Booker Anthony, Jalil Banaz, Frommenwiler Debora, Reich Eike, Zhai Lixiang, Kulic Zarko, Heinrich Michael
Research Cluster Biodiversity and Medicines/Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, Brunswick Square, London, UK.
CAMAG AG, 4132 Muttenz, Switzerland.
Phytomedicine. 2016 Jun 15;23(7):754-62. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2015.10.006. Epub 2015 Oct 31.
Rhodiola rosea L. Crassulaceae, root (Golden Root, Arctic Root) is a high-value herbal medicinal product, registered in the UK for the treatment of stress-induced fatigue, exhaustion and anxiety based on traditional use and used throughout Europe as a herbal medicinal product for similar indications. Numerous unregistered supplements are also available. There are several Chinese species used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), including Rhodiola crenulata (Hook.f. & Thomoson) that is believed to be a common adulterant in the R. rosea value chain.
The project is embedded in a larger study aiming to investigate the diverse value chains that lead to the production of R. rosea as an herbal medicinal product or supplement. Here we focus on a comparison of the quality of the finished products and assess any phytochemical variation between products registered under the Traditional Herbal Medicine Products Directive (THMPD) and products obtained from the market without any registration (i.e. generally unlicensed supplements). Our key aim is to establish the extent of the problem in terms of adulteration of consumer products claiming to contain R. rosea (or R. crenulata).
Approximately 40 commercial products (granulated powders and extracts) were sourced from different suppliers. We analysed these samples using high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC), mass spectrometry (MS) and (1)H NMR spectroscopy coupled with multi-variate analysis software following a method previously developed by our group for the analysis of turmeric products.
We investigate the phytochemistry of the different species and assess the potential of R. crenulata as an adulterant at the end of the R. rosea value chains. The consistency of the products varies significantly. Approximately one fifth of commercial products that claimed to be R. rosea did not contain rosavin (the key reference markers used to distinguish R. rosea from related species). Moreover some products appeared not to contain salidroside, another marker compound found in other Rhodiola species. Approximately 80% of the remaining commercial products were lower in rosavin content than the registered products and appeared to be adulterated with other Rhodiola species.
The variation in phytochemical constituents present in Rhodiola products available to European buyers via the internet and other sources is a major cause for concern. Adulteration with different species, and other sometimes unknown adulterants, appears to be commonplace. Good quality systems and manufacturing practices, including those required under the THMPD, enable consumers to have confidence that products are authentic and meet a high specification for quality and safety.
红景天属景天科植物，其根（黄金根、北极根）是一种高价值的草药产品，在英国基于传统用途注册用于治疗压力引起的疲劳、疲惫和焦虑，在欧洲各地作为具有类似适应症的草药产品使用。也有许多未注册的补充剂。在传统中药（TCM）中有几种中国红景天属植物被使用，包括大花红景天（Hook.f. & Thomoson），它被认为是红景天价值链中常见的掺假物。
该项目是一项更大规模研究的一部分，旨在调查导致红景天作为草药产品或补充剂生产的不同价值链。在此，我们重点比较成品的质量，并评估根据传统草药产品指令（THMPD）注册的产品与从市场上获得的未注册产品（即一般无许可证的补充剂）之间的任何植物化学差异。我们的主要目的是确定声称含有红景天（或大花红景天）的消费品掺假问题的严重程度。
从不同供应商处采购了约40种商业产品（颗粒粉末和提取物）。我们按照我们小组先前开发的用于分析姜黄产品的方法，使用高效薄层色谱（HPTLC）、质谱（MS）和（1）H NMR光谱并结合多变量分析软件对这些样品进行了分析。
我们研究了不同物种的植物化学性质，并评估了大花红景天在红景天价值链末端作为掺假物的可能性。产品的一致性差异很大。约五分之一声称是红景天的商业产品不含红景天苷（用于区分红景天与相关物种的关键参考标记物）。此外，一些产品似乎不含红景天苷，这是在其他红景天属物种中发现的另一种标记化合物。其余约80%的商业产品红景天苷含量低于注册产品，似乎掺有其他红景天属物种。
欧洲消费者通过互联网和其他渠道购买的红景天产品中植物化学成分的差异令人高度担忧。用不同物种以及其他有时未知的掺假物进行掺假似乎很常见。良好的质量体系和生产规范，包括THMPD要求的那些，能让消费者相信产品是正宗的，并且在质量和安全方面符合高标准。
