and non-native people, ($3 US million in 2004) are now being awarded to protect plant as well as an ethical wildcrafting nightmare-where poachers species on rriballands.41 have been known to effectively clear our wild populations of the plants without concern for preservation of the resources or the Take-Home Messages ecosystems}? Echinacea forbs compete poorly to fairly with native grasses in Early regulati on of the rampant wild harvesting came in the prairie sires, res ulting in low recruitment of Echinacea by seed. form of tribal resolutions in several states and later as legisla­ Significa nt factors include the following: ti on. For example, by 1999 North Dakota began to fine poachers Public lands are relatively easy to protect with scientific $ 10,000 along with confiscation of their vehicles .37 In Montana, evidence (data exist). a 3-year moratorium on the harvest of E. angustifolia from Private lands require new model for community-based natural state lands, pushed by herbalist R. Klein,37 led to the current resource manage ment. Montana Code, which prohibits wild harves ting of E. pal/ida va r. H abitat degradation due to development and human activity is angustifolia from public lands without a permit, with a fine up to the primary cause of rarity. $1000 or 6 months in jail .38 D es pite these efforts, permits are still Echinacea wildcrafting is not sustainable.

44 I HerbaiGram 72 2006 www.herbalgram.org Conclusion References During the herbal renaissance of the 1990s, Echinacea plants I. Cronquist A. Notes on the Compositae of the Northeastern United were the subject of much interest, common usage, and research States II. Heliantheae and Helenieae. Rhodora. 1945;47:396-398. scrutiny. Now, as science and markets for medicinal plants 2. McGregor RL. T he taxonomy of the genus Echinacea (Compositae). continue to evolve in the 21st century, the integration of find­ Univ Kansas Sci Bull. 1968;48: 11 3- 142. 3. Bauer R, Wagner H . Echinacea species as potenrial ings from state-of-the-art original morphological, molecular, and immunostimularory drugs. In: Wagner H, Farnsworth N, eds . phytochemical work by the authors of this article, along with Economic and Medical Plant Research. 5th ed. London: Academic ecological reports and the historical and regulatory I iteratu re Press; 1991 :253-321. of the times, suggests that these North American native plants 4. Binns SE, Baum BR, Arnason JT. A taxonomic revision of the deserve their status as protected resources. Moreover, it provides a genus Echinacea (Helianrheae; Asteraceae). Syst Bot. 2002;27:61 0- comprehensive perspective into the biological and political origins 632. of Echinacea materials sourced as phytomedicines, which is long 5. Binns SE, Baum BR, Arnason JT. Phytochemical variation in popu­ overdue considering the fo cus on clinical evidence for Echinacea lations of Echinacea angustifolia (Asteraceae). Biochem Syst Eco/. 2002;30:837-854. health products and dietary supplements. HG 6. Binns SE, Livesey JF, Arnason JT, Baum BR. Phytochemi cal varia­ Acknowledgements tion in Echinacea Moench (Helianrheae: Asteraceae) from roots and Aowerheads of wi ld and cultiva ted populations. jour Agric Food This manuscript benefited from comments by Dr. E. Small, Chern. 2002;50:3673-3687. Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Eastern Cereal and Oilseed 7. Gower JC. A ge neral coefftcienr of similarity and some of its

Echinacea simulata Photo ©2006 stevenfoster.com Echinacea tennesseensis Echinacea arrorubens Photo ©2006 stevenfoster.com Photo ©2006 stevenfoster.com

properties. Biometrics. 1971 27:857-871. Research Centre, Ottawa. The financial support of Trout Lake 8. Binns SE, Baum BR, Arnason JT. Typification of Echinacea purpu­ Farms LLC (Washington, USA) , Amway/Nutralite Corporation rea (L.) Moench (Helianrheae: Asteraceae) and its implications on (USA), and MediPlant Consulting Services (D ennis V.C. Awa ng, the correct naming of two Echinacea taxa. Taxon . 2001 ;50: 1169- PhD, FCIC) of White Rock, BC, Canada, is gratefully acknowl­ 11 75. edged. We thank S. Mechanda and J. Livesey (Research Tech­ 9. McKeown KA. A Review of the taxonomy of the Genus Echinacea. nicians, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the University In: Janick J, ed. Perspectives on New Crops and New Uses. Alexandria, of Ottawa, Canada) for their contribution to the experimental VA: ASHS Press; 1999:482-489. work. 10. Bin ns SE, Baum BR, Amason JT. Taxon. Proposal to conserve the Bernard R. Baum. Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, East­ name Rudbeckia purpurea L. (Asteraceae) with a differenr type. 2001;50: 1199- 1200. ern Cereal and Oilseed Research Center, Neatby Building, 960 11 . Hitchcock CL, Cronquist A, Ownbey M, Thompson JW. Vascular Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, KIAOC6. Correspond­ plants of the Pacific Northwest. Vol 5. Seattle: University of Washing­ ing author: e-mail: [email protected]; phone: 6I3-759-I82I. ron Press. 1955-69. Shannon E. Binns. University of British Columbia, Faculty of 12. Radford AE, H ardin JW, Massey JR, Core EL, Radford LS , eds. Land and Food Systems, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Vascular flora of the southeastern United States. Vol 1. C hapel Hill: Columbia, Canada, V6T I Z4. University of North Carolina Press; 1980. john T Arnason. Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 13. Urbatsch LE, Jansen RK. Phylogenetic affinities among and within 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON, Canada KIN 6N5. the coneAower genera (Asteraceae, Helianrheae), a chloroplast DNA analys is. Syst Bot. 1995;20:28-39. 14. Robinson H. Studies in the Heliantheae (Asteraceae), XIV: Valida- www.herbalgram .org 2006 HerbaiGra m 72 I 45 tion of subrribes. Phytologia. 1978;4 1:39-44. 29. Baskauf CJ , Eickmeier WG. Comparative ecophysiology of a rare 15. Robinson H . A revision of the rribal and sub tribal limits of the and a widespread species of Echinacea (Asreraceae). Amer j Bot. Helianrheae (Asteraceae) Smithsonian Contrib Bot. 19 81;51: 1-102. 1994;81 :958-964. 16. Urbarsch LE, Baldwin BG, Donoghue MJ. Phylogeny of rhe cone­ 30. Hemmerly TE. Life hisrory of rhe highly endemic cedar glade Rowers and relatives (Helianrheae: Asreraceae) based on nuclear species Echinacea tennesseensis. ASB Bulletin 1986;33: 193-199. rDNA inrernal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences and chloroplast 3 1. Q uarrerman E, Hemmerly TE. Rediscovery of Echinacea tennesseen­ DNA restriction sire clara. Syst Bot. 2000;25:539-565. sis (Beadle) Small. Rhodora. 1971 ;73:304-305. 17. Mechanda SM, Baum BR, Johnso n DA, Amason JT. Analysis of 32. Walck JL, Hemmerly TE, Hidayari SN. The endangered Tennessee diversiry of natural populations and commercial lines of Echinacea Purple ConeAower, Echinacea tennesseensis (Asteraceae) : irs ecology usin g AFLP. Can j Bot. 2004;82:461-484. and conservation. Native Plants journal 2002;3(1):54-64. 18. US Fish and Wildli fe Service. Threatened and endangered Species 33. Tomaneck GW, Alberrson FW. Some effects of differenr inrensiries System-E. laevigata and E. tennesseensis. Lisr updated March 31, of grazing on mixed prairies near H ays, KS . jour Range Manag. 2004. Available ar: hrrp:/ /ecos.fws.gov/species_profile/SpeciesProfile 1953;6:299-305. ?spcode=Q293 and hrrp:/ I ecos.fws.gov/species_profile/SpeciesProfil 34. Snyder KM, Baski n JM, Baskin CC. Comparative ecology of the e?spcode=Q I VU. narrow endemic Echinacea tennesseensis and two geographically 19. Kim DH, Heber D, Srill OW. Generic diversiry of Echinacea widespread congeners: rel ative competitive abiliry and growth species based upon amplified fragment length polymorphism characteristics. lnt j Plant Sci. l 994; 155:57-65. markers. Genome. 2004;47: I 02-111. 35. Wilcove OS, Rothstein D, Dubow J, Phillips A, Losos E. Quanri­ 20. Clark AG, Lanigan CMS. Prospects for es timating nucleotide diver­ fying threats to imperiled species in the United Stares. BioScience. gence wirh RAPDs. Mol Bioi Evol. 1993;10:1096-1111. 1998;48:607-615. 21. Kapreyn J, Goldsbrough PB, Simon JE. Generic relationships and 36. Wilson, R. ConeAower rush may wipe out N.D. plant. Bismarck

Echinacea paradoxa Photo ©2006 stevenfoster.com Echinacea paradoxa var. neg tecta Photo ©2006 Echinacea laevigata Photo ©2006 stevenfoste r.com stevenfoster.com

diversiry of commerciall y relevanr Echinacea species. Theor Appl Tribune. May 24, 1998. Genet. 2002; I 05 :369-376. 37. Glick D. Root al l evil. Women Outside. Summer 1999;7 1-78. 22. Baum BR, Mechanda S, Livesey JF, Binns SE, Amason JT. Predic­ 38. State of Monrana Code. Available at: hrrp://dara.opi.state. mt.us/ ting quanritative phyrochemical markers in single Echinacea bills/mca/76/J0/76-I0-107.hrm. Accessed February 2, 2006. plants or clones from their DNA fingerprinrs. Phytochemistry. 39. Kni ght RL. Private lands: The neglected geography. Conservation 200 I ;56:543-549. Biology. 1999; 13:223-224. 23. Bauer R. Echinacea: Biological effects and active principles. In: 40. Robbins C. Medicine .from US. Wildlands: An Assessment ofNative Lawson LD, Bauer R, eds. Phytomedicines of Europe: Chemistry and Plant Species Ha rvested in the United States for Medicinal Use and Biological Activity. ACS symposium series 691. Wash ingron, DC: Trade and Evaluation of the Conservation and Management Implica­ American C hemical Sociery; 1998:1 40- 157. tions. Prepared for the Nature Conservancy with TRAFFIC; 1999. 24. Bauer R, Khan I, Wagner H. TLC and HPLC analysis of Echinacea Available ar: hrrp:/ /www.nps.gov/ plants/ medicinal/pubs/traffic. patlida and E. angustifolia roots. Planta Med. 1988;54:426-430. htm#Table%202. Accessed February 2, 2006. 25. Binns SE, Inparajah I, Baum BR, Amason JT. Me] increases 4 1. US Fish and W ildlife Service. Tribal Landowner lncenrive (TLIP) alkamide and keroalken/ynes in Echinacea patlida. Phytochemistry. and Tribal Wildlife gra nts (TWG) programs. Virtual News 200 1;57:4167-4420. Room. Available at: http:/ /news.fws.gov/newsreleases/defaulr. 26. Kindscher K, Fraser A. Planring forbs first provides greater species cfm?region=6. Accessed March 3, 2004 diversiry in Tallgrass Prairie resrorarions. Ecological Restoration. 2000;18: 11 5- 11 6. 27. Baskauf CJ, McCauley DE, Eickmeier WG. Genetic analys is of a rare and a widespread species of Ech inacea (Asreraceae). Evolution. 1994;48: 180-188. 28. Baskauf, CJ. Is restrictive ecophys iology the cause for planr rariry? An example the ge nus Echinacea. Amer J Bot. 1995;82(SUPPL.):40.

46 I HerbalGram 72 2006 www.herbalgram.org -

29 vitamins and minerals I 24 fruits and vegetables 18 amino acids I 12 digestive enzymes I 12 green foods 12 organic mushrooms I 1 0 fatty acids I citrus bioflavonoids

More energizing nutrients from more natural sources than other supplements-all expertly formulated into technically superior "quick dissolve" tablets that disintegrate up to Sx faster than competing brands

Alive!® is more than just a best-selling multivitamin. It's nutrition you can feel.

Also available in vegetarian capsules, Ultra-Shakes"' and effervescent drink mixes Medicinal Plants f 0 The flora of Montenegro is one of the most diverse of any Sage"-the familiar culinary herb and phytomedicine. More comparable-sized temperate or subtropical region in the than 50% of the world's supply is still wild-harvested along world. Montenegro is located in the southwest part of the the Adriatic coast from Albania in the south to the Croatian Balkans, encompassing an area of 13,812 km2 (5,331 sq. miles) coastal mountains north of Montenegro. In 2005, the US and is not more than 173 km (107 miles) from east to west, imported 2,007 metric tons of sage leaf from Albania, 1.5 tons with a 316 km (196 mile) long coastline along the Adriatic. from Bosnia and Herzegovina, 244.7 tons from Croatia, and 54 The country is mostly mountainous, with only 1O o/o of its land tons from Macedonia. The last reported US imports of sage area below 200 m (656ft.) in height. Montenegro is generally from Serbia and Montenegro was in 2003. However, a portion classified as having a Mediterranean climate along the coast of the tonnage exported from Albania, Bosnia and Herze­ and continental climate inland, though microclimates can be govina, and Croatia was wild-harvested in Montenegro and found along the coast, valleys, mountains, and plateaus, creat­ sold to buyers in neighboring countries .6 As an understory ing a diversity of habitats with subtropical to alpine floras. The subshrub, sage is a dominant floristic element in the coastal geological features form 3 distinct floristic zones, including mountains, with its azure blue flowers covering the dry rocky the inland mountains, the central lowland plain, and the Adri­ landscape. This is the center of diversity for this common atic coast. The diverse climate and relief features create a high culinary herb. Variations have been recognized in somewhat degree of biological diversity in a very small territory.3 Montenegro has 3,136 vascular plants, of which 659 species are medicinal. In the coastal region approximately 174 species have recognized medicinal value. In the central highlands, as many as 540 medicinal plant species are found, and in the Balkans to the north, at least 479 species can be documented as medicinal plants. According to Dragan Dragojevic, PhD, CEO of Aroma Sp. Dragojevic, an essential oil producer, there are 133 pharmacopeia! species in Montenegro. Dragojevic's 1987 PhD dissertation from a university in Macedonia was on medicinal plants of Montenegro. Three of the top 15 best­ selling herbs on world markets are wild-harvested in Monte­ negro, including St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L., Clusiaceae), valerian (Valeriano officina/is L., Valerianaceae), and bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L., Ericaceae). In addition, the Adriatic coast from Albania to Montenegro is the world's largest production region of wild-harvested Dalmatian sage (Salvia officina/is L., Lamiaceae). 1 The coastline along Montenegro's western boundary is the eastern side of the Adriatic; buffered by sea currents and winds, this coastline is warmer and clearer than the Italian side on opposite shores. There are at least 7 ancient cities, each one a former capital of smaller kingdoms, protectorates, and vassals of Slavic, Ottoman, and Venetian empires: Ulcinj, Bar (famous for olive oil production), Budva, Tivat, Risen, Herceg Gentian Gentiana /utea on Mt. Sinjavi na. Photo ©2006 stevenfoster.com Novi, and the walled medieval city of Kotor tucked beneath St. John's Mountain at the end of Boka Kotorska (Bay of Kotor). Kotor is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.4 All along the coast, archaic botanical subspecies, varieties, and forms including small villages, like the fishing village island turned hotel, Sveti such designations as 5. officina/is L. f pal/ida Pant. with white Stefan, abound with charm and Mediterranean herbs. flowers, 5. officina/is subsp. officina/is var. officina/is f. brevi­ The coastal hinterlands dip into a rugged, yet friendly pedicellata Gajic, 5. officina/is subsp. officina/is var. officina/is f. coastline, with mountains holding a flora typical of Mediter­ bracteata Gajic, and 5. officina/is subsp. officina/is var. officina/is ranean climates. Familiar herbs in the mint family (Lamiaceae f. longiaristata Gajic, among others.? or Labiatae), such as winter savory (Satureja montana L.), sage Montenegro, prior to the break-up of the former Yugosla ­ (5. officina/is L.), thyme (Thymus spp.), and oregano (Origanum via, was an important and vibrant trading center for medicinal vulgare L.) , abound in the dry rocky soils, under the shadow and aromatic plants, primarily wild-harvested in the Balkans of the spires of Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L., and the Coastal Mountains. After the Balkan civil wars began Cupressaceae), basking beneath the hot Mediterranean sun. in the early 1990s, Montenegro, then still a state within Serbia, Here thickets of wild figs (Ficus carica L., Moraceae), chaste suffered from United Nation sanctions and later from NATO tree (Vitex agnus-castus L., Verbenaceae), wild pomegranate bombing. This halted exports of bulk medicinal and aromatic (Punica granatum L., Punicaceae), and Scotch broom (Cytisus herbs from Montenegro, which at that time had an export scoparius [L.] Link, Fabaceae) surround ancient olive groves business approaching $50 (USD) million a year in sales. The on mountain slopes that dip into the turquoise waters of the period of sanctions devastated the herb sector. Sage sales Adriatic below.s plummeted and much of the bulk business shifted to Alba­ Dalmatia, from the Island of Rab in northwest Croatia to nia. Today, Montenegro is in the process of rebuilding, with the Gulf of Kotor in Montenegro, is the origin for much of container loads of sage once again being shipped to interna­ the world's common garden sage (5. officina/is), "Dalmatian tional destinations.

www.herbalgram.org 2006 HerbaiGram 72 I 49 Above: Oregano Origanum vulgare is a common wild herb. Photo ©2006 stevenfoster.com Right: Woman in traditional garb harvesting bilberries Vaccinium myrtillus. Photo ©2006 stevenfoster.com

The distinct silver gray leaves of olive (Olea europea L., Olea­ centuries, the red-colored oil made from the yellow flowers is ceae}, now valued for their antioxidant and antihypertensive used to treat first-degree burns, along with bruises and other activity, are a familiar site along the coastal region. Bar, a small skin conditions. Once known to pharmacists as "red oil" or port city located on the Adriatic coast in southeastern Monte­ "Hypericum liniment," it is still available in European pharma­ negro, has a mild Mediterranean climate, buffered by the cies. In Montenegro, the oil is sold along the coast as a kind of warm current of the Adriatic, and tempered by Skadar Lake, "tanning oil" to create a dark tan, though in light-skinned indi­ with Mountain Rumija massif between. This ancient city has viduals this practice could cause an unpleasant dermatitis.* been inhabited since Neolithic times. Ancient lllyrian, Greek, In late June, heading inland toward the Zeta Plain over Mt. and Roman cultures all inhabited the area. By the 7th century Lovcen or Mt. Rumija toward Skadar, the largest inland lake it was populated by the Slavs. Among the nearly 500,000 in the Balkans, a dominant flowering plant is Helichrysum olive trees in ancient groves along the Montenegro coast is italicum (Roth) G. Don, Asteraceae. The flowering tops are a special treat for those who make their way to the village of collected by villagers along the coastal mountains and the Mirovica just north of Bar, where a local park protects a 2000- Skadar Lake region and sold to buyers for distillation of the year-old olive tree-one of the oldest in the world. Legend essential oil. Known regionally as immortelle, or in the Ameri­ holds that before marrying, men must plant 10 olive trees, can nursery trade as "curry plant," the essential oil has been which resulted in nearly 500,000 olive trees growing today shown to have significant antibacterial activityB as well as in ancient groves along the Montenegrin Coast. Bar has once anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity.9 Aromatherapists again become an important olive oil production region as the use the essential oil to facilitate the healing of.-wounds and r~sult of a United States Agency for International Develop­ scars. One of the reasons it has not gained more popularity is ment (USAID) program that has helped to reclaim once-aban­ its great expense compared with other essential oils. doned olive groves. Driving north toward the Mt. Sinjavina massif, one transi­ Throughout Montenegro, St. John's wort commonly blooms tions from a Mediterranean flora to a continental flora and from late May to August, depending upon the region and the high alpine slopes, some over 2,500 meters tall with famil­ elevation. Traveling along the Montenegrin coast in July and iar medicinal plants typical of Central Europe, such as linden August, one may come across an occasional vendor selling (known in some areas by the common name "lime tree," Ti/ia bottles of Kanatrionovo Ulje-St John's wort oil. Under the hot spp., Tiliaceae), bilberry, and gentian (Gentiana luteaL., Genti­ Mediterranean sun, in much the same way that it has been for anaceae). Climbing the steep truck-choked main highway up

* This condition, called "hypericism;' was first recorded in 1787. When light-skinned livestock, such as sheep, goats, horses, and cattle ingest the plant, and then are exposed to bright sunlight, they may develop welts on the skin, and other symptoms. Dark-skinned animals are largely unaffected. This photo­ dermatitis is the result of the interaction of sunlight and oxygen with the pigment hypericin. After being ingested, it is absorbed though the intestinal wall and reaches the blood without being eliminated by the liver or kidneys. Photosensitization generally does not occur, and has not been recorded from external contact with the plant. Source: Kingsbury J. Poisonous Plants of the United States and Canada. New Jersey: Englewood Cliffs; 1964:173.

50 I HerbaiGram 72 2006 www.herbalgram.org

Above and Left: Wild sage Salvia officina/is is common on Mt. Rumija. Photos ©2006 stevenfoster.com

Mt. Sinjavina, one reaches a continental divide where water longer trades the dried root, but he is keenly interested in the flows westward toward the Adriatic on the western slope, species' long-term sustainability. and toward the Black Sea from the eastern slopes. This east­ On Mount Sinjavina in the central high mountains and ern slope holds the headwaters of the Tara River valley, creat­ plateau region of Montenegro, G.lutea populations seem to be ing a spectacular deep canyon, second only in length to the increasing. For the past 5 years, Mr. Vucinic has been encour­ Grand Canyon. The azure blue waters, considered the clean­ aging villagers in remote mountain hamlets and seasonal est in Europe, cut through Beograd Gora National Park toward shepherds to be more aware of the plant's future. Here there the Mt. Durmitor massif, the tallest mountain group, with 49 are no tractors, mowing machines, and hay balers. Hay is cut peaks over 2,000 meters atop a vast plateau 1,500 meters by hand with a scythe, then raked by hand and neatly piled above sea level, and intersected by deep canyon gorges and into haystacks. When Mr. Vucinic is traveling in the mountains 18 pristine glacial lakes. Here in calcareous soils of the high buying common herbs, he often sees farmers cutting hay. mountain glades and plateaus of Montenegro is the home He stops and politely asks that they not cut flowering and/ of yellow gentian (G. lutea spp. symphandra [Murb.] Hayek), or fruiting G. lutea plants, and he encourages them to let the the root of which has long been valued as a bitter tonic. plants go to seed. This informal conservation effort serves to Yellow gentian is one important medicinal plant which has help increase awareness of the plant and its sustainable devel­ become threatened in Montenegro and throughout its range opment for the future. This regeneration effort is an excellent due to factors ranging from relative scarcity in a limited high model for the development of sustainable supplies of this mountain habitat to over-harvest. The export of the root is threatened species and Mr. Vucinic should be commended now banned from Montenegro. According to Donnelly and for these efforts. Attention to simple conservation measures, Helberg, the status of G. lutea in Serbia and Montenegro is such as this, has resulted in an increase in gentian, where it vulnerable, its legal status is protected, and the supply used had once disappeared. there is from imported sources.1o Further north and east toward the Serbian and Kosovo Today former traders in gentian root are keenly interested borders, each year in the city of Plav in northeastern Montene­ in its conservation. Mr. Veselin Vucinic is one such person. He gro, a beautiful mountain city overlooking the placid waters is the owner of Flores, an herb tea, bulk herb, and essential oil of Plav Lake, the annual Bilberry Festival is held, celebrating producer in Mojkovac, located just down river from the Tara the harvest season of this native wild fruit. "Blueberry," as it's River Canyon. He formerly purchased upwards of 60,000 kg known locally in Montenegro, is traded in world markets as of gentian root before its harvest was banned. Mr. Vucinic no "bilberry" (Vaccinium myrtillus L., Ericaceae). Bilberry jam and www.herbalgram.org 2006 HerbaiGram 72 I 53 juice products are widely available in markets in Montenegro. ing as the MN&Saljic Company in Podgorica. The family runs Since imposition of UN sanctions on the former Yugoslavia a clinic where individuals with various dermatological prob­ in the ea rly 1990s, the bilberry harvest has fallen to less than lems ranging from severe acne to burns are treated with herb half of its former tonnage of 600 metric tons of fresh berries. products manufactured by the company. These products are Seven years ago in an effort to redevelop this wild-harvested available in every pharmacy in Serbia and Montenegro, but crop, the regional government for Plav and business concerns not known outside their borders. In addition, cosmetics, burn began the annual Bilberry Festival. This year's harvest is esti­ ointments, and salves, as well as custom-blended herbal tea mated at 200 metric tons. preparations, are shipped to individual clients throughout the world. The ingredients are all wild-harvested from moun­ tain ranges with Ecocert®wild organic certification. Unknown herbal treasures like those held by the 300-year-old tradition of the Saljic family are yet another herbal resource of Monte­ negro. Montenegro's tradition of harvesting wild medicinal herbs dates back centuries, if not millennia. Relative geographic and political isolation have hidden this fact outside of the Balkans until now. "Montenegro has huge potential thanks to its climate-Mediterranean as well as continental," says Bozidar­ Bosko Saljic. "In such a small area we have among the world's richest and well-developed herbal traditions." HG

Author, photographer, and consultant, Steven Foster is co ­ author (with Rebecca Johnson) of the recently published National Geographic book Desk Reference to Nature's Medicine, 2006, National Geographic Society, Washington, DC.

References 1. Rellie A. Montenegro-The Bradt Travel Guide. Guilford, Connecticut: The Globe Pequot Press; 2003. 2. Majstorovic V. Montenegro Tourist Guide. Belgrade, Serbia: lnter­ sistem Kartografija; 2006. 3. Vincek D, Popovic RR, Kovacevic. The Mountains of Montenegro: A Mountaineering Guide. Podgorica, Montenegro: Monitor, 2004. 4. Andrijasevic ZM, Rastoder S. The History of Montenegro. Podgorica, Montenegro: CICG, 2006. 5. Tasic S, Svikin Fodulovic K, Menkovic N. Vodic Kroz Svet Lekovi­ tog Bilja. Valjevo, Serbia: Agencija Valjevac, 2004. 6. United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service. Sage Imports 2001 -2006 (HS 121190950 and HS 121190905). Washington, DC: USDA FAS. 7. Pulevic V. Material for Vascular Flora of Montenegro. A Supple­ ment to Conspectus Flora Montenegrinae (J . Rohlena). Special Edition, Vol 2. Podgorica, Montenegro: The Republic Institute for the Protection of Nature; 2005:108. 8. Nostro A, Bisignano G, Angela Cannatelli M, Crisafi G, Paola Germano M, Alonzo V. Effects of Helichrysum italicum extract on growth and enzymatic activity of Staphylococcus au reus. lnt J Antimicrob Agents. June 2001 ;17(6):517-520. 9. Sala A, Recio M, Giner RM, et al. Anti-inflammatory and anti­ oxidant properties of Helichrysum italicum. J Pharm Pharmacal. March 2002;54(3):365-371 . 10. Donnelly R, Helberg U. Balkans Herbal Development Initia­ tive-Phase 1 Final Summary Report-Serbia and Montenegro. Wild thyme Thymus spp. is known as "mother spirit:' Photo ©2006 Southeastern Europe Enterprise Development and The Corpo­ stevenfoster.com rate Citizenship Facility; 2003.

During the filming of a remake of a Tarzan movie in the early Acknowledgement: This article was produced with support 1970s, the starring Danish actress, Kitty Swan, fell into a fire from USAID and the Booz Allen Montenegro Competitive­ on the movie set and was severely burned. For treatment she ness Project (MCP). turned to the Montenegrin herbalist J. Saljic, whose family has included practicing medical herbalists in the central mountain . MCP city of Berane for over 300 years. Saljic became famous for a ® ~~~!2 ..,.... uo

54 I HerbaiGram 72 2006 www.herbalgram.org ------~~egal &Regulator J~------

Appeals Court Sides with FDA in Ephedra Ban Case by Madeline Hollern and Courtney Cavaliere

A three-judge panel of t he lOth Circuit US Cou rt of Appeals ruled in favor of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on ~ugust 17, 2006, in a case that had challenged the FDA's 2004 complete ban of ephed rine alkaloids in dietary supplements.1 T he N urraceurical C orporation and irs on indirect ev idence and no establishment use of a ri sk-benefit analys is and the fac t brand Solaray* brought a legal challenge of a precise dose at wh ic h toxicity ari ses," that FDA did nor first prove rhe dosage at against rhe FDA in M ay 2004, a monrh Emord wrote. which ephedra prese nted an unreasonable after an FDA regulation banning ephed­ T he FDA's use of a ri sk-benefit assess­ risk.4 That courr's decision only lifted the rine alkaloids at any level from dietary menr against ephedra also shows rhar rhe ban on low-dose ephedra produces and supplemenrs wenr inro effecr. 2,3 Prior agency can srrengrhen irs case against a d id nor have any effect in cerrain scares. ro that regulation, exrracrs of ephedra produce by declaring rhe produce's bene­ FDA recently released an updated warn­ (Ephedra sincica Srapf, Ephed raceae) were firs as non-significant. For instance, FDA ing aga inst ephedra through irs safety common ingredienrs of numerous weight­ did nor consider weight loss a significant info rmation and adverse event reponing loss produces, including a dietary supple­ benefit of ephedra. "FDA refused , in irs program MedWarch, declaring it illegal to menr produced and marketed by Solaray. 2 rulemaking process, to acknowledge any marker dietary supplements with ephed­ Nurraceurical challenged borh rhe FDA's benefits for ephed ra, even fo r traditional ri ne alkaloids ar any dosage and staring use of a ris k/ benefit analysis in determin­ uses," scared Michael McGuffin, pres i­ rhar such produces "are considered adul­ ing an "unreasonable risk" of ephedra, as dent of rhe A merican H erbal Produces terated and pose an unreasonable risk of well as rhe regulation's ban on low dose Association. 2 "If rhe benefic side is judged illness or injury ro use rs, especially chose ephedra produces. Sola ray's d ietary supple­ as 'zero,' rhe outcome of any ri sk/benefic suffering from hea rr disease and high menr was marketed as delivering less rhan analys is will necessarily be skewed. Bur blood pressure."? HG 10 mg per day of ephedrine alkaloids. The this courr has now specifically stared rhar US Disrricr Courr for rhe Disrricr of Utah FDA's risk/ benefit mechanism 'correctly Referen ces ruled in favor of N urraceurical on borh of foll owed rhe congress ional directive,' and I . Nurraceurica l Corp v Vo n Eschenbach, these causes of action in April 2005,4 and indusrry will need to evaluate rhe implica­ No. 05-4 151, 2006 Wl 2374338 (I Orh rhese rulings have now been overrurned tions of rhis as precedent." Ci r. Aug. 17, 2006). Avai lab le at: http:// www.ck 1O. uscourrs.gov/op inions/05 /05 - by rhe Courr of Appeals. Accord ing ro Emord, N urraceurical 4151.pdf Accessed September 5, 2006. N urraceurical Corporation's coun­ intended ro fil e a peririon for rehea ring 2. Appeals court ru les fo r FDA in ephedra sel Jonathan Emord criticized the courr's in fro nt of rhe entire 1Q th C ircuit Court ban: ove rturns lower co urt fi nding in decision (e-mail ro C. Cavaliere, Septem­ of Appeals at rhe end of September. If Nutraceutica l v. vo n Eschenbach [press ber 5, 2006). "If rhe lOrh C ircuit decision denied, the company will rake irs case release]. Sil ve r Spring: Ame rican Herbal remains unchanged, ir bodes ill for rhe ro the Supreme Court. "To be sure, it is Products Association; August 18, 2006. enrire industry. Ir stands for the proposi­ never easy ro defeat rhe FDA, bur if rhe 3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. tion rhar rhe new drug risk (safery)-bene­ rule of law is ro have rrue mea ning, and Fin al rul e decl aring dietary sup plements co ntaining ephedrine alkalo ids ad ul ter­ fir (efficacy) comparison may be adopted if rhe will of Congress and rhe rights of ated because they present an unreasonabl e by FDA in rhe Food Adulteration context. the regulated class are to be res pected, we risk; final ru le. 69 Federal Register 6787 That move is unprecedenred and enables have no choice bur to defeat rhe FDA," (2004) (codified at 21 CFR § 11 9). FDA ro avoid rhe more rigorous precedent wrote Emord. 4. urraceutical Corp v Crawford. No. rhar has since rhe rurn of rhe rwentierh The 2004 ban of ephedra, which 2:04CV409TC (C. D. UT Ap ril 13, century compelled FDA ro prove a risk of arrracred much media arrenrion, was rhe 2005). Available at: http://www. utd . illness or injury under conditions of acrual fi rs t rime rhe FDA had removed a popular uscourrs.gov I reporrs/204cv409-28. pdf use, rather rhan on general pharmacologic dietary supplement from rhe marker under Accessed October 2, 2006. 5. Blumenthal M. FDA an nounces ban on principles and in reliance on hypothetical rhe provisions of the Dietary Supplement ephedra supplements: Federal move follows models." H ealrh and Education Acr (D SH EA) of bans by Califo rnia, Ill inois and New York. According ro Emord, FDA had no direct 1994.5 T he FDA ban was largely inspired Herbal Gram. 2004;No. 61:64-65. evidence rhar supplements containing low by rhe high profile dearhs of several sports 6. Amin RM , Blu menthal M. Federal co urt doses of ephedrine alkaloids presented any figures who used rhe supplement, and overturns FDA ban on ephedra at low risk of illness or injury, and FDA officials ir was preceded by ephedra bans within doses. HerbalEGram. May 2005;2(2). instead paid an experr ro exrrapolare dara cerrain stares and by va rious spores orga­ Avai lable at: http://www.herbalgram. from studies concerning rhe effects of the nizations. N utraceurical earlier ex pl ained org/ defa ul t.asp)c= FDAephedra. Accessed September 6, 2006. drugs epinephrine and isolated ephedrine rhar irs lawsuit aga inst FDA was nor filed 7. Dietary Supplements Co ntaini ng and apply rhem ro rhe contex t of supple­ in an arrempr ro reinsrare sa les of ephedra Ephedrine Al kaloids. U.S. Food and ments containing ephed rine alkaloids. supplements bur ro deter arbitrary rules by Dru g Administration MedWatch Web "N ever before in rhe hisrory of rhe Food rhe FDA rhar could cause problems for rhe site. Pos ted August 22, 2006. Avai lable Adulteration provision had FDA been entire supplement industry. 6 T he District at: http:/ /www.fda.gov/medwa tch/ allowed by a federal courr rhe disc retion ro C ourt of Utah's 2005 ruling in favor of safery/2006/ safery06. h tm# Ephedrine. ban a dietary supplement outright based Nurraceurical found fault with rhe FDA's Accessed September 6, 2006.

www.herbalgram.org 2006 HerbaiGram 72 I 55 ------~~egal & RegulatorJ~------

European Health Agencies Recommend Liver Warnings on Black Cohosh Products ABC, Herb Experts, and NIH Workshop Find No Direct Causal Relationship between Popular Menopause Remedy and Rare Reports of Liver Pro6lems by Mark Blumenthal

wo European health agencies have published warnings for possible liver toxicity for black cohosh products. The United Kingdom's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) announced on July 18, 2006, that warnings T will be required on labels of all black cohosh (Actaea racemosa L., Ranunculaceae; syn: Cimicifuga racemosa [L.) Nutt.) prod­ ucts, due to concerns about a suspected association between black cohosh and risk of liver disorders. 1 MHRA, the UK government agency responsible for ensuring the safety of medicines and medical devices, based its decision on the conclusions of the Commission on Human Medicines and the Herbal Medicines Advisory Committee, both of which claimed to have reviewed all available data on the subject and found what they have determined to be a possible association between black cohosh and increased risk of liver disor­ ders. However, at this time there is no scientific evidence in the published pharmacological and toxicological literature supporting this alleged connection with hepatotoxicity. In fact, various black cohosh preparations have shown high levels of safety in numerous clinical trials and widespread, long-term use.

The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) released a press statement on July 18 , 2006, urging patients to stop taking black cohosh if they develop signs suggestive of li ver injury (i.e., tired­ ness, loss of appetite, yellowing of the skin and eyes, or severe upper stomach pain with nausea and vomiting or dark urine) and advisi ng healthcare profes­ sionals to ask patients about their use of black cohosh products.2 The EMEA's Committee on Herbal Medicinal Prod­ ucts (HMPC) evaluated 42 case reports of hepatotoxicity. Although the vast majority of cases were found to be insuf­ ficiently documented or otherwise inap­ propriate for an analysis, the HMPC ulti­ mately concluded that there is a poten­ tial connection between herbal medicinal products containing black cohosh root and hepatotoxicity. 2 The EMEA policy guidance is to be enforced on a country­ by-country basis. Black Cohosh Actaea racemosa. Photo ©2006 stevenfoster.com Philip Routledge, chair of the UK Herbal Medicines Advisory Committee, toms so that appropriate action can be cohosh safety, particularly with respect was quoted in a press release from the UK taken without delay."1 to the liver-related adverse event reports MHRA as saying that, "After reviewing The proposed wording fo r U K products (Mahady G ., personal communication, all ava ilable data, the H erbal Medicines is reported as follows: "Warning: In rare Sept., 25, 2006). Advisory Committee has come to the cases, black cohosh may cause liver prob­ To date, there is no published scientific conclusion that black cohosh may be asso­ lems. Consu lt your doctor if yo u already evidence supporting the suggestion that ciated w ith liver disorders. This is rare, but have liver disease or become unwell whilst black cohosh may have an adverse effect can be serious." I using this producr."3 on liver function. While the avai lable Kent Woods, MHRA's chief execu­ In August, Health Canada issued a adverse event reporting data indicate a tive, was quoted in the sa me press release, public warning on the potential associa­ possible association between black cohosh saying, "In the light of this advice, the tion of black cohosh and li ver tox icity but and live r disorders in a relatively few rare MHRA is working with the herbal sector did not go so far as to propose a warning cases, regulators, clinicians and scientists to ensure that labels of black cohosh prod­ for product labels.4 (See sidebar) generally agree that well documented clin­ ucts carry updated safety warnings . The The German government is reportedly ica l and scientific data are lacking to prove labels wi ll point out the possible symp- conducting an extensive rev iew of black a causa l relationship. Black cohosh has

56 I Herbal Gram 72 2006 www.herbalgram.org ------l~egal & RegulatorJ~------had a strong history of safe use by millions conducted a virtually exhaustive review Professor Edzard Ernst, MD, director of of women in Europe, rhe United Stares, of the pharmacologica l, toxicological, complementary medicine at the Peninsula and in other regions, and many controlled and clinical literature on black cohosh. Medical School, Universities of Exeter & clinical trials support the safety and effi­ "In our black cohosh clinical trials that Plymouth in rhe UK, and an internation­ cacy of black cohosh preparations in treat­ we have been conducting, in which we ally recogni zed authority on the medical ing menopausal symptoms. have been monitoring li ver enzymes in literature of herbs and phytomedicines, Professor Norman R. Farnsworth, PhD, all women enrolled, we have observed no stated that only 4 of rhe case studies research professor of pharmacognosy and increases in enzyme levels over the one­ reviewed by rhe MHRA are adequately director of the Program for Collaborative year trial period," sa id Dr. Farnsworth documented to rhe ex tent rhar any mean­ Research in the Pharmaceutical Sciences (personal communication, July 20, 2006). ingful inferences can be drawn from them. at the University of Illinois at Chicago Dr. Farnsworth, an internationally recog­ "! understand that regulators have to err (UIC), is currently conducting clinical nized herb expert, does not believe that on the safe side, bur I wonder whether rhis research on a black cohosh extract under there is adequate scientific or clinical data is not some overreaction as black cohosh a long-term grant from the National Insti­ available upon which to make regulatory has been used for a long rime," said Ernsr.3 tutes of Health (NIH) National Center for policy on black cohosh. (Dr. Farnsworth Supporting the sa me position taken by Complementary and Alternative Medicine is a founding member of ABC's Board of Dr. Farnsworth, Dr. Ernst said he was nor (NCCAM). He and his colleagues have Trustees.) aware of any scientific or clinical research

Health Canada Issues Advisory on Black Cohosh ealth Canada recently issued an advisory about a possible link between products containing black cohosh (Actaea racemosa L., Ranunculaceae; syn. Cimicifuga racemosa) and liver damage. I The advisory, issued August 18, 2006, does H not address the issue of whether black cohosh products should have warnings on their labels because that is dealt with during the licensing review required of all herbal products to be sold legally in Canada. The advisory cites 3 case reports ofliver damage in Canada that may have been associated with black cohosh and follows similar advisories and warnings about black cohosh recently adopted by other health agencies in the UK and Australia. In its advisory, Health Canada encour- Health Canada purposefully included to black cohosh," wrote Dr. Maries in ages consumers to exercise caution in the information in its advisory about such an e-mail to Dr. Kronenberg, a lead­ use of products containing black cohosh confounding factors and the fact that ing researcher on herbal remedies and and to consult a healthcare practitioner "the quality of the black cohosh products women's health issues and director of the with any concerns regarding its use. 1 involved in these cases is not known," Rosenthal Center for Complementary The agency further advises consum- which other agencies were not as care- and Alternative Medicine at the Colum­ ers to discontinue use of black cohosh ful to do. Dr. Maries indicated that bia University College of Physicians and products and consult a physician if they while any medicine may cause a very Surgeons in New York (e-mail, August exhibit unusual fatigue, weakness, loss rare idiosyncratic adverse reaction, in 24, 2006). of appetite, yellowing of the skin or most cases the problem is probably not "The advisory we issued is a compro­ whites of the eyes, dark urine, or abdom- due to authentic black cohosh but due mise between the scientific facts and the ina! pain. The advisory stressed that case to quality issues such as the identity and need for regulators to take a precaution­ reports of liver damage are rare and that purity of the herbal material in prod- ary approach to protecting the health of most cases have involved contributing ucts labeled as black cohosh (R. Maries consumers. Hopefully the message will factors that may have led to or encour- e-mail to M. Blumenthal, September 8, not cause undue alarm and our regula­ aged the liver damage. According to the 2006). This is in agreement with the tory review will ensure that consumers advisory, Health Canada is currently opinions of world experts such as Profes- continue to have ready access to high reviewing the safety and effectiveness of so rs Norman R. Farnsworth, PhD, of quality black cohosh health products," black cohosh. the University of Illinois at Chicago Dr. Maries added. HG Robin Maries, PhD, director of the (a Trustee of the American Botanical -Courtney Cavaliere Bureau of Clinical Trials and Health Council), Edzard Ernst, MD, of rhe Science at the Natural Health Prod- University of Exeter, UK, and Fredi Reference ucrs Directorate of Health Canada, Kronenberg, PhD, of Columbia Univer- I. Health Canada is advising consum- explained that all 3 of the Canadian sity (also an ABC Trustee). ers about a possible link between black cases of liver damage supposedly asso- "It is common for some people to over- cohosh and liver damage [advisory]. Onawa: Health Canada; August 18 , 2006. ciated with black cohosh had serious react to these cases and not see them in Available at: http:/ /www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc­ confounding factors, including patients' the light of alternatives such as hormone asc/media/advisories-avis/2006/2006_72_ use of multiple prescription drugs in 2 replacement therapy, which has a much e.html. Accessed September 6, 2006. of the cases and a prescription drug with higher rate of adverse reactions, or to alcohol use in the third. Dr. Maries said compare liver toxicity of acetaminophen

www.herbalgram .org 2006 HerbaiGram 72 I 57 ------~~ega I & RegulatorJ~------

demonstrating a hepatic mechanism of action for black cohosh (E. is inadequate evidence that black cohosh preparations are causally Ernst, personal communication, July 20, 2006). associated with hepatotoxicity. However, the workshop partici­ Australia became the first counrry to require a warning on pants concluded that liver enzyme levels should be monitored in labels of black cohosh products earlier this year. An article in a ll women enrolled in NIH-funded trials on black cohosh, as a HerbalGram 71 described the Australian Therapeutic Goods precautionary measure (as is being done by Professor Farnsworth's Administration's (TGA) decision to provide warnings on black group at UIC). cohosh products, which was based on TGA's concerns about In June of 2005, Schaper & Brummer, the German manu­ the potential association with liver problems.5 The TGA policy facturer of Remifemin, the world's most clinically researched requires the following label statement on black cohosh products: and top-selling black cohosh preparation, introduced into the "Warning: Black cohosh may harm rhe liver in some individu­ United Stares market new packaging with the following warning: als. Use under rhe supervision of a healrhcare professionaJ."6 In "Consult your healthcare practitioner prior to use if you have a establishing this policy, TGA acknowledged that some reports history of liver disease or are taking prescription drugs."5 of adverse events have been confounded by multiple ingredients, Numerous published, controlled clinical trials support the use more than one medication, or by other medical conditions, and of several leading black cohosh preparations for reducing symp­ that the incidence of liver reaction appears to be very low consid­ toms associated with menopause. Black cohosh has become one ering the widespread use of black cohosh. (A TGA official initially of the most popular herbal dietary supplements in the United agreed to provide an explanation of the criteria and process used States, ranked eighth of all single-herb supplements sold in main­ in TGA's decision-making, bur has nor responded to repeated stream retail outlets in 2005, according to data from Information requests from ABC for such clarification.) Resources in Chicago as reported in HerbalGram 71.8 HG The Swedish government has reportedly been recommending a liver warning on product inserts in black cohosh products for several years; however, according to a spokesperson, regulators do References not plan to require a warning on the outside of such black cohosh I. MHRA action on safety co ncerns over black cohosh and li ver injury packages.3 [press release] . London: Med icin es and Healrhcare products Regu­ The US NIH held a 1-day Workshop on the Safety of Black laro ry Agency; July 18, 2006. Available at: http://www.mhra.gov. uk/home/ idcplg) IdcService=SS _GET_ PAG E&useSecondary=true Cohosh in C linical Studies in November 2004.7 The consensus of &ssDocName=CON2024116&ssTargerNodeld=389. Accessed July the experts assembled at the NIH conference concluded that there 18 , 2006. 2. EMEA public statement on herbal medicinal products containing Cimicifogae racemosae rhizome (black cohosh, root) serious hepatic reactions [press release]. London: European Medicines Agency, July 18, 2006. Available at: http://www.emea.eu.int/pdfs/human/hmpc/ 26925906en.pdf Accessed July 19, 2006. 3. H alliday J. Black cohos h liver warnings sweep through Europe. Nutralngredients.com July 19, 2006. Available at: http://www. nurraingredients.com/news/ng. asp?n=69240-mhra-emea-black­ cohosh-liver-damage. Accessed July 19, 2006. 4. Health Canada is advising consumers about a possible link berween The demand is black cohosh and liver damage [advisory]. Ottawa: Health Canada; August 18, 2006. Available at: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/ increasing for media/advisories-avis/2006/2006_72_e.html. Accessed September 6, 2006. herbal experts. 5. Blumenthal M. Australian TGA publishes liver warning policy for \ black cohosh. Herbal Gram. 2006; No. 71:60-61. 6. Therapeutic Goods Administration. Black cohosh (Cimicifoga Become one. racemosa). New labeling and consumer information for medicin es containing Black cohosh (Cimicifoga racemosa). February 9, 2006. Available at: http://www.tga.gov.au/cm/blkcohosh.htm. Accessed February 10, 2006. 7. Workshop on the Safety of Black Cohosh in Clinical Studies. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medici ne and Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. November 22, 2004. Available at: http://nccam.nih.gov/news/past­ Study at the on ly school meerings/blackcohosh_mrngsumm.pdf in the U.S. that offers 8. Blumenthal M, Ferrier GKL, Cavaliere C. Total sales of herbal supplements in the United Stares show steady growth. Herba!Gram. a Bachelor of Science 2006;No. 71:64-66. in Herbal Sciences.

BASTYR Changing the face UNIVERSITY www.herbal.bastyr.edu of Health Education

58 I HerbaiGram 72 2006 www.herbalgram.org ------l~egal & Regulator~~------

UK Expert Committee Upholds Kava Ban by Courtney Cavaliere and Mark Blumenthal

he United Kingdom's Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) Expert Working Group (EWG) on the Safety of Kava released an extensive report in July 2006 reviewing all available data on kava safety and concluded that the UK's ban on T kava products, effective since 2003, should remain unchanged.' According to a press release on the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) website, "The EWG, the CSM, and the Medicines Commission determined that kava was associated with an unacceptable risk of idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity which could not be minimized or prevented by any regulatory measures other than the removal of kava products from the market."2

In the UK, licensed products containing clinical trials, these trials have not been questions than they have answered. As it kava (Piper methysticum Forst, Piperaceae) helpful in attempts to assess the iss ue is generally well known that there are no as active ingredients were voluntarily of potential hepatotoxicity. The EWG recognized animal models for the identifi­ withdrawn from sale by manufacturers report concludes that the sum of available cation of idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity, the in 2001, following concerns raised within evidence strongly suggests a link between EWG suggested that it might be worth several countries of a suspected association kava and hepatotoxicity although no direct confirming the cytotoxic effects of kava between kava use and liver hepatotoxicity.' in vivo. The EWG also recommended According to a UK source, these licenses The government that future research on the topic "focus related to old kava products; no company on more modern methods which combine had licensed kava for reduction of anxi­ mandated that evidence metabolic, toxicological, and functional ety or stress, the primary use for kava regarding kava safety end-points, with particular focus being as a phytomedicine as formerly licensed placed on the chemical moieties respon­ in several EU countries. Because most would be reviewed 2 years sible for the liver damage, the mecha­ kava products sold in the UK were unli­ nism by which they cause the damage, censed and sold as foods, safety is a prior­ after this prohibition. and what factors contribute to individual ity and the presence of potentially seri­ susceptibility." I ous adverse effects is not tolerated; the causality has been scientifically estab­ The MHRA will review any new labeling of these products is not based lished. According to the report, "It is the evidence submitted regarding suspected on an analysis of risk versus benefit, as degree of severity associated with some of associations between kava use and liver is done with licensed medicines. Follow­ the case reports that is of greatest concern. hepatotoxicity and will reevaluate the kava ing a review of evidence by the CSM and Although many patients experienced only ban if significant new data are received . EWG, the UK government decided to mild changes in liver function or jaundice, The MHRA will also seek expert advice ban all kava products effective January of some patients experienced more serious from the recently established Herbal 2003.3 The government mandated that hepatitis or liver failure that, on II occa­ Medicines Advisory Committee (HMAC) evidence regarding kava safety would be sions, required liver transplants." I Accord­ as needed. The EWG's 87-page report can reviewed 2 years after this prohibition.' ing to the report, hepatotoxicity directly be accessed online via the MHRA press The MHRA carried out a public consul­ or indirectly resulted in the deaths of 9 release at http://www.mhra.gov.uk/home/ tation and reviewed available literature individuals, including 2 of the patients idcplg? IdcService = SS _GET_PAGE&useS regarding kava safety between January who received liver transplants. econdary= true&ssDocN arne= CON2 024 and April of 2005. The EWG then met The EWG considered ways of reduc­ 228&ssTargetNodeld=663. HG again to consider available data in Octo­ ing risk to consumers, bur it was not ber of 2005. possible to identify at-risk patients and, References At the time of the UK's ban on kava, as unlicensed products, label warnings I. Report of the CSM's expert working 68 case reports had been collected from would have been voluntary, or extracts group on the safety of kava [report]. various regulating agencies as evidence that would be marketed as medicines London: Committee on Safety of Medi­ cines Expert Working Group on rhe of a suspected association between kava would have to be shown to be beneficial safety of Kava; July 2006. use and liver hepatotoxicity. By the time in a risk-benefit analysis from a review of 2. Report of the committee on safety of of the EWG's review, this number had both clinical trials and the case reports. medicines expert working group on the risen to 110 case reports. The majority of The EWG considered a number of safety of kava [press release]. London: the evidence consists of spontaneous case theories regarding the proposed mecha­ Medicines and Healthcare products reports, which the EWG acknowledges nism of hepatotoxicity for kava, but it Regulating Agency; July 2006. "are anecdotal records and have many concluded that all theories lacked direct 3. The Medicines for Human Use (Kava­ limitations." For example, the particular evidence and require further research. kava) (Prohibition) Order 2002. Statutory Instrument 2002 No. 3170. products that were used were not always The EWG further argued that, although Available at: http://www.opsi.gov.uk!si/ specified. Unfortunately, the other types some studies have attempted to determine si2002/20023 170.htm. Accessed August of clinical data were not helpful in reveal­ a mechanism of hepatotoxicty of kava, I, 2006. ing adverse reactions, and although there such studies have not been conducted in has been some evidence of efficacy in a systematic way and have raised more www.herbalgram.org 2006 HerbaiGram 72 I 59 ------~~ega I &Regulator J~------

FDA Rejects Proposed Health Claim for Cardiovascular Benefits of Green Tea by Courtney Cavaliere n May 9, 2006, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rejected a petition for a qualified health claim for green tea (Camellia sinensis [L.] Kuntze, Theaceae) that sought permission to allow manufacturers to claim cardiovascular benefits on 0 product labels associated with green tea as a beverage (i.e., as a conventional food) or as a dietary supplement. I The Japanese company Ito En, Ltd. According to Dr. and its US subsidiary Ito En, Inc., which Schneeman, the produces and markets green tea, filed the remaining avail­ petition a year earlier on June 9, 2005.2 able scientific and The petition sought a qualified health clinical evidence claim indicating that daily consumption was 4 observa­ of at least 5 fluid ounces of green tea as a tional studies on source of catechins (flavonoids with anti­ green tea (3 of oxidant capabilities) may reduce a number which reported of risks associated with cardiovascular a correlation disease (CVD). In a letter from Barbara between green tea Schneeman, PhD, director of the Office and reduced risk of Nutritional Products, Labeling, and of CVD), 3 obser­ Dietary Supplements of the FDA's Center vational studies on for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, the green tea extract FDA claimed to have reviewed the scien­ (all of which tific literature and concluded "that there found no evidence is no credible evidence to support a rela­ of an effect), and 4 Green tea Camellia sinensis. Ph oto ©2006 stevenfoster.com tionship between consumption of green intervention stud- tion of a nutrient and the reduction of risk tea or green tea extract and a reduced risk ies on green tea (all of which established of a disease and must be pre-approved by ofCVD."l no evidence of an effect) .1 FDA. Structure/function claims pertain "The biggest problem with this FDA mainly to dietary supplements and can be The biggest problem with action is the misinterpretation of the deci­ made if the manufacturer believes it has sion by the media and the resulting poten­ reasonable scientific evidence to support this FDA action is the tial confusion among consumers," sa id the claim. Structure/function claims do Mark Blumenthal, founder and executive misinterpretation of the not require FDA pre-approval but the director of the American Botanical Coun­ manufacturer must notify FDA within decision by the media cil. "The way it has been reported in the 30 days after introducing the claim into press suggests that FDA has conducted an and the resulting the market. evaluation on the efficacy of tea and has Although FDA refused to allow a health potential confusion found it to be ineffective," he sa id. "This is claim regarding green tea and reduced risk simply not the case," he added. "What we of CVD, its decision has no bearing on among consumers. have here is a regulatory process whereby green tea's general benefits. The variety of a company has applied for FDA review health benefits of green tea were recently Although Ito En's petition cited 105 and approval of a proposed health claim, reviewed in a 2-part article in the journal publications as evidence to support the and FDA has concluded that not enough of Alternative Complementary Medi­ health claim for green tea, the FDA clinical data are available to support the & cine (which was summarized in a 2-part argued that many of the documents (i.e., proposed health claim to the FDA's satis­ HerbClip in June of 2006).3.4 Accord­ review articles, meta-analyses, book chap­ faction." ing to one of the article's co-authors, Ray ters, letters, government reports, and Blumenthal explained that health Cooper, PhD, of PhytoScience Inc., such animal and in vitro studies) were not claims are disease risk reduction state­ benefits include the following proper­ appropriate for drawing scientific conclu­ ments authorized by the Nutrition Label­ ties, which are supported by some degree sions to support a health claim.1 After ing and Education Act of 1990 (NLEA), of scientific evidence: antiviral and anti­ discounting what FDA deemed inappro­ and as such, are a separate regulatory cate­ cancer properties (catechins); anticario­ priate, the agency was left with 29 inter­ gory distinct from the so-called structure/ genic (prevention of tooth cavities) effects; vention studies on green tea or green tea function claims authorized by the Dietary potential benefits for weight loss (catechins extract and 10 observational studies. The Supplement Health and Education Act of and caffeine); cardiac health (black tea majority of these were considered insuf­ 1994 (OSHEA). Health claims pertain theaflavins); and arthritis, bone density, ficient for drawing scientific conclusions, to both conventional foods and dietary and stress reduction (theanine). due to poor study design or reporting. supplements, and are based on the correla-

60 I HerbaiGram 72 2006 www. herbalgram.org ------;~egal & RegulatorJ~------

According ro Dr. Cooper, "Numerous The overall health benefits of green References scientific publications now arres t ro rhe tea are understandably supported by I. Schneeman B. Qualified health claims: health benefits of both black and green members of the tea industry. "While the letter of denial-green rea and reduced teas including clinical and epidemiological rejection of the Ito En petition has stirred risk of ca rdiovascu lar disease. U.S. Food studies. Firstly, consumption of green tea some confusing if nor mildly negative and Drug Administration Web sire. Avail­ is generally recognized as safe over a wide media about rea, rhe fac t remains rhar ab le at: http: //www.cfsa n. fda .gov/ -dms/ therapeutic range (up ro 10 cups of green nutritional experts sr i!! consider rea one qhcgrea2 .hrml. Accessed July 7, 2006. 2. FDA rejects green rea hea lth claims: no rea per day) . Much attention to tea care­ of rhe most healthy beverage options credible evid ence that drinking it reduces chins and health has focused on ca ncer, on rhe planer, with irs plentiful antioxi­ heart disease risk. Associated Press May and drinking tea has been regarded tradi­ dants, va ri ous minerals and lack of sugar I 0, 2006. MS BC Web sire. Avail- tionally in Asia, for example, as a gener­ (brewed rea), ere.," said Brian Keating, ab le ar: hrrp: //www. msnbc.msn.com/ all y healthful practice" (e -mail ro M . founder of Sage Group International and id/ 127 18769/. Accessed Jul y 7, 2006. Blumenthal, May 11 , 2006). publisher of the Specialty Tea is 'Hot' 3. Cooper R, Morre J, Morre D. Medici­ Notwithstanding the FDA's position on Report (e-mail toM. Blumenthal, May 11 , nal benefits of gree n rea: part I. Review denyi ng cardio health claims, Dr. Cooper 2006). H e added , "Consumers and media of noncancer health benefits. j Altern Complement Med. 2005 ; II (3):52 1- 528 . states rhat there is overwhelming evidence must understand rhar rea remains a safe, 4. Cooper R, Morre J, Mo rre D. Medicin al from epidemiological and animal studies nutritious and friendly consumer bever­ be nell rs of green rea: parr II. Review of to arres t ro the health benefits of green rea age and rej ection of one claim filing is nor anticancer properties . j Altern Comple­ in cancer protection. catastrophic." HG ment Med. 2005; II (4):639-652.

AHPA Issues Trade Recommendations for Hoodia gordonii, Ginkgo, Pregnancy Labeling, and Internet Sales by Mark Blumenthal and Courtney Cavaliere

he American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) has issued numerous trade recommendations to its Code of Ethics and Business Conduct in the past several months. AHPA, the leading trade association dealing primarily with herbs and herbal T products, has been active in creating self-regulatory initiatives to help standardize practices and ethics in the US herb indus­ try since 1983. 1

Early rhis year, AHPA adopted a new rhe first number in rhe ratio represent the commerce, unless already provided wirh a trade recommendation regarding raw amount of dehydrated starring plant mare­ SCN in AHPA's Herbs of Commerce, 2nd materials and finished products of Hoodia rial and the second number represent rhe ed,5 must be identified by rhe Larin bino­ gordonii (Sweet ex Decne, Asclepiada­ amount of finished extract; and further, mial. Because Hoodia gordonii is nor li s red ceae)2 and modified an established trade rhar such ratios should nor be used on any in Herbs of Commerce, federal regulations recommendation to include extracts of product rhar is not, in fact, an extract. require rhe full binomial be used.6 ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L., G inkgoaceae).3 "T here has been some marketpl ace AHPA also amended a trade recom­ In January 2006, AHPA adopted a confusion about how some Hoodia gordo ­ mendation regarding known adulterants policy recommending that rhe full Latin nii products are labeled ," said AHPA to include ginkgo extracts in March 2006, binomial "Hoodia gordonii" se rve as President Michael McGuffin in a press li sting gi nkgo leaf ex rracr wirh added the plant's standardized common name release.2 "Ar the sa me time, none of the flavonoids (e.g., rutin, quercetin, erc.).3 In (SCN), as opposed to "hoodia," and that elements of rhis trade recommendation rhe past few yea rs, there has been mount­ this SCN should appear on all labels of should be surprising or problematic fo r ing concern in rhe herb trade and among Hoodia gordonii raw materials, ex tracts, most companies." industry analytical chemists rhar some and finished producrs.2 All such product The question may be raised as to why manufacturers may be adding rutin, a labels should also accurately identify the AHPA chose "Hoodia gordonii" as the common fl avonol glycoside, to ginkgo plant part used, which typicall y consists of SCN instead of rhe more convenient extracts. T hese "spiked " ex tracts may be denoting "aerial parts" or "above-ground "hoodia," which has become rhe widely able to pass chemical specification rests rhar parts." Such requirements are consistent used common name in commerce in the measure total fl avonol glycosides wirhour with US Food and Drug Administra­ United Stares during the past 3 years. revealing rhar rhe added flavo noids were tion (F DA) regulations. The recommen­ Hoodia gordonii, a succulent plant from nor contai ned in rhe original ex tract. dation also states that ratio terminology rhe arid lands of western South Africa and According ro Steven Dental i, PhD, on labels of Hoodia gordonii extracts must Namibia, has achieved strong popularity AHPA's Vice-President of Scientific and be consistent wirh es tablished practice and as an ingredient in dietary supplements Technical Affairs, "There is no problem with AHPA's Guidance for Retail Label­ marketed for weight loss. The federal if anyone wants ro marker ginkgo extracts ing ofDietary Supplements Containing Soft law governing labeling of dietary supple­ with added rutin as long as ir is declared or Powdered Extracts.4 This requires that ments states that a plant sold in US in rhe labeling. H owever, buyer and seller

www.herbalgram.org 2006 HerbaiGram 72 I 61 ------~~egal & Regulato ~~------

should be in agreement as to the identity of All website pages providing statements of Association; February 22, 2006. articles in commerce and be able to prop­ nutritional support for dietary supple­ 3. AHPA board adopts trade reco mmenda­ erly veri fy that identity" (S . Dentali e-mail ments available for sale are also recom­ tion for ginkgo extracts. AHPA Update page. American Herbal Products Associa­ to M. Blumenthal, May 26, 2006.) mended to include the standard disclaimer tion Web site. Ava il able at: http: //www. In July 2006, AHPA adopted a trade required in the labeling of dietary supple­ ahpa.o rg/Default.aspx? tabid=69&ald=26 recommendation that herbal supplements ments as mandated by Section 6 of the 8&zld= 16. Accessed April 6, 2006. marketed for general retail sale and labeled Dietary Supplement H ealth and Educa­ 4. Botanical Extracts Committee of the specifically for use during pregnancy or tion Act (DSHEA) of 1994: "This state­ American Herbal Products Association. while nursing contain labeled instructions ment has not been evaluated by the FDA. AHPA Guidance Policies: Guidance for that encourage pregnant women to discuss This product is not intended to diagnose, Retail Labeling ofDietary Supplements use of the product with a healthcare prac­ treat, cure or prevent any disease." This Containing Soft or Powdered Extracts. Silver Spring, MD: American Herbal titioner.? This recommendation will go AHPA trade recommendation will go into Products Association; 200 I. into effect on July 14, 2007. [Note: As effect on January 14, 2007. 5. McGuffin M, Kartesz JT, Leung AY, part of its Safety Assessment Program, All AHPA trade recommendations Tucker AO. American Herbal Products the American Botanical Council has been are amendments to AHPA's Code of Association's Herbs of Commerce, 2nd ed. making such a recommendation since Ethics and Business Conduct. All AHPA Silver Spring, MD: American Herbal 2002.8] members are required to conform to the Products Association, 2000. Another trade recommendation relates organization's Code in order to maintain 6. Department of Health and Human to Internet sales of dietary supplements.? their membership in good standing. T he Services, Food and Drug Administration, AHPA recommends that any website on AHPA Code of Ethics is posted online on Food Labeling: Ingredient Labeling of Dietary Supplements That Contain Bota­ which dietary supplements or dietary the AHPA website at http://www.ahpa. nicals, 68 Federal Register 51693 (2 00 3) ingredients are sold identify the company org/Porrals/0/pdfs/AHPA_ CodeOfEth­ (codified at 21 CFR §101.4 (h)). that sponsors the website and provide the ics.pdf. HG 7. AHPA's new trade recommendations for company's contact information, including label ing certain products and website a phone number, mailing address, and e­ References information [press rel ease] . Si lver Spring, mail address (if desi red). AHPA further ! . McG uffin M. Self regulatory initiatives MD: Am erica n Herbal Products Associa­ recommends that such websites provide by th e herbal industry. HerbalGram. tion; August I 0, 2006. 8. American Botanical Council. Safety the supplement labeling information that 2000;No. 48 :42-43. 2. AHPA adopts labeling standards for Information Sheet-Echinacea. Austin, is required on dietary supplement prod­ Hoodia gordonii [p ress release] . Silver TX: Am erican Botanical Council; August ucts or at least provide a statement that Spring, MD: America n Herbal Products 2002. such information is available upon request. Making Scents Magazine

Providing vital information on: W e welcome HerbalGram readers to receive a complimentary digital back issue • Herbs of our beautiful full-color magazine. • Essential Oils (602 ) 938-4439 • Healing Foods [email protected] • Healthy Living Published by: • Book Reviews INTER N A TI ONAL AROMATHERAPY • Organic Product Reviews AND HERB ASSOCIATION

62 I HerbaiGram 72 2006 www.herbalgra m.org ara With the added value of Hoodia gordonii.

Hoodia gordonii Caralluma timbriata

• With inadeCflate supplies of Hoodia gordonii worldwide, Caralluma fimbriata can fulfill the demand for appetite suppressing dietar_y supplement ingredients.

• We have container 9uantities of Caralluma fimbriata readil_y available.

• CaraMax and Hoodia can be blended to combine the best active properties of both plants in promoting appetite suppression. ------~~ega I &Regulator J~------

FDA Denies Medicinal Value of Smoked Marijuana by Mariann Garner-Wizard

he United States Food and D rug Administration (FDA) issued an unexpected statement on April 19, 2006, saying that the agency does not recognize any legitimate medicinal value for smoked marijuana (Cannabis sativa, C. indica) .l The statement T unleashed a strong response from many experts who consider the FDA's release to be evidence of the "politicization" of agency policy in defiance of a growing body of empirical and scientific evidence and opinion.

T he FDA's statement included the a blog on the topic, with a scathing N IH funding fo r marijuana resea rch bur fo llowing: introductory pos ting by editor-in-chief was repeatedly denied. Eve ntually, with Marijuana is listed in schedule I of John Rennie that recaped recent Scientific help fro m the State of California, Abrams the Contro lled Substances Act (CSA) , American articles on cannabinoid research conducted a placebo-controlled trial of the most res trictive schedule. The Drug and said the FDA's position is "completely marijuana smoking in HIV patients with Enforce ment Administra ti on (DEA), wrong" because "it continues to impede nerve pain, with good results. However, he which administers the CSA, contin­ not just the medical use of marijuana but has had trouble ge tting the res ults of this ues to support that placement and FDA also medical research on marijuana, which trial published.4 concurred because marijuana met the could lead to superi or therapies that don't Lyle C raker, PhD, a professor in the three criteria for placement in Schedule involve smoking or getting high at alJ."3 Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at I ... (e.g., marijuana has a high poten­ the University of Massachusetts at Amherst tial for abuse, has no currently accepted Response from many (a nd member of the American Botanical medical use ... in the United States, and Council Advisory Boa rd), applied to the has a lack of accepted safety for use under sectors of the scientific DEA for permiss ion to grow marijuana fo r medical supervision). Furthermore, there and medical community researchers because he and other ex perts is currently sound evidence that smoked have determined that NIDA's marijuana, marijuana is harmful. A pas t evaluation was swift and primarily grown at a high-security government fa rm by several Department of Health and at the U niversity of M ississippi at Oxford, Human Services (HHS) agencies, includ­ negative. is of inadequate quality. Craker's appli­ ing the [FDA], Substance Abuse and cation was denied after a 4-year battle, Mental H ealth Services Adminis trati on leading The Republican of Massachusetts (SAMH SA) and National Institute for John Benso n, MD, co-chairman of to comment, "The FDA says there are no Drug Abuse (NIDA), concluded that no the NIH/IOM committee that wrote the sound studies to support the medical use sound scienti fic studies supported medi­ I 999 review of marijuana's therapeutic of marijuana, but it is also taking advice cal use of marijuana fo r treatment in the potential and risks, is quoted in Gardiner fro m the very agency that is blocking the United States."1 H arris' article in the New York Times as studies ... The DEA has enlisted the FDA Incredibly, the agency adds the state­ saying that the fe deral government "loves in its fi ght aga inst the legali zation of mari­ ment, "and no animal or human data to ignore our report."4 T he 10M review juana [for medical purposes], and once supported the safety or efficacy of mari­ acknowledged that smoked marijuana is again a federal agency that most Ameri ­ juana for ge neral medical use" 1 despite a "crude T HC [delta-9-tetrahydrocan­ ca ns had trusted to be above politics is in a 1999 review of the literatu re by the nabinol] delivery system that also delivers the thick of ir."5 National Academy of Sciences/Institute harmful substances" and added, "Until a Sydney Spiesel, MD, a Woodbridge, of Medicine (NAS/IOM) confirming nonsmoked rapid-onse t cannabinoid drug CT pediatrician and Associate C linical that "Scientific data indicate the potential delive ry sys tem becomes available, we Professor of Pediatrics at Ya le University's therapeutic va lue of cannabinoid drugs for acknowledge that there is no clea r alter­ School of Medicine, said that, due to the pai n rel ief, control of nausea and vomit­ native for people suffering from chronic paucity of studies since the IOM report, ing, and appetite stimulation."2 conditions that might be rel ieved by the FDA's claim to have "definitively T he FDA emphas izes that it is "the sole smoking marijuana, such as pain or AIDS es tablished " marijuana's lack of medical Federal agency that approves drug prod­ wasting." 2 va lue is a case of politics trumping science ucts as safe and effective fo r intended But in the 7 yea rs since it was iss ued, at the agency, and that it is "certainly not indications ... Efforts that seek to bypass most efforts to conduct research on mari­ the first time." She cites the FDA's initial the FDA drug approva l process would not juana in the United States have been decision to block over-the-counter sale of serve the interes ts of public health." I thwa rted by the DEA, which must provide emergency contraceptives, although "over­ all marijuana used in research, as well as whelming evidence" found them both Medical and Scien ce Experts Criticize approve the design, objectives, and proto­ safe and effective, and their ava ilability FDA's Policy cols of all clinical research on the herb. was supported by the FDA's own advi­ Response fro m many sectors of the Donald Abrams, MD, professor of clin­ so ry co mmittee . (The decision was later scientific and medical community was ical medicine at the University of Cali­ reversed.) "Marijuana as medicine- what­ swift and primarily negative. Scientific­ fornia at Sa n Francisco, told The New ever its risk and benefits are eventually American.com's editors promptly started York Times that he tried for yea rs to ge t determined to be-may turn out to be

64 I HerbaiGram 72 2006 www.herbalgram.org ------~~ega I &Regulator J~------much less important rhan rhe question of Two cannabinoid-based drugs are fda .gov/bbs/ropics/NEWS/2006/ whether we can count on agencies like the approved by FDA for use in the United NEWO 1362.h rml. Accessed April 25, FDA ro be hones r. .. ."6 Stares. Dronabinol, a synthetic version of 2006. Bruce Mirken, communications direc­ tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), one of the 2. Joy JE, Warson SJ J r, Benson JA Jr, eds. Marijuana med icine: Assessing rhe science tor for rhe Marijuana Policy Project primary active cannabinoids in marijuana, base. Washingron, D.C.: Division of (MPP), a Washington-based lobbying (made by Roxane Laboratories, Colum­ Neuroscience and Behavioral H ealth, group, claimed rhar rhe FDA's pronounce­ bus, OH and marketed as Marino!") Institute of Medicine, National Academy ment was issued in response to a request of Sciences, National Academy Press; by Rep. M ark Souder (R-IN), a critic of 1999. Avai lable ar: http:// newron.nap. medical marijuana legislation passed in ed u/hrml/ marimed. Accessed April 26, 11 states . Souder sponsored legislation in 2006. 2004 which would have required the FDA 3 . Rennie J. Medical marijuana's Catch- 22. ScientiflcAmerican.com. April 21 , to produce an opinion on marijuana's 2006. Avail able at: http://blog.sc iam. medicinal properties. Souder considers com/index. ph p?ti ti e= med ical_ mari j uana_ medical marijuana legali zation a "front for s_carch_22&more= 1&c= 1& rb= l &pb= I. efforts ro legali ze all uses of it," according Accessed April 26, 2006. to a spokesman in his office.4 4. Harris G . F.D.A. dismissed medical A bipartisan coalition of 24 Congres­ benefit from marijuana. New York Times. sional representatives, including Rep. Ron April 20, 2006. Ava il able at: http:!/ Paul (D-TX) and Rep. Maurice Hinchey www.nytimes.com/2006/04/2 1/ hea lth/ 2 1m arijuana.hrml. Accessed April 25 , (D-NY), wrote a letter to the FDA 2006 demanding that the FDA either produce 5. Marijuana research) Don't hold yo ur ev idence of new research or ex plain why breath. The Republican. April 24, 2006: the statement was issued.? A6. Allen Sr. Pierre, Executive Director of 6. Spi esel S. All smoke. Slare.com [Web the National Organization for the Reform Marijuana Cannabis sativa Ph oto ©2006 sire]. April 24, 2006. Available at: http:! I stevenfoster.com of Marijuana Laws (NORML), called the www.slare.com/id /2 140503. Accessed FDA's statement a "lame public relations April 26, 2006. 7 . Hinchey leads bipartisan house coali­ stunt" and an "attempt to sully 4/20 [April and nabilone (a nother synthetic THC, tion in call for FDA. Americans for Safe 20], a worldwide celebration day in favor Cesamet", Eli Lilly Co.) are approved in Access. April 28rh, 2006, Available at: of marijuana, and rhe opening day of the United States to treat chemotherapy­ http:/ /www.sa feaccessnow.org/arricle. NORML's annual conference." According related nausea and vomiting. GW Phar­ php?id=3343. Accessed June I, 2006. to Sr. Pierre, "newspaper columnists and maceuticals of London, England, maker 8. FDA loses credibility wirh jab ar medi­ editorial boards around rhe country are of Sativex", a highly-standardi zed oromu­ ca l pot. Honolulu Star-Bulletin. April 24, panning the FDA's uber-politica l denial cosall y-administered cannabis ex tract, has 2006. Available ar: http:! /s rarbullerin. that medical marij uana is an effective, non­ received FDA approval for clinical trials com/2006/04/24/edirorial/ediroriaiO I. html. Accessed Ap ril 26, 2006. roxie and safe medicine for qualified medi­ on Sativex in the United Stares.4 Sativex 9. Campos P. Follow the drug war money. cal patients" [e-mail, April 26, 2006]. is approved for use as an unlicensed medi­ Rocky Mountain News. April 25, 2006. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin rook the cation in Great Britain and as a licensed Available ar: http:/ /www.rockymoun­ issue more seriously, opining that the drug in Canada (where it is distributed tainnews.com/drmn/opinion_colum­ FDA's statement may indicate a Bush by Baye r). The April 24 e-publication nisrs /arricl e/0,2777,DRMN_23972_ administration "crack down" on medi­ of the journal of Pharmaceutical Science 4647471 ,OO. hrml. Accessed April 26, cal marijuana use. "The more than 1,000 includes a report of the efficacy of ca nna­ 2006. Hawaii residents registered to grow and bis vaporization in delivering beneficial l 0. H azecamp A, Ruhaak R, Zuurman L, van Gerven J, Verpoorre R. Eval ua- use the plant under their doctors' supervi­ cannabinoids to patients without the roxie tion of a vapori zing device (Volcano•) 1 sion have reason to feel uneasy."S by-products of smoking. 0 A new report for the pulmonary administration of Making the point that FDA disapproval concludes that smoked marijuana does not tetrahydrocannabinol. j Pharm Sci. does not necessarily rest on the best avail­ increase the risk of developing cancers of April 24, 2006;95(6): 1308- 13 17. E­ able science, Paul Campos, law professor the lungs, head, or neck. The study's lead published ahead of print. Available ar: at the University of Colorado, in his Rocky researcher has theorized rhar THC from http:/ /www3.inrerscience. wiley.com/ cgi­ Mountain News column, quotes MPP's marijuana smoke may encourage aging bin/abstract/ 11 2597268/ ABSTRACT. Mirken: "The bottom line is that. .. science cells ro die early, thereby preventing a Accessed April 27, 2006. 11 . Smdy finds no link between marijuana at the FDA has given way ro politics. They cancerous transformation. II HG use and lung cancer [press release]. Sa n just pretend research evidence for the Diego, CA: America n Thoracic Society; References medical value of marijuana doesn't ex ist. .. May 23, 2006. They're terribly afraid of such research ... 1. Food and Drug Administration. Food Continuing to demonize marijuana is the and Drug Administration Inter-agency key to the drug war, and the drug war pays advisory rega rding claims that smoked the salaries of a lot of people."9 marijuana is a medicine [press release] . Apr 20, 2006. Available ar: http://www. www.herbalgram.org 2006 HerbaiGram 72 I 65 ---~~onference Repo~~---- 8 chromaDex setting THE s t andard Functional Food Products and Chronic Diseases NEW ChromaDex by Danik M . Martirosyan, PhD; Undurti Das, MD, FAMS; and Ashkhen M. 2006/2007 Catalog Martirosyan unctional Foods for the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Diseases, an inter­ national scientific conference, was held November 15-16, 2005, in Dallas, Texas. Available April 2006 FThe conference was organized by the Functional Foods Center at Richardson, • Hundreds of NEW standards Texas, along with informational sponsors UNESCO Chair-Life Sciences International • Many new KITs Education Center, the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, and the American Botani­ cal Council (media sponsor). The conference was the second in a series: "Functional With over 3500 standards available, Foods: Prevention and Diseases Treatment." Previous scientific conferences have dealt we are the most comprehensive with "Functional Food Products for the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular supplier of phytochemical reference Diseases," hosted by the Functional Foods Center (held in Dallas, November 2004; standards. see article in HerbalGram #66). The result of last year's conference was the publication our product line Includes: of 2 books: Functional Foods for Cardiovascular Diseases (D&A Inc., April 2005, ISBN: 0-9767535-0-2) and Functional Foods for the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular • Primary Standards Diseases (D&A Inc., October 2005, ISBN: 0-97675.35-1-0). • Secondary Standards The main goal of the 2005 conference along with the necessity for creating func­ • Reagent Grade Standards was to bring together experts in medicine, tional food based on natural plant-derived • AHP-Verified"'standards-NEW biology, and the food industry to discuss resources. • Snap-n-Shoof" Standards-NEW the contribution of functional foods in Paul Durfee discussed modern surgical the prevention and treatment of chronic approaches in the war on arteriosclero­ • Botanical Reference Materials-BR diseases. The scope of the conference sis and Kim Rendell discussed "Cardiac • Reference Standard Kits covered the advances of phytotherapy and Support and Dietary Concerns in the Post • Complete Analytical Kits food therapy for cardiovascular diseases, Acute Myocardial Infarct Patient" (both diabetes, obesity, and cancer, with a special are from The Medical Center of Mesquite focus on the creation of functional and in Mesquite, Texas). A leading invasive Contact ChromaDex to get your medicinal foods with new properties. specialist and cardiovascular technician, 2006/2007 copy now. Main conference topics included: Mr. Durfee emphasized the achievements tel. 949.419.0288 1. The role of nutrition in the occur­ of modern surgical approaches and poten­ fax. 949.419.0294 rence of chronic diseases; tials of drug therapy, and pointed our some email. [email protected] 2. How functional and dietary products of the major problems with the current for the prevention and treatment of therapeutics (e.g., their unwanted side chronic diseases are developed and effects). He also stated that medicine is utilized; still unable to treat atherosclerosis effec­ 3. The creation of functional and tively despite many advances, and hence, medicinal products for the preven­ ca rdiovascular diseases and, in particular, tion and treatment of chronic diseases myocardial infarction are the number­ (cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, one killers in the United States. He noted obesity, and cancer); that there are not enough effective dietary 4. A host of phyto-products and biologi­ approaches available to offer to post-acute cally active substances in the treat­ myocardial infarct patients. ment of chronic disorders; and Undurti Das, MD, president and CEO 5. A description and various listings of of UNO Life Sciences (Shaker Heights, non-traditional plants (i.e., plants OH), spoke on "A Perinatal Strategy to that are nor well known), which may Prevent Adult Diseases: The Role of Long­ be used as a so urce of functional food chain Polyunsaturated Farry Acids." He products. proposed that perinatal supplementation The conference opened with an intro­ of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids ductory speech by the conference chair (PUFAs) prevents or postpones the devel­ Dr. Danik M. Martirosyan. It was empha­ opment of a wide range of adult diseases, sized that many problems remain unsolved including obesity, insulin resistance, in this area despite the achievements of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary modern approaches and the potentials of heart disease, hyperlipidemias, syndrome pharmacotherapy. The urgency of chronic X, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, auto­ diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, immune disorders such as rheumatoid cancer, diabetes , and obesity, was stressed arthritis and lupus, and inflammatory

66 I HerbaiGram 72 2006 www.herbalgram.org Conference Report Em~ ChromaDex bowel diseases, and it protects against the on the surface of the lipoprotein complex setting THE standard development of certain types of cancers. that bind to specific enzymes or transport Igor Sobenin, MD, with the Institute of proteins on the cell membranes. ApoBlOO ChromaDex has updated its Genetic Pathology and Pathophysiology is an intermediate form of lipoprotein and website to include more search­ (Moscow, Russia), presented a talk on a low density lipoprotein. These results related features: "Multifunctional Cardioprotective Effects suggest that 9c, 11 t, 13c-CLNA could form of Time-released Garlic Powder Tablets," an effective dietary regimen for the treat­ • Comprehensive phytochemical and made from Allium sativum L., Alilia­ ment of hyperlipidem ias . plant search engine ceae (Allicor", garlic powder tablets stan­ Ravinder Reddy, MD, Associate Pro­ • Matching of plants to phytochemicals dardized to 1.3% allicin, INAT-Farma, fessor in the Department of Psychiatry at and phytochemicals to plants Moscow, Russia). He discussed that an the University of Pittsburgh, emphasized 8-week treatment of 85 patients with arte­ the role of functional foods in psychi­ • Complete access to and searching of rial hypertension by garlic powder (600 atry. His presentation highlighted key our ChromaDex product catalog online mg daily) resu lted in the reduction of aspects of neuroactive lipid biology and • Tracking your ChromaDex orders both systolic and diastolic blood pres­ free radical metabolism as relevant to on-line sure by 5.2% and 4.0%, respectively. In psychiatric disorders, and the role of long­ a hypolipidemic study, the 12-week treat­ chain PUFAs, particularly omega-3 fatty Please visit our website at ment resulted in a statistically significant acids, in the treatment of a va ri ety of www.chromadex.com and decrease in LDL cholesterol by 11.8%, and psychiatric conditions, particularly schizo­ register to get access to our online it was lower by 13.8% as compared to the phrenia and depression. phytochemical search engine placebo group. HDL cholesterol increased The conference organizer and first We know Natural Products author of this article (D.M. Martirosyan) ChromaDex offers a complete range The main goal of the provided a talk on "Amaranth and Its of contract services to natural Oil for the Prevention of Cardiovascu­ products industry: 2005 conference was to lar Diseases." The result of these investi­ bring together experts gations (co-authors: A.V. Pogojeva, K.V. • Contract Analysis Gonor, S.N. Kulakova, and L.A. Miro­ • Contract Research in medicine, biology, shnichenko) showed that oil of the seed • Contract Isolation and the food industry to of amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus L., • Method Development Amaranthaceae) does not cause allergic • Method Validation discuss the contribution reactions or other side effects during its • Process Development application and lowers cholesterol signifi­ • Raw Material Selection of functional foods in the cantly. Main investigations were conducted • Regulatory & Legal Consultancy prevention and treatment in the Russian Institute of Nutrition (Moscow). Eighty patients (60 in the main of chronic diseases. group; 20 in the control group) suffering from coronary heart disease and hyperten­ sion of the 1st and 2nd degrees accompa­ significantly by 11.5% as compared to nied by obesity of the 1st and 3rd degrees the baseline level at randomization. Dr. were under observation. The inclusion of Sobenin concluded that evidence obtained amaranth oil in the diet at the dosage of from these studies indicates that garlic 6 ml, 12 ml, and 18 ml per day contrib­ powder tablets have potential in the uted to a statistically significant decrease prevention and control of cardiovascular in the total cholesterol level in the blood disorders and are beneficial when taken as serum in patients of main groups by 14 %, a dietary supplement. 17%, and 20%, respectively, and 12% in Professor Teruyoshi Yanagita, PhD, the control. The application of amaranth from Saga University, Japan, and direc­ oil with the special diet in the patients tor of the Japanese Society of Nutrition who had ischemic diseases of the heart, & Food Science, is a renowned author­ hypertension, and obesity showed a signif­ ity on conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) icant hypolipidemic effect. The authors and its health benefits. Professor Yanagita conclude that amaranth oil can be recom­ discussed "Conjugated Linoleic Acids and mended as a functional and dietary food their Health Benefits." His group demon­ for patients with cardiovascular diseases strated for the first time that the 9c,11t,13c­ (arteriosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, CLNA isomer reduces apolipoprotein 8100 hypertension, and hyperlipidemia) and (apoB100) secretion through the suppres­ obesity. More studies are needed to inves­ sion of triglyceride synthesis in human tigate the cholesterol-lowering properties liver cells. Apolipoproteins are proteins of amaranth oil.

www.herbalg ram.o rg 2006 HerbaiGram 72 I 67 Conference Report

The results of the use of dietary supple­ for chronic diseases. ing results in the report, "The Action of ments and functional foods for the treat­ Rakesh Kapoor, PhD, Director of an Antihypertensive Plant Mixture on ment of diabetes were also discussed. Science and Technology at Biorigi­ Metabolic Processes." The aim of this Jaime Uribarri, MD, a medical researcher nal Food & Science Corp. (Saskatoon, study was to inves tigate the effect of from the Mount Sinai School of Medi­ Canada) discussed the role of "Lignans the infusion produced from lesser peri­ cine (New York City) discussed "Func­ and Alpha-linolenic Acid as Antican­ winkle (Vinca minor L., Apocynaceae), tional Foods for Diabetes." He proposed cer Food Constituents." These ingredi­ the blossoms and fruits of monopis­ to create functional foods for diabetic ents are present in highest concentra­ tillate hawthorn ( Crataegus monogyna patients by decreasing the food content of tions in flax (linseed) (Linum usitatis­ Jacq., Rosaceae), motherwort (Leonu­ advanced glycation end products (AGEs), simum L., Linaceae). Whole flaxseed rus cardiaca L., Lamiaceae), knotweed well-known pro-inflammatory and pro­ has limited bioavailability while ground/ (Pofygonum avicufare L., Polygonaceae), oxidant compounds, which may contrib­ crushed seeds have a short shelf life, and field horsetail (Equisetum arvense L., ute to many of the complications of diabe­ limiting utilization in shelf-stable foods. Equisetaceae) on the carbohydrate-lipid­ tes. Dr. Uribarri also stressed that because Bioriginal developed shelf-stable prod­ protein and electrolyte metabolism in the "main factor responsible for the gener­ ucts (Lignamax'" and FibrOmega'") from aortic myocardial tissues after the induc­ ation of AGEs in food is the appli cation of flaxseed, which are not only rich in these tion of pituitrin hypertension in rabbits. heat during cooking, we could modulate constituents, but are also organic and It was shown that the infusion prepared the complications of diseases like diabetes kosher certified. These products offer from an herbal mixture, which included in a rapid and cost-effective way by simple advantages to food manufacturers look­ knotweed, had a curative hypotensive modifications of the way we cook." ing for kosher and organic ingredients effect. Researchers concluded that admin­ Motoki Kyo from the Biotechnology with health benefits. istration of an infusion prepared from Development Department, Toyobo Co., One of the most interesting presenta­ the herbal mixture containing knotweed Ltd. (Osaka, Japan) presented a talk about tions was delivered by investigators from normalized arterial blood pressure, modern methods and equipment involved Kaunas University of Medicine (Kaunas, decreased hyperlipoproteinemia, hyper­ in investigations in the area of biotech­ Lithuania).Jurga Bernatonien, PhD, Kris­ cholesterinemia, the activity of glycoly­ nology and his company's interest in a tina Ramanauskiene, PhD, and Majiene sis, and decreased cholesterol levels in the creation of new functional food products Daiva, PhD, discussed their interest- aortic wall.

The NIH loan Repayment Programs I Healthier Futures Through Research

68 I HerbaiGram 72 2006 www.herbalgram.org ------~~onference ReporJ~------

Alexander Orekhov, PhD, Director of tablets are effective in non-specific preven­ Armenia, Czech Republic, Germany, the Institute for Atherosclerosis Research tion of ARD in children and possess no Greece, France, Kenya, Ukraine, and in Moscow, Russia, reponed on a series of adverse side effects. Time-released garlic Uzbekistan sent their proposals to the studies that were performed to elucidate powder tablets (AIIicor) are highly recom­ conference organizers and those manu­ the effect of time-released garlic powder mended for long-term prevention of ARD, sc ripts will also be included in the confer­ tablets in the prevention of acute respi­ especially in health care programs, as an ence presiding and book entitled Func­ ratory disease (ARD). (The reporr was effective, low-cost and safe approach to tional Foods for Chronic Diseases, which presented jointly with Dr. Sobenin.) At the improvement of innate immunity and will be published in 2006. the first stage, the safety, tolerability, and resistance to viral infections. The third international conference in the effectiveness of tablets was investigated in series "Functional Foods for the Preven­ an open-labeled 5-month study in school­ Conclusion tion and Treatment of Chronic Diseases" children aged 7-16. It has been shown The general conclusions to be drawn is scheduled for October 2006 at the that ARD morbidity (including influ­ from the various presentations are as Functional Foods Center in Richardson, enza) was reduced 2.4-fold as compared fo llows: Texas. More information about future to the controls. At the second stage, the 1. More functional food products for conferences and new books on this subject effects of garlic tablets on ARD morbid­ the prevention and treatment of are available at www.functionalfoodscen­ ity versus placebo or benzimidazole (a chronic diseases such as hypertension, ter.net (e-mail: [email protected]; pharmaceutical drug) were investigated arrerioscleroses, cancer, diabetes, and phone: 469-441-8272). HG in the double-blind, placebo-controlled, obesity are needed with internation­ Danik M. Martirosyan, PhD, is a research randomized 5-month comparative srudy ally recognized standards and specifi­ scientist at the Functional Food Center, in school children aged 10-12. Research cations. Richardson, Texas. Undurti Das, MD, is the has demonstrated that garlic tablets 2. More scientific investigations are president and CEO of UND Life Sciences in (Allicor") reduced ARD morbidity by warranted for the usage of amaranth Shaker Heights, Ohio. He is also chiefeditor 2.4-fold as compared to placebo, and by oi l and garlic powder as functional of the scientific magazine, Lipids in H ea lth 1.7-fold as compared to benzimidazole. food products for the prevention and and Diseases. Ashkhen Martirosyan is an The results of this phase of investigation treatment of cardiovascular diseases. editorial assistant with D &A Inc. in Rich­ have demonstrated that garlic powder Scientists from countries including ardson, Texas.

The ProfileProven TM Extract Line: Ginkgo Biloba 24/6 and 24/6<1 Tested to assure no added Rutin. Fully conforms to recent AHPA Trade Recommendation. Grape Seed 85% Pol yphenols and Procyanidolic Value >95.0 Green Tea 50% EGCG and 50% Po lyphenol Soy-40'M Soy lsoflavone Extract 40% Soy lsoflavone from non-GMO Soy Beans Plus: Rhodiola Rosea, Milk Thistle, Echinacea and more. All products verified for active compounds Prop 65 compliant for lead content Screened for known adulterants, microbial, heavy metals & pesticides For information and other raw materials: Telephone: 866-459-4454 or Email : [email protected] Q Ethical Naturals. Inc. NATURE VERI FIED BY SCI ENCE www.EthicaiNaturals.com www.herbalgram.org 2006 HerbaiGram 72 I 69 ------~l Book Reviews J~------

uzen-taiho-to: Scientific Evaluation formula. They bridge the cultural divide operative treatment of malignant tumors and Clinical Applications by Haruki using concepts that the Western mind as well as treatment for weak constitu­ J,amada and lkuo Saiki, eds. Boca Raton, can understand. And for those readers tion, general malaise, and anemia which FL: CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group; familiar with the Chinese terms for tradi­ can accompany therapy for cancer. This 2005. 242 pages, hardcover. ISBN 0-415- tional formulas and herbs, the authors discussion of modern uses is followed 30830-5. $139.95. include the pertinent Chinese translations by several chapters which describe and The West has much to learn from the throughout the text. discuss the in vitro and in vivo pre­ world's many healing traditions. Unfortu­ This book opens with an historical and clinical research on this formula. These nately, the challenges found in language, conceptual overview of Kampo medicine include the scientific documentation of culture, history, and geography have severely and is followed by a chapter describing immunomodulatory, hematopoietic (bone restricted Western access to knowledge in thorough detail each of the 10 herbal marrow stimulatory), and antibiotic prop­ of Traditional Asian Medicine (TAM), ingredients in the Juzen-taiho-to formula. erties. particularly the culturally­ Ingredients familiar to readers For many readers, the highlights of this specific whole medical systems of HerbalGram but with a Japa­ book will be the 3 review chapters which of Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. nese twist include the follow­ thoroughly address the in vivo anti-tumor Along with China's current ing: cinnamon bark ( Cinna­ effects of Juzen-taiho-to on carcinogen­ version of TCM (Traditional momum cassia Blume, Laura­ esis, tumor progression, and metastasis. Chinese Medicine), these tradi­ ceae); licorice root (Glycyrrhiza This includes thorough discussions of the tional medicinal systems are glabra Linne, Fabaceae, and use ofJuzen-taiho-to in combination with based upon published works G. uralensis Fisher); Japanese chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Surpris­ from ancient China's Han angelica root (Angelica acuti­ ing to many readers may be the evidence Dynasty (206 BCE-220CE). loba Kitagawa or A. acuti­ which shows significant reduction in renal Despite shared roots, over the loba Kitagawa var. sugiyamae and myelotoxicity when Juzen-taiho-to past 1400 years these systems Hikono, Apiaceae); astraga­ is used with cis-platinum chemotherapy have developed independently lus root (Astragalus mongho­ regimens. I appreciated the data compar­ of one another. This is espe­ licus Bunge or A. membra­ ing efficacy of each of the 10 single herbs cially true for Kampo, Japan's traditional naceus Bunge, Fabaceae); atractylodis from the Juzen-taiho-to formula to the herbal medicine system. As a result, it has rhizome (Atractylodes lancea De Candolle data available on the whole formula. Such valuable insights not found in other forms and A. chinensis Koidzumi, Asteraceae); infrequently seen scientific data supports ofTAM. and Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. the traditional Asian understanding of Today, Japan is unique in the world Meyer, Araliaceae) root. Other ingre­ synergistic or complementary functions of for its widespread use of pharmaceuti­ dients in J uzen-taiho-to include peony the numerous herbs in multi-herb formu­ cal-grade, ancient multi-herb formulas, root (Paeonia lactiflora Palla, Peoniaceae); las. which are sold primarily by prescrip­ rehmannia root (Rehmannia glutinosa Long before the end of this book, read­ tion. In fact, more than 70% of Japanese Liboschitz, Scrophulariaceae); cnidium ers will express surprise that so much physicians routinely prescribe traditional rhizome ( Cnidium o./ficinale Makino, scientific research supports the use of Kampo herbal medicine formulas. More Apiaceae); and the mushroom poria (Poria Juzen-taiho-to in numerous conditions. than 145 Kampo formulas are covered cocos Wolf, Polyporaceae). As some of These readers will want to know why there by the national health plan. The Kampo these herbs may not be common in West­ is not more information about this formula tradition is currently taught in 100% of ern herbalism, the descriptions will be of in the United States and other Western Japanese medical schools and more than interest to all herbalists. These descrip­ countries and why clinical research has 80% of Japanese pharmacy schools. And, tions include the whole plant, its cultiva­ not been conducted in the United States. today, Japan also leads the world in high­ tion, harvesting and processing as well as Readers may also want to hear from Japa­ quality pre-clinical research on ancient, the macroscopy, the microscopy, general nese physicians who frequently prescribe multi-herb formulas. tests, chemistry, pharmacology and tradi­ Juzen-taiho-to. More information on their Clearly, Westerners might have much tional uses. day-to-day clinical experience, including to learn from Japan's Kampo tradition. In Japanese ]uzen means "complete," barriers and clinical limitations to use, But how? From whom? And from where? taiho means "big compensation/supple­ would have further strengthened the book Even in a flattened world, the Japanese mentation," and to means "hot water." for those readers who are unfamiliar with language and perspective still represent The name of this traditional herbal medi­ Kampo. a nearly insurmountable barrier. Far too cine could be translated into English Even without personal reflections from few references are available currently in as "complete tonifying formula." The Kampo practitioners, this book represents English. Thankfully, the 2 editors and therapeutic indications for Juzen-taiho­ a much needed entry point into Kampo 22 contributors of ]uzen-taiho-to (Shi­ to appear to be quite consistent. This for interested herbalists and researchers. quan-da-bu-tang): Scientific Evaluation includes the ancient indications of support Fortunately for the West, these authors and Clinical Applications represent excel­ for ki (chi) and ketsu (blood) as well as the have translated the original research arti­ lent professors who can teach Westerners modern indications such as for cancer, cles from Japanese into highly-readable in English the scientific evidence support­ eczema, and ulcerative colitis. Of broad English and assembled them into logi­ ing use of this one important Kampo interest today are the indications for post- cal chapters for Western readers. The

70 I HerbaiGram 72 2006 www. herbalgram.org ------~l Book Reviews J~------authors rake rhe reader ro rhe currenr edge being conducted with United States Food ood Plants of the World: An Illus­ of knowledge on Juzen-raiho-ro and rhe and Drug Administration (FDA) Investi­ Ftrated Guide by Ben-Erik van Wyk. astute reader will recognize the clinical gational New Drug status. Preroria, South Africa: Briza Publications research that remains ro be conducted. Related readings of imer­ and Portland, OR: Timber T he edito rs and authors have succeeded est ro readers of HerbaiGram Press; 2005. 480 pages; 1000 in creating a book that brings rogether include rhe previous vo lume in color phoros. ISBN-13: 978- much of rhe scienrific literature on rhis one this series Sho-Saiko-To: Scien­ 0-88192-743-6 and ISB N-10 : Kampo formula. T he extensive endnotes tific Evaluation and Clinical 0-88192-743-0. $39.95. and appendices, well-designed graphs and Applications (Taylor & Fran­ You have ro hand it ro Briza; tables, and skill ful editing mean rhar this cis, 2003) and the excellenr, for a small South African book is quire accessible ro scienrifically­ newly-published Introduc­ publishing company, ir makes minded audiences. My belief is rhar rhis tion to Kampo: japanese Tradi­ a lor of noise. Briza's success is book will motivate readers of HerbalGram tional Medicine by the Japan due largely ro mastermind and ro learn more abour the other 147 national Society for Orienral Medicine prolific writer Ben-Erik van health insurance-covered Kampo formu­ (Elsevier, 2005). !me rested Wyk, who does actually write las (e.g., Sho-saiko-ro, Hochu-ekki-ro). readers should also access the all these books himself-[ My hope is rhar this book wi ll srimulare ar Kampo Medicine Cyber-text/ have seen him doing it-and least one reader ro conduct the necessary virtual class provided for free who has repeatedly proven clinical research ro inuoduce Juzen-taiho­ by Keio University Medical School at that he has good sense for what readers ro inro 21st century Western medicine. http: I /web.sc.itc.keio.ac.jp/kam po/vc/ want. All of the "Planrs" books authored Should you be that person, ler me empha­ index.html. HG by van Wyk and published by Briza size rhar such a shift in consciousness is -Gregory A. Plotnikoff, MD, have been successfu l. Lately, they have possible. C urrently in rhe United States, MTS, FACP been co-produced and co-marketed by 3 large clinical trials on Sho-saiko-ro, University of Minnesota Medical T imber Press (USA) and Wissenschaftli­ Hochu-ekki-to, and Keishi-bukuryo-gan School, Minneapolis che Ve rl agsgesellschaft (Germany), and are raking place ar major university medi­ Keio University Medical School, Tokyo for rhe latter, the books have also been cal cenrers. Most remarkably, these are translated imo German.

www.herbalgram .org 2006 HerbaiGram 72 I 71 ------~[ Book Reviews ]~------

These books may nor be textbooks This book is an excellent reference text. indicating rhar both the rail and rhe body in rhe traditional sense. They provide It is divided into three parts. Parr I contains have similar chemical constituents, and quick, accurate, and concise "at a glance" an overview of the history of Chinese are therefore presently used together. descriptions of the world's (utilized) herbal medicine; nomenclature; classifica­ For readers not familiar with the termi­ plant species. The latest-Food Plants of tion; growing, preparation, and process­ nology of Chinese herbal medicine, the World-consists of one-page mono­ ing of herbs; characteristics (taste, etc); phrases such as liver-calming and wind­ graphs on 350 species. Each monograph clinical applications; and a brief section extinguishing, or blood-invigorating and contains a general description of the plant on concurrent use of herbal medicines stasis- removing seem abstruse at bes t. species, as well as information on irs and pharmaceuticals. Understanding a bit This rexr does nor give a deep back­ ori gin, local names, history, cultivation, about nomenclature is useful. Take, for ground understanding of this context, uses, and nutrient content. Each mono­ example, the herb ru xiang (Gummi Olib­ nor should it. Nor does it go into depth graph is profusely illustrated with photo­ anum, frankincense [Boswellia regarding the 8 principles used graphs depicting the plant species, parts spp., Burseraceae]). This book in herbal medicine (hot/cold, used, and/or products derived from it. teaches that the name literally interior/exterior, yin/yang, and The monograph section is preceded by means "breast fragrant," both excess/deficiency). An excel­ an introduction, which provides insights for rhe form the resin takes as lent description of the 8 prin­ into the origins and classifications of food it comes off of the tree and for ciples, as well as 8 difficult plants and nutrients. The monographs are its fragrance. Chapter 6 (Part patterns and syndromes, may followed by a section regarding issues of I) reviews the characteristics be found in Giovanni Macio­ nutrients, nutrition, and health; a list with of Chinese herbs. Particularly cia's text, The Foundations of short descriptions of plants that didn't useful is the table that relates Chinese Medicine (Churchill­ make it into the monograph section (i. e., a taste to function. For example, Livingstone, 1989). tabular listing of essential information on the salty taste purges excess, Parr III provides 10 valu­ food plants which did nor merit a mono­ softens hardness, and facili­ able appendices. Appendix 1 is graph); a glossa ry; a reference list; and tates entrance to the kidneys, a wonderful cross reference of an index. All such content provides rhe while the bland taste promotes symptoms based on Chinese reader with fast access to a great dea l of urination. However, the caveat is given medicine traditional diagnosis. For exam­ well-structured information on a prev i­ that taste does nor in fact always indicate ple, under abdominal pain one finds a list ously underrepresented topic. Here are function. Chapter 8 (Part I) provides a of herbs broken down by the type of pai n, 3 interesting examples: (1) The flowers basic introduction to the concurrent use i. e., qi stagnation, blood stagnation, food of cape pondweed (Aponogeton distachyos of herbal medicine and pharmaceuticals. stagnation, blood deficiency, deficiency L.f., Aponogetonaceae) give the charac­ Since many patients prese nting for treat­ and cold, and intestinal abscess. Appendix teristic taste to "warerblommerjie bredie," ment with Chinese herbal medicine will 2 does the same thing for Western medi­ a traditional dish of the South African already be taking conventional pharma­ cine diagnosis. This section is particularly Cape region; (2) Although its exception­ ceuticals, this topic is clea rly relevant. useful , since it is not always easy to under­ ally nutritious grains are highly valued by Part II is laid out in the classical tradi­ stand the diagnosis based on only one or Western healrhfood fans, grain amaranth tional Chinese herbal medicine Materia the other system. Appendix 3 goes a step (Amaranthus cruentus L., Amaranthaceae) Medica style, with herb monographs start­ further, cross referencing based on phar­ is now consumed only in the form of a ing with the exterior releas ing herbs, and macological effects (the first author is a sweet in its country of origin (Mexico); the famous rna huang (ephedra) and gui pharmacist, doctor of oriental medicine, and (3) The fruit of Blighia sapida (Konig, zhi (cinnamon). Each chapter contains a and an acupuncturist). Appendixes 4 and Sapindaceae), also known as akee in "akee thorough preface describing the defini­ 5 are a cross reference of rhe pinyin single and saltfish," while innocently tasting like tion of the category (i.e., ex terior releasing herb names and the names of traditional scrambled eggs, is highly poisonous unless herbs), subcategories of action, differen­ formulas discussed in the book, respec­ harvested precisely when ripe and cooked tial diagnosis and treatment, cautions and tively. Appendixes 6 and 7 discuss the use in sa ltwater before being fried. Readers contraindications, processing, pharmaco­ of herbs that either support pregnancy or may be happy to learn that this will defi­ logical effects, and potential herb-drug are contraindicated during pregnancy. nitely nor be rhe last book in van Wyk's interactions. When avail able, the chemical Appendix 8 provides dosing guidelines, "Plants" series. HG composition, clinical studies, and toxicol­ based both on age and weight. Appendix -Thomas Brendler ogy are included as well. 9 sorts out weights and measures. (Who PlantaPhile Traditional Chinese herbal medicine, knew that 20 grains equals 1 scruple, Berlin, Germany to rhe surprise of many, includes the use unless one were a pharmacy historian ?) of animal substances and minerals, in Included at rhe end of the book are bibli­ hinese Medical Herbology and Phar­ addition to the obvious plant material. ographies of historical and contemporary C macology by John K. Chen and Tina Animals such as gecko, turtle, and snake references. There is also a useful glossary. T. Chen with Laraine Crampton. City appear frequently in commonly used (The glossary does not contain some of my of Industry, CA: Art of Medicine Press; formulas. In the case of gecko, the authors favorite Chinese medicine phrases such as 2004. 1267 pages, 1150 illustrations. comment about the almost mythical prop­ "running piglet syndrome." Another of ISBN: 0-974 0635-0-9. $65.50. erties ascribed to the tail. They cite studies my favorites, Plum pit syndrome (or qi) is

72 I HerbaiGram 72 2006 www.herbalgram.org ------~l Book Reviews J~------rranslared as "globus hys teri cus," a term RC Handbook ofMedicinal Spices by calls "Russ ian penicillin") is a drug of now often replaced with the less pejorative CJames A. Duke with Mary Jo Bogens­ choice to "prevent or reduce the likelihood "globus se nsation.") hutz-Godwin, Judi duCellier, and Peggy­ of ge rring anthrax if you have been hi t The book provides additional resources Ann K. Duke. Boca Raton, FL: C RC with 8000 spores." What is nor opinion such as color photographs of each herb in Press; 2003. 360 pp. , hard cover. ISBN 0- is referenced, either using rhe author-dare the beginning of the book, and black and 8893-1279-5. $139.95. ABC Irem# B532 sys tem or with 3-letrer abbrev iati ons for white photographs of each herb accompa­ Jim Duke has a remarkable ability books and journals, which he cites on a nyin g the individual monographs. T hese to rake volumes, reams, and giga bytes regular basis. It looks cumbersome on rhe are particularly useful as a memory jogging of information, distill the printed page, bur if yo u keep tool. One can easily become bogged down method and madness down a finge r stuck in rhe abbrev i­ with pin yin, Latin, and common names of to keywords, and transform atio ns keys and refer to rhem plants. H av ing a picture to rel ate to adds the essence of the informa­ while reading, the embed­ an additional memory hook. When one is tion into short abstracts ded codes soon make good able to visualize the image of the plant, it peppered with observa tions sense. If a phytochemica l is often easier to recall other derails, such or opinions rhar bring flavor is listed for a plant, infor­ as botani cal and common name, and the to what otherwise might be mation on irs bioactivity or myriad of uses ascribed to the plant. boring scientific diarribes . toxicity with citati on is also This is nor a how-to-book for the begin­ T his guide by Emeritus ABC included . Duke suggests rhar ning phys ician who wants to know more Board of Trustees member myrtle (Myrtus communis L. , about C hinese herbs. It comprises rhe and ethnobotanist el ite Jim Myrtaceae) may be useful for first yea r of materi al rhar is covered in rhe Duke and coll eagues covers infections. He rhen enumer­ 2-yea r, 45 0 hour National Certification 60 popular spices, orga nized ates 15 biologic acti vities rhar Commiss ion for Acupuncture and Orien­ by scientific name. Ir includes lead him to his concl usion, tal Medicine co urse in rradirional C hinese sections on common na me, medici­ each fo ll owed by a li st of phytochemica ls herbal medicine. As a reference, it also nal activities and indicati ons, multiple in rhe pl ant to which that pharmacologic includes helpful appendices such as a cro ss activities, other uses (particul arl y culi­ ac tivity has been attributed. I had for the reference based on traditional C hinese nary uses), cultiva ti on, phyrochemisrry mos t parr dismissed my myrtle plant as medicine diagnos is, wes tern medi ca l diag­ and constituents, and compound acti v­ nothing more than an evergreen ornamen­ nosis, and pharmacological effects. ity. Duke cooks phytochemistry down to tal raking up room in a plant pot, bur in For rhe herbalist or phys ician wish­ irs practical potential and pulls pertinent these pages I find it is a ve ritable pharma­ ing ro dive deep into the complex and erhnobotanical facts to the surface like a copeia used for more medicinal, culi na ry, enormous world of rraditional C hinese ga rdener pulls weeds. and ornamental uses than any collec­ herbal medicine, this is a necessary book. After a lifetime of Duke's cajoling and tion of books has ever before revealed However, while the casual user may find massaging of the vas t scientific litera­ to me. H ere we find food and flavo ring the information useful in an encyclope­ ture on medicinal plants and what makes uses from Sardinia, Jerusalem, Damasc us, dic way, he or she may also experience rhe them tick, we are rhe benefi ciari es of rhe Italy, Corsica, and Crete. We find uses by book as relatively inaccessible without the morsels of information rhar have risen Jews, Arabs, Turks, Russians, and Greeks. formal training that accompanies class­ to the surface. Duke and his colleagues "The leaves are used for massage to work room herbal education. If the practitioner create a rich stew of informati on on each up a glowing skin." Where else are yo u is beginning to use some simple rraditional of the 60 spices treated in this book. In a going to find this kind of info rmati on C hinese medicine formulas in his/her single sentence, one ca n find humor, home except in a book by Duke? As for culti­ practice, such as Gan M ao Ling, or Yin remedies, and research leads. Fo r example, vating the pl ant, yo u will lea rn irs best Chiao, then this book will serve as a useful the author points our that greater ga langa l horticultural uses, soil rype, pH, propaga­ reference to understanding the properties (A ipinia galanga [L. ] Sw., Z in giberaceae) ti on methods, how to get it through the of each of the individual constituents of is "useful in pediarric res piratory prob­ winter in the North, and when it should the formula. It may also se rve as a source lems. I would nor hesitate to mix it with be pruned. T he horticultural informati on text for medical doctors with the need to those [anise and dill] for my grandchil­ is derail ed and va luable. understand the C hinese herbal formula dren during flu season [if only yo ur chil­ Throughout the book one finds cross­ that their patients may be raking. dren would ler you, Jim] . . . . . As a pas te, referencing to other Duke C RC hand­ The company can be reached at their with a little garlic and vinegar (red wine books and his always-expanding US DA Web site at www.aompress.com. Sa mples vinegar is betrer), it is a las t resort dras ti c database (o ne of the most widely used of va ri ous sections of rhe text are posted remedy for herpes." And on it goes. databases of that behemoth government on the site in PDF format. HG You have to lea rn how to read Duke's agency, ava ilable ar hrrp://www.a rs-grin. -Robert A. Schulman, MD, va rious CRC H andbooks, incl uding this gov/duke/). "''m nor going to pay nea rly Clinical Assistant Professor one. His comments, bel iefs, and opin­ $ 140 fo r a 348 page book! " yo u might say. of Rehabilitation Medicine and Comple­ ions can be found at any point in rhe H ow much did yo u spend on dinner las t mentary/Integrative Medicine, Weill text. He doesn't need to be convinced night for yo u and your dinner companion? Medical College of Cornell University, by a double-blind, randomized, placebo­ For me rhe choice is easy. If a book has New York controlled study that garlic (which he Jim Duke's name on it, I buy it-simple as www.herbalgram.org 2006 HerbaiGra m 72 I 73 ------~l Book Reviews ]~------

that. The hard choice is whether tO keep passed between the last English edition phytomedicines then emerging into the it on the shelf with medicinal plant refer­ and publication of the third and fourth American market. The present, third ence books, or have it at home next tO the German editions. The present transla­ Engli sh-language edition, as Dr. Wicht! spice shelf as an inspiration for new ideas tion is of the fourth German edition has pointed out, not only provides a and new uses for favorite spices. You will and includes 212 monographs of herbal precise translation of the German edition, discover more within these pages than drugs and phyromedicines. As author but also adds specific perspectives from Columbus ever did by sailing west. HG Max Wicht! states in the preface tO the the ingredients' trade and regulation in -Steven Foster, third Eng! ish edition, "two recognized English-speaking countries. What's more, President of Steven Foster Group, Inc., specialists, Josef Brinckmann and Michael the language skills and industry experi­ Eureka Springs, AR Lindenmaier, accepted the task tO trans­ ence of the translatOrs provide a sharp­ late the new German edition in English. ening of detail nuance that heightens its erbal Drugs and Phytopharma­ The translatOrs did not only translate value to those who handle the wide range H ceuticals. 3rd English ed., by Max the text very precisely but of ingredients covered here Wicht! (ed). Josef A. Brinckmann and also adapted the entire book on a daily basis. In this Michael P. Lindenmaier, translators. ro include pertinent British, edition there is considerably Stuttgart, Germany: Medpharm Scientific Canadian, and US regula­ more information, reflect­ Publishers; Boca Raron, FL: CRC Press, tions for herbal products." ing the rapid advancement 2004. 704 pp., hardcover. ISBN 0-8493- Herbal Drugs and in the scientific literature on 1961 -7. $279.95. ABC Item#B527 Phytopharmaceuticals is a medicinal plants in the past "Wicht! and Bisset," as the previous book that has already srood decade. The result is a tome English ed itions of Herbal Drugs and the test of time since the that is more than 150 pages Phytopharmaceuticals (translations of the appearance of the first longer than the first English German editions of Teedrogen und Phyto­ English edition, 12 years ago, edition. The constituents pharmaka) have come tO be known, are translated by the late Prof. and indication sections have considered standard Engli sh-language Norman Grainger Bisset of been extensively revised and references on the identities, origins, the University of London. 32 new monographs have constituents, preparations, uses , and regu­ The book had a particularly strong Euro­ been added, compared to the second latOry statuses of ingredients used in herbal pean focus and provided details on the English edition. The text has also benefited teas and phyromedicines. Several years identities and uses of many European from the contributions of many academic,

New Book Profiles

British Herbal Compendium: A $129.95. ISBN 0-8493-9812-6. a compilation of articles from the journal Handbook of Scientific Information on Explores the biochemistry and health ofCannabis Therapeutics, formerly edited Widely Used Plants. Vol2. Peter Bradley. effects of pomegranates. Identifies more by the author. Presents pharmacology, Bournemouth, England: British Herbal than 100 phytochemicals in the fruit. pharmacokinetics, biochemistry, toxi­ Medicine Association; 2006. 409 pages, Includes information on laboratory, cology, side effects, and potential clini­ softcover, contents, chemical struc­ animal, and human studies of its anti­ cal uses of cannabinoids. Each chapter tures, references, index. £59.50 (approx. oxidant effects on cardiovascular disease. contains references and updated bibli­ $112.00). ISBN 0-903032-12-0. Addresses research on pomegranate's ographies. This long-awaited second volume ability to fight several types of cancer. Ampalaya: Nature's Remedy for Type contains 80 therapeutic monographs Substantial sections on commercializa­ 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. Frank Murray. on widely used medicinal plants. Each tion, plant growth, and improvement. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publi­ monograph includes chemical constitu­ Discusses research on the bioavailability cations, Inc.; 2006. 217 pages, softcover, ents (with structure diagrams), pharma­ and metabolism of pomegranate poly­ contents, glossary, appendix, resources, cology and clinical studies, therapeutics, phenols in humans. references, index. $14.95. ISBN 1-59120- safety data and regulatory status. More Handbook of Cannabis Therapeutics: 178-0. than 3000 full citations are included. From Bench to Bedside. Ethan B. Russo, Focuses on preventing or controlling Pomegranates: Ancient Roots to MD, and Franjo Grotenhermen, MD, type-2 diabetes with lifestyle changes Modern Medicine. Navindra P. Seeram, eds. New York: Haworth Press; 2006. and the use of ampalaya (Momordica Risa N. Schulman, and David Heber, 471 pages, softcover, contents, b&w charantia), a vegetable with blood sugar­ eds. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, Taylor figures, tables, references, index. $39.95. lowering properties. Animal and human & Francis Group; 2006. 244 pages, ISBN 0-7890-3097-7. studies are presented on the effects of hardcover, contents, b&w figures, tables, Provides a brief hisrory on the medici­ ampalaya, commonly known as bitter chemical structures, references, index. nal uses of cannabis (marijuana). Includes melon, bitter gourd, or vegetable insulin,

74 I HerbaiGram 72 2006 www.herbalgram.org ------~l Book Reviews J~------indusuy, and professional experts in consumption might contain information with 519 color images (of va rying quality), Europe. Seven herbs are appended in a on ginseng and include American ginseng over 300 black and white illustrations, and section called "Short Monographs," which (Panax quinquefolius L., Araliaceae) and 447 chemical structures. When commu­ are deemed by Wichtl to be "of relatively Asian ginseng (P. ginseng C.A. Mey., nicating with various individuals over the minor importance for Central Europe," Araliaceae) as separate monographs, as years regarding their libraries, one often yet include such important items as saw has now been done with the monograph discovers that yes, a particular ride is in palmetto (Serenoa repens [W. Baruam] on tea (Camellia sinensis [L.] Kuntze, rhar person's institutional, company, orga­ Small, Arecaceae) berries, black cohosh Theaceae), which includes distinct entries niza tional, or personal library. However, it (Actaea racemosa, syn. Cimicifuga racemosa for black rea and green rea. And some of is always su rprising to learn that the tide L., Ranunculaceae) rhizome, feverfew the English-reading users will be surprised one possesses is 1, 2, or 3 editions out of (Tanacetum parthenium [L.] Sch. Bip. , (a nd disappointed) once again to find rhar dare! With such a rapidly changing infor­ Asteraceae) herb, and goru kola ( Centeffa botanicals that never reached "herbal drug mation landscape in the medicinal plant asiatica [L.] Urb., Apiaceae). Such mono­ or phytomedicine" status in Germany, field, it is particularly important to obtain graphs seem to be of a little more than just such as goldenseal (Hydrastis car;;densis L., new, revised editions of previous works. passing importance! It seems odd that Ranunculaceae), are completely absent. Often they are completely different works they are placed in a section best described And after 4 German editions and 3 from ea rlier editions of the same ride. as an afterthought, rather than devel­ English editions, still no separate chap­ Such is the case with the third English oped as full monographs. Cola nut (Cola ter on Echinacea purpurea ([L.] Moench, edition of Wicht!. If yo u don't have this spp. Schorr & End!., Srerculiaceae) is Asreraceae)? edition, yo u simply don't have Wichtl. also included here, and although perhaps Returning to what's in the book, instead Break into yo ur savings, raid the corpo­ not an important phytomedicine, it is of what you won't find: each mono­ rate coffers, or see yo ur loan officer for certainly an important natural ingredi­ graph contains details on plant sources, the $279.95 price rag that mi ght break the ent in numerous formulations, especially synonyms, origins, constituents, indica­ piggy bank. Bur if you deal with herbal in dietary supplements in the United tions, making the rea, rea preparations, drugs and phytopharmaceuricals of Euro­ States. European sa nicle (Sanicula euro­ phytomedicines, authentication, adultera­ pean (particularly German) marker origin, paea L., Apiaceae) and purple loosesuife tion, storage (if relevant), along with litera­ this book is a must-have resource. HG (Lythrum salicaria L., Lyrhraceae), also ture references (titles of articles excluded). -Steven Foster, included in this section, are certainly nor Regulatory status and TLC (thin layer President of Steven Foster Group, Inc., on anyone's "A" list. One would hope chromatography) identification are often Eureka Springs, AR that future editions produced for German included. The book is richly illustrated

as well as a selection of stories profiling J. Green Jr., NO. San Diego, CA: Aven­ uses of 45 medicinal plants. Profiles of diabetics who have incorporated ampa­ tine Press; 2005. 212 pages, softcover, each plant also include harvest infor­ laya successfully into their diet. contents, tables, b&w figures, appendi­ mation, preparations and dosages, and Eating and Healing: Traditional Food ces, bibliography, glossary, index. $19.95. detailed medicine-making instructions as Medicine. Andrea Pieroni and Lisa ISBN 1-59330-332-7. for many of the plants. Leimar Price, eds. Binghamton, NY: Primarily written for patients diag­ Sacred Plant Medicine: The Wisdom Food Products Press; 2006. 406 pages, nosed with chronic obstructive pulmo­ in Native American Herbalism. Stephen softcover, contents, b&w photos, figures nary disease (COPD) or emphysema, Harrod Buhner. Rochester, VT: Bear & & tables, references, index. $39.95. ISBN this book is also a helpful tool for Company; 2006. 208 pages, softcover, 1-56022-983-7. healthcare professionals. Focusing exclu­ contents, b&w photos, references, Presents biological and cultural aspects sively on natural health and nutrition, suggested readings, index. $16.00. ISBN of food as medicine from around the the author presents scientifically- and 159143058-5. world, such as in Tibet, Cuba, Italy, historically-based treatments. Diet and Filled with photos and extensive and Africa. Each chapter is written by a nutrition therapy, nutrition supplemen­ quotes, Buhner explores the interac­ different contributor and presents scien­ tation, herbal medicine, exercise and tions of Native Americans and plants, tific research about medicinal foods from physical therapy, as well as other alterna­ including profiles of many of the plants a specific area of the world, along with tives are also discussed. considered sacred by the tribes. Their traditional information gathered from Medicinal Plants of the Southern traditional uses are addressed, includ­ locals. Some chapters also discuss issues Appalachians. Patricia Kyritsi Howell. ing preparations and dosages, along with of globalization and the loss of healing Mountain City, GA: Botanologos Books; ceremonial elements such as prayers and food knowledge. 2006. 262 pages, softcover, contents, songs associated with each plant. HG Emphysema and Chronic Obstruc­ glossary, bibliography, resources, bloom tive Pulmonary Disease: Therapeutic & harvest calendars, therapeutic index, Approaches through Nutrition, Natural index. $19.95. ISBN 0-9774905-0-5. Medicine, Alternative Medicine. Robert Includes the historical and current

www.herbalgram.org 2006 HerbaiGram 72 I 75 ------~l in Memoriam J~------

··; think it was that study that launched her Dirk Nelson, a former licensed clini­ , into the work on drugs and drug policy. cal social worker and long-time activist in I In that area, she made many major contri­ the drug reform movement, attended the butions." Drug Policy Foundation's 13th Interna­ \ {il~. : Dr. Zimmer became actively involved tional Conference on Drug Policy Reform in rhe Princeton Group for the Study of in 2000, where Dr. Zimmer received the • Drug Policy, the Drug Policy Foundation Lindesmith Award for Achievement in (now the Drug Policy Alliance), and rhe the Field of Scholarship. Nelson was left National Organization for the Reform of with strong impressions of her character Marijuana Laws (NORML). She wrote and eloquence. "People who can speak multiple monographs, articles, and book unapologetically with her grace, insight, Lynn Zimmer chapters on issues of drug res ting, drug and humor on this topic, with her kind policies, and drug reform. She also co­ of credentials, are often difficult to find," 1947-2006 authored the book Marijuana Myths, he said (oral communication, August 18, Marijuana Facts: A Review ofthe Scientific 2006). "Her contributions to the move­ ynn Zimmer, PhD, a respected soci­ Evidence, in 1997 with John P. Morgan, ment, to end the unreasonable punishing ology professor, author, and spokes­ MD, professor of pharmacology at the of people for their pharmacological adven­ Lperson for the drug reform move­ City College of New York. tures, were invaluable." Dr. Zimmer also ment, died on July 2, 2006, at the age of Dr. Jacobs explained that this book received the Lester Grinspoon Award for 1 59. became widely successful and has been Achievement in the Field of Marijuana Lynn Etta Z immer was born on May translated into several foreign languages. Law Reform from NORML in 2000.1 20, 1947, in Rochester, NY. She earned her "It has been fantastically influential. Dr. Zimmer was diagnosed with multi­ bachelor's degree from the State University Marijuana Myths catapulted Lynn into ple sclerosis (MS) in the late 1990s. "MS of New York at Cortland in 1977, followed real prominence. She appeared on many took a terrible roll on her," said Dr. by her master's and doctoral degrees in TV shows, including some very prominent Morgan. "It robbed her of her ability to sociology from Cornell University in 1980 ones, and on radio and in public appear­ see and to move about in the world. It did and 1982, respectively. Her docroral thesis ances. She did a couple of European tours not affect her ability to think and teach exa mined the integration of women guards talking about the book and drug policy and be kind. She was the best person I into the US prison system and res ulted in issues," he said. have ever known." her first book, Women Guarding Men, in According to Dr. Morgan, Dr. Zimmer's Dr. Z immer is survived by her two sons 1986. greatest contribution was her analys is of Joseph and Mark. HG Dr. Zimmer taught at the State Univer­ the "drug abuse establishment" (DAE). - Courtney Cavaliere sity of New York at Geneseo from 1982 "She early on realized that many individu­ to 1990, and then served on the faculty als and organizations owed their politi­ Reference of Queens College of the C ity University cal lives, their reputations, their prestige, I. Nadelmann EA. Lynn Zimmer 1947- of New York from 1990 to 2002. Early in their status, their income, and their jobs 2006. Drug Policy News. Drug Policy Alli­ her professional career, she began to exam­ to fighting the war on drugs," Dr. Morgan ance Web site. Available at: http: //www. drugpolicy.org/news/070506lynnzimmer. ine the drug resting industry and US drug explained (e-mail, August 16, 2006). "She cfm. Accessed August 11 , 2006. policies. described this massive entity (the DAE) "Lynn did an excellent study of Opera­ in bureaucratic terms and realized that tion Press ure Point, the NYPD's drug its chief function was to preserve and sweep initiative on the Lower East Side empower itself. Shortly before her death, during the mid-1980s," said James Jacobs, she gave a copy of a manuscript regarding PhD, law professor at New York Univer­ the DAE to a student, who had become sity and Dr. Zimmer's docroral adviser one of her bes t friends and who is working at Cornell (e-mail, August 17, 2006). "I hard to prepare it for publication."

Join ABC & Save 50% on All ABC Publications Members of the American Botanical Council receive a 50% discount on all books published by ABC- including The ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs, HerbalMedicine: Expanded Robert Daniel Winn Commission E Monographs, The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines, back issues 1927-2006 of HerbalGram, the Quick Access series and more. ~fMERICI'N bert Daniel (Dan) Winn, a strong Join online today at www.herbalgram.org ibTI'NICAL or calll-800-373-7105 COJNCIL upporter of herbal medicine R esearch and medicinal plant refor-

76 I HerbaiGram 72 2006 www. herbalgram .org Memoriam ------~l------in J~------estation, died on March 21, 2006, at the worked when she was in Ghana in the Dan loved hiking in England, driving age of 78. He suffered a fatal head injury Peace Corps in the 1960s. his Morgan, and dancing the Swee t Swing as a resulr of a fall he sustained in Nairobi, Diane will continue to pursue this work, to Glenn Miller's Orches tra. He loved Kenya, while he and his wife Diane were and if successful , it wi ll be a legacy to beautiful cars, airplanes, and all things attending a conference on herbal antima­ Dan's vision and commitment. Diane has mechanical. larials. T he conference participants dedi­ established a "Dan Winn Memorial Foun­ Dan is survived by his wife Diane, his cated the proceedings to Dan. dation," and the first effort on behalf of son Robert Daniel Winn, Jr. , his daughter Diane had been invited to speak at the the foundation will be to establish a "Dan Susan Winn Lowry, two grandchildren, conference abour the work she has been Winn Memorial Agroforestry Centre" his brother William Edward "Ted " Winn, doing in Ghana with Cryptolepis (Ascle­ in Ghana, so that his pass ion for plant Jr., and his sister Marjorie Winn Ford. piadaceae), which is a potentially effective medicines and reforestation can live on. Memorials may be given to PlantSearch herbal antimalarial medicine that could This will be the first agroforesrry center International Foundation- Dan Winn eventually benefit millions of children to reforest with medicinal plants and Memorial Fund for Herbal Antimalarial across Africa (See article in Herba!Gram trees-a potential future site for ecotour­ Research in Africa (check should be made 60). 1 Dan had been intensely support­ ism in the area. to "PSIF" with "Dan Winn Memorial ive of her work and accompanied her to Dan grew up in Dallas, TX, and served Fund" in the memo field) , sent in care of Ghana on most of her trips. in the Army before graduating from Rice Irvin Coker, 9501 Brunett Avenue, Silver Dan and Diane shared a passion for University and the University of Texas Spring, Maryland 20901. HG research into traditional plant medicines Law School. He became a patent attorney of Ghana. Being a patent attorney, he was in Houston in 1952. He moved to McAl­ Reference always looking for intellectual property len, TX in 1959 with his wife and three I. Addy M. C ryprolepis: an African in any of the developmental work done ch ildren, where he became president of traditional medicine that provides on the vast body of traditional knowledge a mortgage company. His most notable hope for malaria vic tims. Herba!Gram. 2003;60: 54-59,67. on West African herbal medicines that achievements include building the first Diane received from the late Ghanaian enclosed shopping mall in the Rio Grande traditional herbal medicine expert Oku Va lley and creating Medico, a regional Ampofo, MD, with whom Diane had chain of drugstores.

www.herbalgram.org 2006 HerbaiGram 72 I 77 Herbalism. London, U K. Dr. Michael Tierra Nutraceuticals Conference. C hicago, IL. 2006 LAc., OMD, rh e renowned herbali st and N utraceuticals, functional food s, and di etary creator of the Pl anetary Formulas range, will supplements have become a rapidly grow­ October 3-7: Contributions of African conduct thi s wo rkshop. Dr. Tierra will spec ifi­ ing segment of the fo od market over the pas t Botanica to Humanity 2006. N'Zerekore, ca lly focus on the topic of integ rating herbs several years. Lea rn how to max imize the Republi c of Guinea, West Africa. This event and traditional assess ment methods for main­ success of a new product launch and navi ­ will study in detail the pharmacol ogica l, taining health and treating di sease. T his event gate the FDA's regulatory process. For more phytochemical, and genetic aspects of Afri­ will be held from 9:30-4:30 at Herringham information visit the Web site: www. inrerte­ ca n botanica to clari fy the intimate structu re H all , Rege nt's College. Dr. T ierra will also be chusa.com. of planes' molecules and to identify interes t­ a key speaker at CAM EXPO 2006 ar Excel , October 27-29: American Herbalists ing charac teristics of plants used for health London Dockl ands, Ocr 15-16. Phone/Fax: Guild's 17th Annual Symposium. Boulder, maintenance. This sy mpos ium will also give (0) 1873 85 1953 . E-mail : info@earthforce. CO . AHG 's annual sy mposium is widely pla nt reproduction speciali sts the opportu­ com. Web sire: www.earthforce.com. rega rd ed as one of the pree minent confe rences nity ro share their views about the agronomi­ October 14-15: 3rd International Confer­ on botanical medicine, offering over 40 work­ cal aspects that ca n influence the co ntent in ence: Functional Foods and Phytotherapy shops by leading prac titioners and resea rchers. bio-active compounds in medicinal, aromatic, for Chronic Diseases. Dallas, T X. The main AHG also expects to offer continuing educa­ and food plants. Web site: http://www. bota­ goal of rhe conference is to bring together tion credits for nurses, pharmacists, ac upunc­ niqueafricaine.com/. Phone: 506-455-4110. ex perts in medicine biology and the food turists, nutritionists, and naturopathic phys i­ October 5-8: 5th Annual Traditional industry to discuss rhe prevention and treat­ cians. More information about the sympos ium Chinese Medicine Conference. East Ruther­ ment of chronic diseases. The confe rence will is ava ilable at www. americanherbalisrsguild. ford , NJ. "Building Bridges of Integration for cover the adva nces of phytotherapy and food com. Traditional C hinese Medi cine-Transforma­ therapy for cardiovascul ar d iso rders, diabetes, October 28: Natural Source International's tion: Sp irit in Hea ling" is a landmark educa­ obesity, and cancer, with a spec ial focus on Symposium. Columbia University, N Y. This tional for um on traditional Chi nese medicine the creation of functional and medicinal foods lO th annive rsa ry symposium will gi ve partici­ for Eastern and Western hea lrhcare profess ion­ with new properties. Web site: www.function­ pants the opportunity to learn more about the als interested in ex plorin g this medi cal system's alfoodscenter.net. pas t, present, and future of rhe research begun growing role in integrative and co mplemen­ October 16-19: International Symposium by M irko Beljanski , PhD, of the celebrated ta ry hea lrhca re. It will take place at the Shera­ on Pomegranate and Minor Mediterranean Pas teur Institute in Paris, France. Featured to n Meadowlands Hotel, East Rutherford, NJ, Fruits. Adana, Turkey. This eve nt, whic h lecturers will include Columbia University's just outs ide NYC. Web si te: www.tcmconfe r­ will be held on the campus of C ukurova director of the Center for Holistic Urology, ence.org. Phone: 1-888-T CM-6909. University, will feature lec tures and work­ Aaron Katz, MD, author of D r. Katz's Guide to October 6-8: Neuroprotection, CME shops on issues relating to pomegranates and Prostate Health, and Michael Schachter, MD, Course. Scottsdale, AZ. Functional medi­ Minor Medite rranean pl ants. Topics include head of the Sc hachte r Center for Comple­ ci ne ca n help with prevention, risk reduc­ pl ant physiology, current research, harvest­ mentary Medicine. To register, visit rhe tion, stabilizati on, and sometimes regress ion ing, economics, and pesrs and diseases, among Web site: www.narural-source.com. E-mail: of pati ents' neurological conditions. T hi s others. Fo r more information, contact Dr. info@ natural-source.com. Ph one: 212-308- course is intended to help healrhca re provid­ Ahsen lsik O zg i.i ven; Phone: (9 0)3223386564. 7066. ers ex re nd rhe practice of functional medicine Fax : (9 0)3223386388. E-mail: [email protected]. October 28-30: The 2nd International to patients diagnosed with neurologica l condi­ tr. We b site : www.cu.edu.tr/fakulteler/zf/bkb/ Symposium on Saffron Biology and Tech­ tions. Presented by rhe Institute for Functional ispm/. nology (ISSBT). Mas hhad, Iran. This sympo­ Medicine. Web sire : www.funcri onalmedicine. October 18-20: SupplySide West 2006. Las sium is intended for those involved in the org. Phone: 800-228-0622. Vegas, N Y. SupplyS ide West is a 3-day eve nt production, processing, marketing, or medici­ October 8: The 5th Annual Catskill Moun­ offering industry the opportunity to lea rn nal use of sa ffron. Orga ni zers for the event tain Ginseng/Medicinal Herb Festival. about the latest innovative and hea lrhy ingre­ are the Center of Excellence for Special Crops Catskill , N Y. The key note speaker will be dients, meet new vendors and formulato rs in (CESC) Faculty of Agriculture and Ferdowsi Scorr Persons, author of American Ginseng rhe 850+ booth exhibit hall , and so urce ingre­ Uni versity of Mas hhad (FUM) under the Green Gold. Joining him will be Dav id Taylor dients, packaging, labeling and private-l abel auspices of the International Society for Horti­ and Andy Hankin. Fo r di rectio ns or lodg­ manufacturing services in one location. For cultural Science (ISHS) Section of Medicinal ing in for mati on contact Linda O verbaugh more information, please contact Amy Shar­ and Aromatic Plants. Web sire: http://saffron­ ar the H ea rt of Catski ll Association. E-mail: man with Virgo Publishing at (480) 990-1101 ir.um.ac.ir/. HOCA@mhonline. net. Phone: 518-943- ex t. 1543. Web site: http://www.supplyside­ October 28-November 3: The Science and 0989. show.com /wes t/. Clinical Application of Integrative Holis­ October 9-15: CancerGuides. Blooming­ October 24-25: Food Law & Regulation. tic Medicine Conference. San Diego, CA. dale, lL. CancerGuides is the world 's first and Chicago, IL. This new confe rence orga ni zed This accredited program encourages academ­ only compre hensive trai ning program in inte­ by the publishers of Food Chemical News will ics and healthcare professionals from around grati ve oncology. T his unique interdisciplin­ introduce food industry executives to the the country to learn evidence-based and in­ ary course teaches health professionals and lates t updates on hot legislati ve iss ues impact­ depth knowledge of rhe growing field of inte­ pati ent advocates to work collaboratively with ing the food industry and enable participants grative holistic medicine. Presented by Scripps people with cance r to create safe, effective, to debate and analyze major food sa fet y and Center for Integrative Medicine and the Amer­ humane, individualized programs of ca re rh ar reg ul atory issues . Attendees will have the ica n Board of Holistic Medicine. Contact: integ rate the bes t of complementary and alter­ opportunity to hea r the latest news and views Julie Simper, Phone: 858-587-4403. E-mail: native approaches with conventional therapy. from key industry stakeholders, legal experts, si mper.j u Ii e@sc ri ppshea l th .org. Web site: www.cmbm.org. consumer groups, and government agencies. October 29-November 1: The 4th Inter­ October 13-15: Holistic World Expo. Phone: +44 (O) 20 701 7 7500, E-mail: sophie. national Conference on Mechanism of Toronto, Canada. The Holistic World Expo sreve ns@ informa.com. Web site: www.agra­ Action of Nutraceuticals (ICMAN4). Tel­ is intended for both the public and hea lthcare net.com/FLR06. Aviv, Israel. The conference will dea l with pro fess ionals. It wi ll feature presentations from October 26-27: Malta Polyphenols 2006. the lates t developments in dietary and endog­ international leaders and speakers, as well as Malta. This international confe rence, which enous so urces of nutraceuticals; the results numerous exhibitions and hands-on demon­ combines 3 different events on polyphenols of cellular, molecular, and animal studies in strations that provide a well-rounded view orga nized in parallel, will prese nt the latest diabetes, cance r, neurodegenerative disease, of holi stic healrh benefi ts . T hi s event will adva nces on polyphenols and their effec ts on cardiovascular and inflammatory disorders; provide in fo rma tio n fo r peo pl e interested in health. For more information or to view the proteomi c-genomic developments; and ami­ enhancing their hea lth, de-stressi ng their li ves, conference program, visit rhe Web sire: www. agin g opportunities . Web site: http://www. and foc using on rhei r spi ritual we ll -being. For isanh.com. E-mail Dr. Sa ndrine Rodriguez : evetopf.o rg/icman4. more details visit www. holisticworld.org. [email protected]. November 5-8: Worldnutra Conference October 14: One-Day Workshop Planetary October 26-27: Regulations for and Exhibition. Reno, N Y. The scientific

Herba!Gram 72 2006 www.herbalgram.org program will be comprised of plenary sessions in select ve nues across the country. Each event Exhibits are open Saturday and Sunday. For from keynote speakers and oral prese ntations features expert speakers as wel l as open panel more information visit the Web sire: www. from industry, academic, and government discuss ions and hands-on learning workshops nnfase.org. representatives. It will cover the latest develop­ over a 3-day weekend. Reservations must be November 3 0-December 2: First lbero­ ments in nurraceuricals, functional foods and made by O ctober 26, 2006 to receive confer­ American C ongress on Phy totherapy ingredients, processing, health aspects of anti­ ence ra re of $ 189. Web sire: www.aromarhera­ [Primer Congreso lberoamericano de Fito­ oxidants, and herbal extracts. The industry pyconferencerours.com. terapia] . Mexico City. The conference is being exhibition wi ll display the latest tech nology, November 20-24 : FAPRONATURA 2006. sponsored by the Mexican Social Security ingredients, food products, equipment, and Varadero Beach, Cuba. The Cuban Society of Institute a nd rhe !hero-Ameri can Program services available in nutraceuricals and func­ Pharmacology invites yo u to participate in irs for the Development of Science and Technol­ tional foods. Web sire: www.worl dnurra.com. First International Sy mposium on Pharmacol­ ogy (CYTED), wi th the coll aboration of the November 10-11: Realizing Nature's Poten­ ogy of Natural Products and rhe First Interna­ foll owing phyrorherapy associati ons: the Euro­ tial: The Once and Future King of Drug tional Symposium of rhe Latin-Ameri ca n and pean Society for Medicinal Plant Resea rch Discovery Symposium. Sr. Louis, MO. A Caribbean Bull etin of Aromatic and Medici­ (GA), Spani sh Society for Phyrorh erapy symposium honoring the lifetime achieve­ nal Plants. Web sire in Spanish: http://www. (SEFIT), European Scientifi c Cooperative on ments of Dr. Gordon Cragg of the National scf.sld.cu/ natprod/portada. hrm. Web sire in Phytorherapy (ESCOP), SPFiro (Portuga l), Cancer Institute, presented by rhe W ill iam L. Eng! ish: http:/ /www.scf.sld.cu/ narprod/ en/ Argentinian Association of Phyromedicine, Brown Center for Plant Generic Resources. portada-en.htm. Works presented in FAPRO­ and rhe Brazilian Institute of Medicinal Plants. Web sire: www.wlbcenter. org. Phone: 314-577- NATURA 2006 will be published by Pharma­ A pre-conference phyrorherapy course will be 9565. E-mail: [email protected]. cologyOnline journal as "short communica­ held from November 27-29. More information November 10-12: CAMEXPO West. Los tions." To see the Author's G uidelines of this (in Spanish) ava il able at the Web sire: http:// Angeles, CA. The CAMEXPO conference journal, visit rhe Web sire: http://www.phar­ www.fitoterapia.net/congreso/congreso.html. program fe atures the lates t trends, research, macologyon line. u n isa. ir / submiss ion rules. asp. D ecember 1-5: First International Meeting clinical trials, and protocols in the field of November 27-December 2 : Applyin g on Cassava Plant Breeding and Biotech­ complementary and integrative hea lrhcare, Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice. nology. Brasilia, Brazil. The theme of this and the exh ibition presents buyers of natural Fort Lauderdale, FL. Spend a week with meeti ng is cassava enhancement to improve healrhcare products and services with a dedi­ leading ex perts on functi onal medicine, the livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa and north­ cared , focused marketpl ace. For more infor­ sc ience- based hea lrhcare approac h rhar assesses eastern Brazil. Sessions include: wild species mation vis it the Web sire: www.camex powes r. and treats underlying causes of illness through and landraces to enhance nutritional content; com. individually tailored therapies to restore hea lth management of reproduction and propagation November 16: Herbal Protocols for the and improve function. Learn rhe techniques sys tems; biotechnology tools and methods for Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis and rake home rhe clinical tools that will make breeding the crop; and conservation of Mani­ (HPA) D eficiency & Stress. Washington, functional medicine a reality in yo ur prac­ hor ge neri c resources. Orga ni zed by Dr. Nagib NJ. This class wi ll examine rhe types of herbs tice . For more information, visi t the Web sire: Nassar of the University of Brasilia. E-mail: (nervines, anxiolyrics, adaptogens) useful for http://www. fu ncrionalmedicine.org/eduprog/ nagnassa@ rudah.com.br. Web sire: http:// relieving stress and promoting H PA ax is re­ afmcp.asp or contact Client Services at 800- www.geneconserve. pro.br/mee ring/. regulation. Contact: Cathy Garland, Herbal­ 228-0622. Early bird cur-off dare: O ctober ist & Alchemist, Inc., 908-689-9020 ext. 101. 13, 2006. E-mail : [email protected]. Web November 3 0- D ecember 3: NNFA SOHO sire: www.herbalisr-alchemisr.com. Expo: O rl ando, FL. Join industry members November 17-19: Aromatherapy C onfer­ from all over the nation and world for this natu­ ence Tours. Santa Monica, CA. Aromather­ ra l products industry trade show and conve n­ apy Conference Tours (ACT) is a consor­ tion. Show combines ed ucation programs for tium of medical profess ionals participating businesses with exhibits featuring outstanding in national educational aromarherapy confer­ products. A golf tournament opens the show ences and free trade shows open to the public on Thursday. Seminars are Thursday-Sunday.

In this department of HerbalGram, we li st resources such as publi cations, organizations, seminars, a nd networking for o ur readers. A listing in this section does not constitute any endorsement or approval by Herba/Gram, ABC, or its Advisory Board.

Biodiversity Conservation H a ndbook, tion manager of NOW Foods, a manufacturer legal ca nnabi s and information on congressio­ released in June 2006 from the Environmen­ of dietary supplements sold in the natural nal vo ting and amendments regarding canna­ tal Law Institute, an independent environ­ fo od trade. bis. Available at http://www.drugscience.org/ mental education and resource center. The CIMER Web site now ava il abl e in Chinese. bcr/index.hrml. 648-page handbook focuses on biodiversity's The MD Anderson Cancer Center has imple­ Integrat ive M edicine Updates (IMU), background and preservation, ex plores tools mented a C hinese version of the top-level recently launched newsletter of the Hea lth for implementing biodiversity programs in the pages of its Complementary and Integra­ Integrat ive Med icine Program of the Univer­ US , encourages state and local policymakers rive Medicine Education Resources (CIMER) sity of Wisconsin. Distributed to clinicians to "think locally and act globally," and exam­ Web sire. A reso urce for healrhcare profess ion­ 3 rimes a yea r, IMU explores influences of ines ways in which citizens can minimize als, patients, and caregivers on safely incorpo­ phys ical a nd non-phys ical hea ling methods for ecological harm from poll ution, land develop­ rating complementary and integrative medi­ diseases and ailments. Each issue focu ses on I ment, and climate change. More information cine with conventional cancer care. Contains health topic, such as diabetes or anti-inflam­ at www.eli .org. sc ientifically- based reviews of programs and matory diets. Offers rips and information to Honest Nutrition, new personal blog of nutri­ an award-winn ing seri es on discussi ng comple­ prevent or treat disease through nutrition­ tionist Neil E . Levin, ava ilable at www.honest­ mentary therapies with patients. Available at food, mind-body, and exercise interventions. nutririon.com. Entries disc uss natural health, www.mdanderson.org/cimer. The program's integrative approac h seeks to health freedom, nutrition, dietary supple­ Bulletin of Cannabis Reform, independent help patients in the least invasive, roxie, or ments, and related topics. Blog designed as public forum launched in August 2006 on costly ways. Standard Processing Inc., an third-parry reference for retai lers or consum­ DrugScience.org. Discusses marijuana poli cy, established manufact urer of unique dietary ers . Sire also includes links to previously efforts toward policy reform, and approaches supplements, funds publication of rhe free published articles and letters to rhe editor by to ac hieve legaliza tion of marijuana for medi­ newsletter. To request, e-mail IG News@hosp. Levin, who is president of Nutrition for Opti­ cal purposes. Prem ier iss ue fea tures articles wisc.edu. mal Hea lth Association and nutrition educa- about the first modern US patient to receive

www. herba lgram.org 2006 HerbaiGram 72 reports, book rev iews, rare books, case studies, cist or dietitian, you can choose a rota­ Employment and medicinal plant reviews. AUD/$95 plus tion through ABC's internship program. Family owned medicinal herb company AUD/$15 if required by airmail. National You ' ll get a comprehensive introduction to phytomedicines, researching the medici­ seeks highly skilled, compassionate Herbalists Association of Australia, 33 Reserve Manager of our Herbal Department. We Street, Annandale, NSW 2038, Australi a. nal, cu linary and cosmetic uses of herbs, have bee n experiencing consistent growth and HerbalGram: Quarterly journal published answerin g ABC members' questions, work­ want so meone who desires to share in our by the American Botanical Council. A benefit in g with medicinal plants in ABC's 2.5 vision. The ideal candidate must be an active at all levels of membership in ABC. See page acres of herbal gardens, and preparing herbal listener and able to take direction from our 2 for membership information or join online sa lves, tinctures or meals. For more informa­ founde rs. at www.herbalgram.org. P.O. Box 144345, tion, call Gayle at 512-926-4900 or emai l Gayle@ HerbalGram.org. Blessed Herbs prides itself on integrity and Austin, TX 78714. 800-373-7 105 or fax 512- Stock Photography that doesn't look like authenticity so we are looking for expertise 926-2345. E-mail [email protected]. Stock: Steven Foster Group, Inc. Photog­ 1n: Medical Herbalism : Subtitled "A Clini­ ca l Newsletter for the Herbal Practitioner." raphy, Consulting, Publications. Specializ­ • Anatomy & Phys iology Edited by Paul Bergner. $36/yr, $60/2 yrs. in g in medicinal and aromatic plants, along • Clin ical and/or personal Healing Experi- Canada $39/yr. Overseas $45/yr. Sample/$6. with the places they grow, our stock photo ence Medica l Herbalism, P. 0. Box 20512, Bou lder, fi les include more than 120,000 images shot • Energetics co 80308. around the wo rld for over 30 years. Contact • Herb Identification & Quality us at our NEW location in the heart of the • Manufacture of Herbal Medicine Ozarks in Eu reka Springs, Arkansas. Visit • Research Ski ll s Other our we bsite: www.stevenfos ter.com email: • Scientific Understanding [email protected] If you are intuitively motivated, environmen­ BUSINESS FOR SALE Beautiful retai l herb Not enough time to read all of the latest tally aware, and co mmitted to a healthy li fe­ store for sa le in the heart of the Northern journal articles? ABC makes it easier for style we wou ld li ke to speak with you. Rocky Mountains. In business 10+ yea rs. yo u to stay up-to-date. Twice monthly, ABC Please emai l yo ur resume with salary require­ Work for yo urself and love what you do' Send publishes 13 summaries and critica l reviews ments to [email protected] inquires to P.F. PO Box 7002 Missoula, MT of important articles drawn from mainstream We are located in Oakham, MA. 59807 or email [email protected]. media, scientific journals, newsletters, govern­ Get Certified with ABC's Herbal Informa­ ment documents and special reports. Receive Publications tion Course. This se lf-paced online course is hard copies of these rev iews, accompanied designed to help retail employees and multi­ by the original article (whe n permission is granted), through the HerbClip'" Educational American Herb Association Quarterly level distributors communicate knowledg­ Mailing Service. Available when yo u join Newsletter: $20/yr. AHA, P.O. Box 1673, ably with customers about herbs and dietary as an HerbClip Service Member. Or access Nevada City, CA 95959. supplements. After successfully completing more than 2800 rev iews through HerbClip'" Australian journal of Medical Herbalism: the course, yo u'll receive an Herbal Informa­ Online, a sea rchab le database updated twice quarterly publication of the National Herbal­ tion Speciali st Certificate and a window deca l monthly. Available when you join at desig­ ists Association of Austra li a (founded in 1920). announcing "Herbal Inform ation Speciali st nated Membership levels. To receive the fu ll Deals with all aspects of Medical Herbalism, On Staff." Renewable annuall y. $69.95 Bulk se rvice, contact Wayne Si lverman, PhD, including latest medicinal plant research pricing ava il able. www.herbtraining.com. Interns, Get hands-on experience before at 512/926-4900 ext. 120, or via e-mail at findings. Regular feat ures include Austra­ wayne@herbalgra m.org. lian med icinal plants, conferences, conference you graduate! If you're a futu re pharma-

ECHINACEA Mark Blumenthal is Founder and Exec­ 2006;No. 71:64-66. Continued from page 3 1 utive D irector of the American Botani­ 5. SPINSscan Natural and Conventional cal Council, Austin, Texas, and Editor of channels, 52 Weeks Ending June 12, Herba!Gram. 2004. eta!; or most likely, it would be different 6. Baum BR, Binns SE, Arnason JT. Inte­ Lowell E. Urbatsch, PhD, is Professor from both of these. grating recent knowledge about the From a commercial and market and D irector of Herbarium, Department genus Echinacea: morphology, molecular perspective, the suggested revisions and of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State systematics, phyrochemistry. Herbal­ reclassification of the species in the ge nus University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Gram. 2006;No. 72:32-46. 7. McGregor RL. The taxonomy of the Echinacea would obviously require an References ge nus Echinacea (Compositae) . Univ eventual re-labeling of the commercial I. Linnaeus C. Systema Naturae per regna Kansas Sci Bull. 1968;48:113-142. Echinacea products, a cost that will be of tria naturae, secundum classes, ordi: 8. Binns SE, Baum BR, Arnason JT. A dubious va lue to the industry and which genera, species, cum characteribus, diffi­ taxonomic revision of the genus Echin­ will no doubt produce added confusion rentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio acea (Helianrheae; Asteraceae). Syst Bot. to the consumer. Although such practical decimal, reformata. Holmiae: Laurentii 2002;27:610-632. commercial considerations are not a basis Sa lvi i; 1758. 9. Urbatsch LE, Neubig KM, Cox PB. for supporting or refuting the progress of 2. McGuffin M, Kartesz J, Leung A, Echinacea Moench, Methodus. Flora of North America. 2006;2 1 (online):43,64, basic science and the taxonomic interpre­ Tucker A. American Herbal Products 65,88. Available at: http://www.efloras. tations that may ensue, it is of obvious Association's Herbs of Commerce. 2nd ed. Si lver Spring, MD: American H erbal orglflorataxon.aspx?flora_id= I &raxon_ importance to the vast majority of those Products Association, 2000. id= 111203. Accessed September 25, who trade in those commercially viable 3. N uttall T. The Genera ofNorth American 2006. species of this popular genus (e.g., E. Plants and a Catalogue ofthe Species to 10. Mechanda SM, Baum BR, Johnson angustifolia, E. pallida, and E. purpurea). the Year 1817. Philadelphia: D. Heartt, DA, Arnason JT. Analysis of diversity Dr. Baum et al are to be congratulated 18 18. of natural populations and commercial for the quality of their investigations. 4. Blumenthal M, Ferrier GKL, Cavali ere lines of Echinacea using AFLP. Can J Bot. 2004;82:461-484. T he question is whether their proposal C. Total sa les of herbal supplements in rhe United States show steady should become officially accepted by growth: Sales in mass market channel science and then industry. HG show continued decline. HerbalGram.

HerbaiGram 72 2006 www.herbalgram.org The American Botanical Council proudly presents its newest publication: The Identification of Medicinal Plants A Handhook ofthe Morpholojy ofBotanicals in Commerce

The Identification of Medicinal Plants A HtuullwJ oftlte MPrJJ/rpft,IIV ,.,/d .t_ • .I • r · J/ "/ • PutJ1teats 111 u,111111erce