HerbResearch

The quality of herbal raw material starts in the field. Unfortunately the information regarding the origin of natural compounds is often lost in the complex trading channels. E.g., Spanish saffron (Crocus sativus) is more often than not a product from the Middle East, "Siberian ginseng" (Eleutherococcus senticosus) comes from China or Korea, and the South African plant Hoodia gordonii is often collected from the species Opuntia ficus-indica in Mexico, which is, however, devoid of active constituents.Only recently, new EU directives concerning food and herbal drugs called for the identification of the origin of the herbal substance, based on the WHO guideline "Good Agricultural and Collection Practice". Through our activities and our international contacts we are, with a relatively small effort, able to organise projects aimed on the traceability and quality of herbal raw materials. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants R&D has been organising corresponding projects in the sense of these guidelines for decades.

Projects aimed on the avoidance of adulterations

Adulterations are a consequence of obscure commercial pathways, especially when the herbal substance is either very rare or very expensive.

Examples

Saffron (Crocus sativus) is one of the most expensive spices worldwide. Correspondingly, the number of adulterations described for saffron is rather high. With saffron originating exclusively from cultivation, projects aimed on securing
quality and traceability of various cultivars of saffron are the obvious solution.

 

 

Galbanum, a resin of Ferula gummosa mainly used in cosmetology, but also known for its medicinal virtues, is frequently adulterated with resins from Dorema ammoniacum or Ferula asa-foetida. Galbanum exclusively originates from wild crafting. We organised a project of controlled collection under conditions securing the survival of the plant as well as the purity of the raw material.

 

 

 

 

 

Rose water from Damascene rose (Rosa damascena) neither originates from Damascus, nor - frequently - from roses. The true origin of Damascene rose is Persia. Rose water is frequently prepared by mixing water with synthetic aromatic compounds. Likewise, inferior rose oil is often "ameliorated" by various synthetic or natural additives. We are able to organise authentic and high quality rose water and rose oil in high quantities- with full traceability.

 

Projects aimed on securing traceability of herbal raw material are not only a chance for the optimisation of raw material quality, but also a chance to get rid of typical adulterants in the commercial channels.

Cultivation and organisation of controlled collection

According to EU directive 178/2002/EC a complete documentation of the origin of plant material used for the production of food (and also of food supplements) is required. Similar requirements can be found in the registration process of herbal medicinal products.

Origin and quality of the herbal raw material can be guaranteed in projects oriented at the WHO guideline "Good Agricultural and Collection Practice". According to the specific needs this can be reached through projects of controlled cultivation, or otherwise controlled collection. Both types of projects secure the quality of herbal raw material, help to avoid accidental adulterations, and stop fraudulent adulterations in the trading channels.

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