Aflatoxin and quintozene testing of herbs

[Guest guest]

I've been looking at the testing of herbs by manufacturers and, out of

9 companies (from whom I buy herbal products), only 1 shows testing for

aflatoxins and quintozene on their Certificates of Analysis. I am

surprised by this since I thought those 2 contaminants were

particularly toxic and have been found in CH. I imagine it's very

expensive to do the testing and that may have something to do with it,

but I don't know much about the subject. I'm inclined to favor,

heavily, the company who does that testing and put some other

considerations aside.

Marian

[Guest guest]

Marian,

 

A quality manufacturer will test all their raw materials for

quintozene and other pesticides/fungicides, as well as heavy metals.

It is not that expensive for a large manufacturer.

 

To give you an idea of how a responsible manufacturer approaches the

subject, the American Herbal Products Association has a standard for

quintozene in ginseng. Below is an excerpt from the AHPA Code of

Ethics, which their members agree to follow.

 

- Bill

 

 

" AHPA recommends that processor and manufacturer members analyze

cultivated ginseng (Panax spp.) by an appropriately validated

analytical method at an appropriate and relevant limit of detection

for the presence of quintozene and related compounds, including known

degradants and impurities of quintozene, and also for the presence of

difenoconazole; and further, that the analyses identified herein be

performed by qualified analytical labs using validated analytical

methods; and further, that bulk lots of ginseng be accompanied by a

certificate that provides actual test results for quintozene and its

degradants, and for difenoconazole; and further, that in lieu of

analysis by the processor or manufacturer, the accompanying

certificate identified above may be accepted from a supplier provided

that the processor or manufacturer establishes the reliability of the

supplier's analysis; provided that, any cultivated ginseng that is

produced in a manner that assures that the ginseng is free of

quintozene and related compounds and of difenoconazole is exempted

from this recommendation.

 

NOTE: Contact the AHPA staff for information to assist in identifying

an appropriately validated method for the purpose described in this

trade recommendation. "

 

 

 

 

, " Marian Blum, L.Ac., DNBAO "

<chinesemed wrote:

>

> I've been looking at the testing of herbs by manufacturers and, out of

> 9 companies (from whom I buy herbal products), only 1 shows testing for

> aflatoxins and quintozene on their Certificates of Analysis. I am

> surprised by this since I thought those 2 contaminants were

> particularly toxic and have been found in CH. I imagine it's very

> expensive to do the testing and that may have something to do with it,

> but I don't know much about the subject. I'm inclined to favor,

> heavily, the company who does that testing and put some other

> considerations aside.

> Marian

>

[Guest guest]

I've heard about quintozene testing for ginseng, but for all herbs?

Is quintozene used in many Chinese herbs?

I thought that it was mainly only an issue for ginseng.

 

K

 

 

On Mon, Feb 9, 2009 at 9:36 PM, bill_schoenbart <plantmed2 wrote:

 

> Marian,

>

> A quality manufacturer will test all their raw materials for

> quintozene and other pesticides/fungicides, as well as heavy metals.

> It is not that expensive for a large manufacturer.

>

> To give you an idea of how a responsible manufacturer approaches the

> subject, the American Herbal Products Association has a standard for

> quintozene in ginseng. Below is an excerpt from the AHPA Code of

> Ethics, which their members agree to follow.

>

> - Bill

>

> " AHPA recommends that processor and manufacturer members analyze

> cultivated ginseng (Panax spp.) by an appropriately validated

> analytical method at an appropriate and relevant limit of detection

> for the presence of quintozene and related compounds, including known

> degradants and impurities of quintozene, and also for the presence of

> difenoconazole; and further, that the analyses identified herein be

> performed by qualified analytical labs using validated analytical

> methods; and further, that bulk lots of ginseng be accompanied by a

> certificate that provides actual test results for quintozene and its

> degradants, and for difenoconazole; and further, that in lieu of

> analysis by the processor or manufacturer, the accompanying

> certificate identified above may be accepted from a supplier provided

> that the processor or manufacturer establishes the reliability of the

> supplier's analysis; provided that, any cultivated ginseng that is

> produced in a manner that assures that the ginseng is free of

> quintozene and related compounds and of difenoconazole is exempted

> from this recommendation.

>

[Guest guest]

I've only heard about quintozene use in ginseng but I'm no expert.

Ginseng is prevalent enough in formulas that that may be why it's

routinely tested for, by this one company, anyway. Aflatoxin can affect

many herbs like Suan zao ren, bai zi ren, xing ren. M

 

, <johnkokko

wrote:

>

> I've heard about quintozene testing for ginseng, but for all herbs?

> Is quintozene used in many Chinese herbs?

> I thought that it was mainly only an issue for ginseng.

>

> K

[Guest guest]

Thank you. I imagine that if an herb formula manufacturer's raw

materials have been tested for quintozene, then the finished product

would not need that test and so, the COA wouldn't show it. M

 

, " bill_schoenbart "

<plantmed2 wrote:

>

> Marian,

>

> A quality manufacturer will test all their raw materials for

> quintozene and other pesticides/fungicides, as well as heavy metals.

> It is not that expensive for a large manufacturer.

>

> To give you an idea of how a responsible manufacturer approaches the

> subject, the American Herbal Products Association has a standard for

> quintozene in ginseng. Below is an excerpt from the AHPA Code of

> Ethics, which their members agree to follow.

>

> - Bill

>

>

> " AHPA recommends that processor and manufacturer members analyze

> cultivated ginseng (Panax spp.) by an appropriately validated

> analytical method at an appropriate and relevant limit of detection

> for the presence of quintozene and related compounds, including

known

> degradants and impurities of quintozene, and also for the presence

of

> difenoconazole; and further, that the analyses identified herein be

> performed by qualified analytical labs using validated analytical

> methods; and further, that bulk lots of ginseng be accompanied by a

> certificate that provides actual test results for quintozene and its

> degradants, and for difenoconazole; and further, that in lieu of

> analysis by the processor or manufacturer, the accompanying

> certificate identified above may be accepted from a supplier

provided

> that the processor or manufacturer establishes the reliability of

the

> supplier's analysis; provided that, any cultivated ginseng that is

> produced in a manner that assures that the ginseng is free of

> quintozene and related compounds and of difenoconazole is exempted

> from this recommendation.

>

> NOTE: Contact the AHPA staff for information to assist in

identifying

> an appropriately validated method for the purpose described in this

> trade recommendation. "

>

>

>

>

> , " Marian Blum, L.Ac.,

DNBAO "

> <chinesemed@> wrote:

> >

> > I've been looking at the testing of herbs by manufacturers and,

out of

> > 9 companies (from whom I buy herbal products), only 1 shows

testing for

> > aflatoxins and quintozene on their Certificates of Analysis. I am

> > surprised by this since I thought those 2 contaminants were

> > particularly toxic and have been found in CH. I imagine it's very

> > expensive to do the testing and that may have something to do

with it,

> > but I don't know much about the subject. I'm inclined to favor,

> > heavily, the company who does that testing and put some other

> > considerations aside.

> > Marian

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Its not in their CVAa

 

 

400 29th St. Suite 419

Oakland Ca 94609

 

 

 

alonmarcus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Since quintozene residue of any amount is not allowed in herbs in the

U.S., and since it is frequently used in ginseng to prevent mold, it

is specifically looked for. Unfortunately, quintozene and other

pesticides can be found in other herbs. See article below.

 

- Bill

 

 

 

 

Systematic evaluation of organochlorine pesticide residues in Chinese

materia

medica.

 

Leung KS, Chan K, Chan CL, Lu GH.

Phytother Res. 2005 Jun;19(6):514-8.

 

 

A systematic evaluation on the levels of organochlorine pesticide

residues (OCP) was conducted on four selected, authentic Chinese

materia medica, namely: Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Radix Notoginseng,

Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae and Radix Ginseng. Altogether ten

representative batches of samples were analysed for each herb. Six

batches were collected in the major cultivation areas of the Mainland

whilst the remaining four batches were procured in the Hong Kong

herbal market. All except Radix Angelicae Sinensis have been

identified as containing quintozene

and hexachlorocyclohexane in various levels. Hexachlorobenzene and

lindane were also reported in samples of Radix Ginseng. The banned

pesticide, DDT and its derivatives, was also observed in one of the

Radix Notoginseng samples. The investigation will be continued for a

target list of common used herbs in Hong Kong. All the results will be

gathered and analysed for setting up regulatory permissible limits of

OCP residues in Chinese materia medica used in Hong Kong.

 

 

 

, " Marian Blum, L.Ac., DNBAO "

<chinesemed wrote:

>

> I've only heard about quintozene use in ginseng but I'm no expert.

> Ginseng is prevalent enough in formulas that that may be why it's

> routinely tested for, by this one company, anyway. Aflatoxin can affect

> many herbs like Suan zao ren, bai zi ren, xing ren. M

>

> , <johnkokko@>

> wrote:

> >

> > I've heard about quintozene testing for ginseng, but for all herbs?

> > Is quintozene used in many Chinese herbs?

> > I thought that it was mainly only an issue for ginseng.

> >

> > K

>