Standard Reference Materials For Ginkgo Biloba

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Standard Reference Materials For Ginkgo Biloba

 

Article 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)