33
lots of supplements are not recommended for underaged persons or the elderly; and
(f) The individual capacity, because each person reacts differently in the face of
various substances (Oikonomou 2009). No supplement is innocent. For instance,
some overdose of fat-soluble vitamins causes hypervitaminosis. Protein overdose
damages kidneys and the liver. A lot of carbohydrate intake in the form of powder
can cause fat increase. A large dose of fatty acids may lead to some inability of the
organism to form some muscle proteins. Last but not least, performance-enhancing
drugs may cause endocrine disorders (Troesch et al. 2012).
Table 3.2 Commonly used botanical supplements, their primary active constituents and typical
uses
Scientific name
Common
name
Uses
Active
components
References
Genus Echinacea Echinacea Imuno-stimulant
Chicoric acid,
alkylamides
(Hermann and
von Richter
2012)
Allium sativum
Garlic
Antioxidant;
antihypertension
Allicin,
adenosine
(Hermann and
von Richter
2012)
Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgo
biloba
Memory improvement;
lowering blood pressure
Terpenoids
(ginkgolides)
(Mayo Clinic
2013a)
Panax ginseng
Ginseng
Overall health; antistress Ginsenosides
(Hermann and
von Richter
2012)
Camellia sinensis Green tea
extract
Antiproliferative;
antioxidant
Catechins
(ECGC, ECG)
(Chen et al.
2016)
Serenoa repens
Saw
palmetto
Treatment of benign
prostatic hypertrophy
Various
phytosterols
(Mayo Clinic
2013b)
Hypericum
perforatum
St. John’s
wort
Antidepressant
Hyperforin,
hypericin
(Mayo Clinic
2013c)
Silybum
marianum
Milk thistle DILI; high cholesterol
Silymarin
(Mayo Clinic
2013d)
Piper
methysticum
Kava kava Reducing anxiety
Kavalactones
(Teschke 2010)
Cimicifuga
racemosa, Actaea
racemose
Black
cohosh
Alleviating
postmenopausal
symptoms
Triterpene
glycosides
(Mayo Clinic
2013e)
Valeriana
officinalis
Valerian
Reducing anxiety
Valepotriates
(terpene
alcohols)
(Gharib et al.
2015)
Pausinystalia
yohimbe
Yohimbe
Stimulant; erectile
dysfunction treatment
Yohimbine
(Hermann and
von Richter
2012)
Hydrastis
canadensis
Goldenseal Treatment of cold/
respiratory infection;
alleviate menstrual
complications
Hydrastine,
berberine
(Hermann and
von Richter
2012)
3 Dietary Supplements: Types, Health Benefits, Industry and Regulation
lots of supplements are not recommended for underaged persons or the elderly; and
(f) The individual capacity, because each person reacts differently in the face of
various substances (Oikonomou 2009). No supplement is innocent. For instance,
some overdose of fat-soluble vitamins causes hypervitaminosis. Protein overdose
damages kidneys and the liver. A lot of carbohydrate intake in the form of powder
can cause fat increase. A large dose of fatty acids may lead to some inability of the
organism to form some muscle proteins. Last but not least, performance-enhancing
drugs may cause endocrine disorders (Troesch et al. 2012).
Table 3.2 Commonly used botanical supplements, their primary active constituents and typical
uses
Scientific name
Common
name
Uses
Active
components
References
Genus Echinacea Echinacea Imuno-stimulant
Chicoric acid,
alkylamides
(Hermann and
von Richter
2012)
Allium sativum
Garlic
Antioxidant;
antihypertension
Allicin,
adenosine
(Hermann and
von Richter
2012)
Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgo
biloba
Memory improvement;
lowering blood pressure
Terpenoids
(ginkgolides)
(Mayo Clinic
2013a)
Panax ginseng
Ginseng
Overall health; antistress Ginsenosides
(Hermann and
von Richter
2012)
Camellia sinensis Green tea
extract
Antiproliferative;
antioxidant
Catechins
(ECGC, ECG)
(Chen et al.
2016)
Serenoa repens
Saw
palmetto
Treatment of benign
prostatic hypertrophy
Various
phytosterols
(Mayo Clinic
2013b)
Hypericum
perforatum
St. John’s
wort
Antidepressant
Hyperforin,
hypericin
(Mayo Clinic
2013c)
Silybum
marianum
Milk thistle DILI; high cholesterol
Silymarin
(Mayo Clinic
2013d)
Piper
methysticum
Kava kava Reducing anxiety
Kavalactones
(Teschke 2010)
Cimicifuga
racemosa, Actaea
racemose
Black
cohosh
Alleviating
postmenopausal
symptoms
Triterpene
glycosides
(Mayo Clinic
2013e)
Valeriana
officinalis
Valerian
Reducing anxiety
Valepotriates
(terpene
alcohols)
(Gharib et al.
2015)
Pausinystalia
yohimbe
Yohimbe
Stimulant; erectile
dysfunction treatment
Yohimbine
(Hermann and
von Richter
2012)
Hydrastis
canadensis
Goldenseal Treatment of cold/
respiratory infection;
alleviate menstrual
complications
Hydrastine,
berberine
(Hermann and
von Richter
2012)
3 Dietary Supplements: Types, Health Benefits, Industry and Regulation