Raw materials and herbal products testing

Pesticides

While the increase of pesticides use can help to boost production, at the same time it can lead to the accumulation of harmful chemical residues in herbal products, therefore, trace-residue testing became a necessity. In the wake of the development and expansion of the use of pest control products – the European Pharmacopoeia implemented a norm ordering manufacturers to control pesticide residues in herbal products. So as to ensure the safety of herbal medicinal products and meet standards one must have a certificate to conduct pesticide residue testing.

Aflatoxins

Yet another serious health hazard for consumer can be posed by contamination of herbal drugs with carcinogenic aflatoxins. Belonging to a group of mycotoxins, aflatoxins are produced by certain molds.
Most common aflatoxins which are found on food products, including herbal materials, are aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2. They are carcinogenic, genotoxic and hepatotoxic. Among them aflatoxin B1 is considered the most toxic naturally occurring carcinogenic substance. Due its toxicity, manufacturers are obligated to meet restrictions of European Pharmacopoeia to analyze levels of aflatoxin B1 in herbal drugs. Monograph Ph. Eur. 01/2008:20818 gives the determination method of the aflatoxin B1 content in herbal drugs (“Determination of aflatoxin B1 in herbal drugs”).

At J.S. Hamilton Laboratories – we are continuously researching innovative testing methods that improve testing efficiency in cohesion with the guidelines of European Pharmacopoeia.