Planta Med 2015; 81 - PG2
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1556233

Pharmacopeial methods for potential confounding herbal medicines

C Ma 1, NC Kim 1, GI Giancaspro 1
  • 1Department of Foods, Dietary Supplements, and Herbal Medicines, U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention, 12601 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville MD, 20852

In order to promote the quality of herbal medicines, USP launched Herbal Medicine Compendium (HMC) in May 2013. The monographs in HMC include selective analytical procedures to reduce the possibility of adulteration by substitutes with potential confounders, mainly based on chromatographic techniques, such as, HPLC, UPLC, HPTLC. We present examples in this work based on the monographs developed for Lonicera japonica Flower, Schisandra chinensis Fruit, Polygonum multiflorum Root, Antrodia camphorata Fruiting Body and Terminalia chebula Fruit. Orthogonality between HPLC and HPTLC procedures provide greater assurances in this matter. The HPLC and HPTLC identification sections of the monograph efficiently distinguish the potential confounding materials for each plant.