Analytic Tests

Herbs often get standardized to a particular constituent(s),
but later it is necessary to include other equally active or
more active constituents to the standardized product.
Examples are Valerian which has been standardized to
various constituents over time such as essential oils,
valepotriates, and valerenic acid. Another example is
Hypericum which was standardized to hypericin alone
before it was known how important hyperforin and
bioflavones were.
Herbs often get standardized to a particular constituent(s),
but later it is necessary to include other equally active or
more active constituents to the standardized product.
Examples are Valerian which has been standardized to
various constituents over time such as essential oils,
valepotriates, and valerenic acid. Another example is
Hypericum which was standardized to hypericin alone
before it was known how important hyperforin and
bioflavones were.
Analytic Tests
Since there is no universally accepted analytical tests
for herbal constituents, different tests for the same
constituent produce varying results, making it impossible
to compare products. There is also disagreement as to
what should be tested. For example, different companies
may be testing different substances in a particular herb.
This does not allow for comparison between the products.
Some analytical tests actually produce false positives
and/or negatives. The German standard of analysis to
test hypericin content in Hypericum has been the UV/
VIS spectrapscopic method. Red food coloring added to
the test material can yield a false positive that the
constituent is present when in fact it is not. Some labs
in the US also use this testing method. It is extremely
easy for an unethical herbal company to sell standardized
Hypericum extract that in reality is a standardized red
food coloring extract.
Since there is no universally accepted analytical tests
for herbal constituents, different tests for the same
constituent produce varying results, making it impossible
to compare products. There is also disagreement as to
what should be tested. For example, different companies
may be testing different substances in a particular herb.
This does not allow for comparison between the products.
Some analytical tests actually produce false positives
and/or negatives. The German standard of analysis to
test hypericin content in Hypericum has been the UV/
VIS spectrapscopic method. Red food coloring added to
the test material can yield a false positive that the
constituent is present when in fact it is not. Some labs
in the US also use this testing method. It is extremely
easy for an unethical herbal company to sell standardized
Hypericum extract that in reality is a standardized red
food coloring extract.