In March, the ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program released its third issue of the Botanical Adulterants Monitor, an e-newsletter intended to provide relevant stakeholders with the latest news and information regarding the adulteration, identity, and quality of botanical raw materials, extracts, essential oils, and related plant-based materials used in consumer products.

The new edition of the Monitor contains the latest news from the ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program, updates and commentaries on the regulatory activities of the New York Attorney General, plus summaries of recently published scientific papers about tests conducted on botanical materials to determine the presence of adulterants.

The Science Update section in the Monitor’s third issue focuses on the authentication of proanthocyanidin-containing botanical ingredients, such as grape (Vitis vinifera, Vitaceae) seed extract and cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon, Ericaceae).

Also included are discussions of new papers on methods to determine the authenticity of true cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum, Lauraceae), the morphological identification of Moldavian dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica, Lamiaceae), and suspected adulteration of plants used in traditional Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani medicine, among others.

The newsletter is compiled and edited by Stefan Gafner, PhD, chief science officer of ABC and technical director of the Botanical Adulterants Program.

The Botanical Adulterants Monitor contains timely information and updates that persons with responsibilities in regulatory, quality control, purchasing, and related departments of commercial businesses, as well as other colleagues in academia, health professions, and/or government agencies will find both interesting and useful. Articles are freely available from the Botanical Adulterants Program homepage on the American Botanical Council’s website for all registered users. Registration information is available on ABC’s website, www.herbalgram.org.

The third issue (March 2015) of the Monitor is available at http://cms.herbalgram.org/BAP/BAM/issue3.html.

The second issue (November 2014) is available at http://cms.herbalgram.org/BAP/BAM/issue2.html.

The first issue (June 2014) is available at cms.herbalgram.org/BAP/BAM/index.html.