19
2.3.1 Herbal Nutraceutical Safety and Regulation
The processes of manufacturing and the quality of plant material used for herbal
nutraceuticals are under the regulations of food laws, which are deficient of the
specificity required for botanical drugs. This indeed may have serious consequences.
Toxin contamination like fungal and bacterial toxins, adulterations and numerous
other types of impurity of herbal nutraceuticals conceivably remain undetected simply because there is an almost total absence of specific quality control. Lack of
quality control not only increases the potential threats to the consumer, it may also
result in a total lack of the drive to conduct suitable research that determines the
possible benefits of nutraceuticals or ensures their safety (Ernst 2001).
Table 2.1 (continued)
Biological Name
Common
Name
Part of
the Plant
Bioactive
compounds
Benefits to Health
8 Cassia angustifolia
(Leguminosae)
Senna
Leaves
Sennosides
Purgative
9 Echinacea purpurea
(Asteraceae)
Echinacea Leaves
Alkylamide and
echinacoside
Antiviral, antiinflammatory and
immunomodulator
10 Glycyrrhizaglabra
(leguminosae)
Liquorice Root
Glycyrrhizin and
liquirtin
Anti-inflammatory and
anti-allergic.
11 Hydrastiscanadensis
L. (Ranunculaceae)
Goldenseal Root
Hydrastine
berberine and
canadine
Antimicrobial,
astringent,
antihemorrhagic,
treatment of mucosal
inflammation, dyspepsia,
gastritis
12 Marrubiumvulgare
L. (Lamiaceae)
Horehound Whole
plant
11-oxomarrubiin
and
vulgarcoside A
Expectorant, antitussive,
choleretic
13 Salix alba
L. (Salicaceae)
White
Willow
Bark
Salicin
Antiinflammatory,
analgesic, antipyretic,
astringent, treatment of
rheumatic and arthritic.
14 Hypericumperforatum
(Hypericaceae)
St. John’s
wort
Aerial
part
Hypericin and
hyperforin
Antidepressant, against
HIV and hepatitis-c
virus
15 Valerianaofficinalis
Linn. (Valerianaceae)
Valeriana Root
Valerenic acid
and valerate
Menstrual pain,
intestinal cramps,
bronchial spasm,
tranquillizer, migraine
16 Aeglemarmelos Corr.
(Rutaceae)
Bael
Unripe
fruits
Marmelosin
Treatment of diarrhea
and dysentery, digestive,
appetizer.
Source: Modified from Chauhan et al. (2013). https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
2 Nutraceuticals: History, Classification and Market Demand
2.3.1 Herbal Nutraceutical Safety and Regulation
The processes of manufacturing and the quality of plant material used for herbal
nutraceuticals are under the regulations of food laws, which are deficient of the
specificity required for botanical drugs. This indeed may have serious consequences.
Toxin contamination like fungal and bacterial toxins, adulterations and numerous
other types of impurity of herbal nutraceuticals conceivably remain undetected simply because there is an almost total absence of specific quality control. Lack of
quality control not only increases the potential threats to the consumer, it may also
result in a total lack of the drive to conduct suitable research that determines the
possible benefits of nutraceuticals or ensures their safety (Ernst 2001).
Table 2.1 (continued)
Biological Name
Common
Name
Part of
the Plant
Bioactive
compounds
Benefits to Health
8 Cassia angustifolia
(Leguminosae)
Senna
Leaves
Sennosides
Purgative
9 Echinacea purpurea
(Asteraceae)
Echinacea Leaves
Alkylamide and
echinacoside
Antiviral, antiinflammatory and
immunomodulator
10 Glycyrrhizaglabra
(leguminosae)
Liquorice Root
Glycyrrhizin and
liquirtin
Anti-inflammatory and
anti-allergic.
11 Hydrastiscanadensis
L. (Ranunculaceae)
Goldenseal Root
Hydrastine
berberine and
canadine
Antimicrobial,
astringent,
antihemorrhagic,
treatment of mucosal
inflammation, dyspepsia,
gastritis
12 Marrubiumvulgare
L. (Lamiaceae)
Horehound Whole
plant
11-oxomarrubiin
and
vulgarcoside A
Expectorant, antitussive,
choleretic
13 Salix alba
L. (Salicaceae)
White
Willow
Bark
Salicin
Antiinflammatory,
analgesic, antipyretic,
astringent, treatment of
rheumatic and arthritic.
14 Hypericumperforatum
(Hypericaceae)
St. John’s
wort
Aerial
part
Hypericin and
hyperforin
Antidepressant, against
HIV and hepatitis-c
virus
15 Valerianaofficinalis
Linn. (Valerianaceae)
Valeriana Root
Valerenic acid
and valerate
Menstrual pain,
intestinal cramps,
bronchial spasm,
tranquillizer, migraine
16 Aeglemarmelos Corr.
(Rutaceae)
Bael
Unripe
fruits
Marmelosin
Treatment of diarrhea
and dysentery, digestive,
appetizer.
Source: Modified from Chauhan et al. (2013). https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
2 Nutraceuticals: History, Classification and Market Demand