Standard Reference Materials For Ginkgo Biloba
Article Date: 19 Aug 2007 - 17:00 PDT
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued
a suite of Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) for ginkgo biloba, one
of the most popular dietary supplements in the marketplace, with
annual worldwide sales estimated at $1 billion.
The NIST reference materials are designed to help researchers
validate the accuracy of analytical methods for flavonoids and
terpene lactones (plant constituents that may be associated with the
perceived effectiveness of ginkgo) as well as toxic elements in
ginkgo*. In addition to supporting measurements associated with
clinical trials or verifying product label claims, the reference
materials also can be used by dietary supplement manufacturers to
improve product consistency.
The fruits and seeds of the female ginkgo are used for a variety of
purposes in traditional Chinese medicine. In the West, dietary
supplements are more commonly formulated from ginkgo leaves and
standardized leaf extracts. They are used in the treatment of asthma,
bronchitis, fatigue and tinnitus (ringing in the ears); for memory
improvement and for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's
disease, although these uses have not been backed by rigorous
clinical trials. Ginkgo biloba contains a family of chemical
constituents known as ginkgolides which have been associated with
reduced platelet aggregation. The National Institute of Health's
(NIH) National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
(NCCAM) notes promising results in a number of areas, but
says "larger, well-designed research studies are needed."
The new ginkgo reference materials include: SRM 3246 Ginkgo biloba
(leaves); SRM 3247 Ginkgo biloba Extract; and SRM 3248 Ginkgo-
Containing Tablets. In addition, the three ginkgo SRMs are available
packaged together as SRM 3249. The reference materials come with
certified values for five terpene lactones, three flavonoid aglycones
and four potentially toxic trace elements (arsenic, cadmium, lead and
mercury).
The goal of NIST's ongoing effort with dietary supplements such as
ginkgo biloba is to provide tools to the dietary supplement industry
and measurement communities that will lead to improved quality of
dietary supplements and the studies of their efficacy, as well as to
ultimately reduce public health risks that could potentially be
associated with the use of these products.
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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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Support for the development of the gingko-related SRMs was provided
in part by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary
Supplements (ODS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center
for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER).
For more information, see this PDF file.
* C.A. Rimmer, S.B. Howerton, K.E. Sharpless, L.C. Sander, S.E. Long,
K.E. Murphy, B.J. Porter, K. Putzbach, M.S. Rearick, S.A. Wise, L.J.
Wood, R. Zeisler, D.K. Hancock, J.H. Yen, J.M. Betz, A.N. Pho, L.
Yang, C. Scriver, S. Willie, R. Sturgeon, B. Schaneberg, C. Nelson,
J. Skamarack, M. Pan, K. Levanseler, D. Gray, E.H. Waysek, A. Blatter
and E. Reich. Characterization of a suite of ginkgo-containing
standard reference materials. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry.
Published online: 7 July 2007. DOI 10.1007/s00216-007-1398-5.
Source: John Blair
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
.
