Black cohosh adulteration
Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa; synonym, Cimicifuga racemosa) was the subject of the latest article by the ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program, and published in ABC’s quarterly publication Herbalgram (2013;98:32-51).
"This issue of black cohosh adulteration is not new,” said Roy Upton, executive director of AHP. “The black cohosh monographs of AHP and the U.S. Pharmacopeia, as well as a number of analytical papers published the past few years, provide the primary tools needed by industry to develop appropriate specifications and implement the necessary quality control processes to keep adulterated materials from entering into the consumer product market.
“The key is to get this information disseminated to management, quality control, analytical, and purchasing personnel in the herb and dietary supplement industry. This is the goal of the Botanical Adulterants Program,” he added.
The adulterants program is a collaboration between the American Botanical Council, the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, and the National Center for Natural Products Research at the University of Mississippi, is supported by over 100 companies, independent laboratories, schools and institutes of natural medicine, media, law firms, and trade associations.