The overarching principle for the identification of natural starting materials is traceability to a main supply or certified herb.
Identification testing must discriminate between related species and/or potential adulterants/substitutes which can be more likely to be current.
The manufacturers specs for identification testing utilizing chromatographic strategies should be in step with the rules described in Australian Regulatory Guidelines for Complementary Medicines (ARGCM) Part III – Section 4.7.3 – Profile Chromatogram Interpretation.
On this page: Herbal supplies (excluding extracts) | Herbal extracts | Flow chart: Identification of Herbal Materials1 (excluding extracts) | Flow Chart: Identification of Herbal Extracts1
A. Herbal materials 1 (excluding extracts)
1 Whole, fragmented or minimize (including chopped), plants, components of plants (including leaves, roots, flowers, seeds, bark and so on), in an unprocessed state, often in dried kind. For the purposes of this steering document, natural powders (natural materials which are dried and ground to powders) are also included on this definition.
1. What testing is required to identify these materials?
Identification tests needs to be specific for the natural material and are usually a mix of three or extra of the following:
– macroscopic characters
– microscopic characters
– chromatographic procedures
– chemical reactions.
Manufacturers ought to check with the particular herbal materials monographs in the current British Pharmacopoeia (BP) for the vary of assessments often employed. More info on the range of checks required can also be outlined in the ARGCM Appendix – Herbal Ingredients – Quality.
2. What do I compare my consignment of herbal material with?
Comparison should be made against:
– the current scientific literature (see Questions 3 and 4); and/or
– an authenticated reference specimen (see Questions 5 and 6).
3. What literature must I adjust to?
Where there’s a BP monograph, this must be adopted. All identification tests in the monograph must be complied with. In this case an authenticated voucher specimen is just not important.
4. What if there is no BP monograph?
If there is no such thing as a BP monograph, manufacturers ought to use the scientific literature (together with current editions of different National Pharmacopoeias2) to choose an authoritative source3.
Having selected an authoritative literature source3, it is then essential to perform a comparative analysis between the consignment and the literature reference. All morphological testing have to be finished by a person suitably qualified in the sphere of botanical examination (who may or might not be independent of the producer of the extract).
3 To be thought of suitable as an authoritative literature source, the content should mirror the sorts and ranges of checks found in the present BP (including botanical examination and chromatographic profile). Such sources should clearly state that the identification exams had been performed on an authenticated reference specimen. Any chemical identification testing not carried out utilizing BP / National Pharmacopoeia should be validated for specificity (see the Identification subsection for Herbal Materials in the ARGCM Appendix – Herbal Ingredients – Quality. Further info on the sorts of tests required is also contained within the EMEA guideline – Note for Guidance on Specifications: Test Procedures and Acceptance Criteria for Herbal Drugs, Herbal Drug Preparations and Herbal Medicinal Products (CPMP/QWP/2820/00).
5. What’s an authenticated reference specimen?
It is a specimen that has been certified by an individual suitably certified in the sphere of botanical authentication. If the reference specimen shouldn’t be the whole plant, it should contain the identical part of the plant as that requiring identification, (eg. root compared to root and leaf in comparison with leaf).
6. Is a comparative botanical examination of my consignment versus the authenticated reference specimen ample for identification purposes?
No. The range of tests which can be typically included within the monograph of the current BP for the natural material, should be carried out (eg. organoleptic, bodily and chemical as well as morphological exams are often required). See Question 1.
7. Do all consignments of natural material require full testing?
Each consignment is required to be recognized and the id take a look at(s) must be unambiguous. See Question 1. The standard rules regarding diminished/rotational testing for other parameters apply.
Note: Unless the supplier has been validated, the Code of GMP requires every container to be sampled and tested for identification.
B. Herbal extracts
8. What identification testing is necessary for natural extracts?
There are three options obtainable:
– comparability with descriptions in the current scientific literature (see Questions 9, 10 and 11); or
– chromatographic comparison against an authenticated reference specimen (see Question 12); or
– chromatographic comparability against a reference extract (see Question 13).
9. What do I take advantage of because the reference for comparability?
Where there’s a BP monograph, this must be adopted. All identification checks in the monograph should be complied with.
10. What if there isn’t any BP monograph?
Other National Pharmacopoeias2 could also be used.
2 National Pharmacopoeias such as the European, herbal protein United States (of America), Chinese, German, Indian and Japanese and so on. The pharmacopoeias must be issued by or endorsed by the related authorities authority. (Note that the word ‘pharmacopoeia’ in the title of a text does not mean it’s a government-endorsed textual content). Sponsors ought to contact the Office of Complementary Medicines (OCM) if they are not sure as to the suitability of a pharmacopoeia.
11. Can I use different literature sources?
Generally no, as a result of there isn’t a assurance that the right species of herb has been used. However, a literature supply would be thought of acceptable if:
– it describes the authenticated specimen; and
– it clearly states that the identification exams within the literature supply had been performed on an authenticated specimen; and
– the extraction course of used to obtain the extract from the authenticated herb within the literature source matches that used to obtain the consignment extract.
12. Is it valid to match the chromatographic profile of an extract to that of an authenticated reference specimen?
A laboratory extract prepared from an authenticated reference specimen could also be used for a chromatographic comparability if the outcomes of the comparison point out that the extraction process applied to the reference herb has reproduced the manufacturing course of used for the herbal extract (www.openlearning.com) consignment. Otherwise the chromatographic comparability may not present unambiguous identification of the consignment extract.
13. Can I exploit a reference extract solely to establish my consignment of extract?
Yes, so long as there is documentation out there which traces the reference extract again to an authenticated reference specimen.
14. How do I know that the extract producer used the right herb to prepare the consignment extract?
The producer of the extract should perform the identification of the natural materials, according to the factors described in Question 1. It is necessary to hold the documentation (see the Complementary Medicines Australia Code of Practice for Ensuring Raw Material Quality & Safety for steering on appropriate documentation) that supports the traceability of the consignment extract again to an authenticated herb.
15. Can I use chemical markers in the extract to affirm the identification of the herb that was used to prepare the extract?
Generally No. This is mostly solely a partial identification and is vulnerable to giving misleading information unless the chemical markers are unique to the herbal species and plant half under investigation (eg. the ginkgolides and herbal protein powder bilobalide current in Ginkgo biloba). Accordingly, the use of caffeine as a marker for Paullinia cupana shouldn’t be, by itself, appropriate to unambiguously identify this species.
16. Is it necessary to establish the herb used in an extract containing standardised portions of a part(s)?
Yes. Quantifying the standardised ingredient by itself, is just not ample.
17. Is it acceptable to check a consignment of extract to a previous consignment of the extract?
No. All consignments must be identified in accordance with this steerage doc. The potential for rising variability as each extract is further distanced from the original comparator may result in mis-identification.
Flow chart: Identification of Herbal Materials1 (excluding extracts)
The comparison must embrace three or extra of the following:
– macroscopical characters
– microscopical characters
– chromatographic procedures
– chemical reactions.
A suitably certified person4 must carry out a comparative evaluation between the consignment and the authenticated reference specimen.
1 Whole, fragmented or minimize (together with chopped), plants, elements of plants (including leaves, roots, flowers, seeds, bark etc), in an unprocessed state, usually in dried type. For the needs of this stream chart, herbal powders (herbal material that is dried and floor to a powder) are also included on this definition.
2 To be thought-about suitable as an authoritative literature source, the content should mirror the sorts and ranges of tests present in the current BP (including botanical examination and chromatographic profile) and clearly state that the identification tests within the literature supply were performed on an authenticated specimen. Any chemical id testing not carried out using BP / National Pharmacopoeia have to be validated for specificity (see the Identification subsection for Herbal Materials within the ARGCM Appendix – Herbal Ingredients – Quality).
Three A herb evaluated and certified by a certified person (see footnote 4).
4 An individual suitably certified in the field of botanical authentication is important for the morphological examination of samples. The certified individual could or may not be impartial of the manufacturer.
5 National Pharmacopoeias include European, United States (of America), Chinese, German, Indian, Japanese etc. The pharmacopoeias must be issued by or endorsed by the relevant government authority. (Note that the phrase ‘pharmacopoeia’ within the title of a text doesn’t imply it’s a government-endorsed textual content). Sponsors should contact the Office of Complementary Medicines (OCM) if they are unsure as to the suitability of a pharmacopoeia.
Flow Chart: Identification of Herbal Extracts1
(this does not replace the need to comply with related statutory necessities)
An authenticated herb could also be used for a chromatographic comparability if the results of the comparability point out that the extraction process utilized to the reference herb has reproduced the manufacturing course of used on the consignment of extract.
NB. An extract recognized in this way could be designated as a in-home reference extract for identification functions.
Comparison in opposition to a (present version of a) National Pharmacopoeia2 which incorporates a monograph for the extract.
The National Pharmacopoeia2 should additionally comprise a monograph for the herbal raw material.
Compliance with all identification checks within the relevant monograph (together with, where relevant, organoleptic, chemical and bodily assessments) is required.
Comparison against a one other literature source could be acceptable if:
– the supply described the authenticated specimen; and
– it clearly states that the identification tests within the literature source had been carried out on an authenticated specimen; and
– the extraction process used to obtain the extract from the authenticated herb in the literature source matches that used to obtain the consignment extract.
1 For the purposes of this circulate chart, tinctures, expressed juices and exudates are also included in this definition.
2 National Pharmacopoeias embrace the European, United States (of America), Chinese, German, Indian, Japanese etc. The pharmacopoeias should be issued by or endorsed by the related authorities authority. (Note that the phrase ‘pharmacopoeia’ within the title of a textual content doesn’t mean it’s a authorities-endorsed textual content). Sponsors should contact the Office of Complementary Medicines (OCM) if they are uncertain as to the suitability of a pharmacopoeia.
Three A herb evaluated and certified by a suitably qualified particular person. NB. The morphological examination should be carried out by a person qualified in the sphere of botanical authentication. Qualified persons may or might not be unbiased of the producer.
