AHPA updates nine entries to the online Botanical Safety Handbook, 2nd ed., in final 2024 release

• By: AHPA
• On: 12/19/2024 20:02:02
• In: AHPA Publications & Resources

Cordyceps and Angelica entries included in this final quarterly update

December 19, 2024

In this last quarter of 2024, the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) has released updates to nine more botanicals via the online Botanical Safety Handbook, 2nd ed. For this year, 17 entries in the online Botanical Safety Handbook have been updated, and two have been added. Since 2018, when revisions to the online Botanical Safety Handbook were initiated, 166 entries have been updated and nine new entries have been added.
 
The following online entries have been updated or added in this release:

• Angelica dahurica (fragrant angelica) – A literature review added a human pharmacology study and cytotoxicity studies.

• Angelica pubescens (pubescent angelica) – A scientific review updated the safety class for this herb from Class 2d to Class 1 - due to the lack of primary literature documenting photosensitivity following oral consumption. An in vitro pharmacology study was added.   

• Angelica sinensis (dong quai) – This recent review amended the interaction class from Class C to Class B after consideration of the available information. Pharmacology and toxicity studies were added.

• Angelica spp. (angelica, purple angelica) – Acute toxicity and cytotoxicity studies were added during the latest review.

• Anthriscus cerefolium (chervil) – A literature review identified cytotoxicity studies. The safety class for chervil was changed from Class 2b to Class 1 in this revision.

• Apocynum spp. (spreading dogbane, hemp dogbane) – An additional reference for the cardiac glycoside content of this botanical was identified for this review.

• Borago officinalis (borage; seed oil) – The latest review added a case report and toxicity studies.

• Brassica spp. (mustards) – A literature review identified new case reports and a Food Use section was added.

• Cordyceps spp. (cordyceps) – This review updated botanical nomenclature and added Cordyceps militaris as a species. Numerous references were added for clinical trials of drug interactions, adverse events in clinical trials and case reports, animal pharmacology studies, and toxicity studies.

 
AHPA members can obtain an annual individual subscription to the online Botanical Safety Handbook or a hard copy for $95.00, with multi-user rates available for companies needing expanded access. Information about subscriptions and hard copy purchases can be found on the AHPA website.
 
Subscribers to the online Botanical Safety Handbook can review short descriptions of updated entries in the "Revisions" panel on the online version homepage when they log in. The online Botanical Safety Handbook is undergoing review of existing entries and the addition of new entries to provide the latest safety information before it can be included in the next print edition of the handbook. AHPA will continue to post additional updates to existing entries as well as develop new botanical entries.
 
AHPA's Botanical Safety Handbook is an essential tool for anyone who manufactures, recommends, or uses herbal products. The handbook provides safety information on over 500 species of herbs, derived from data compiled from clinical trials, pharmacological and toxicological studies, medical case reports, and historical texts. All entries are reviewed by an Expert Advisory Council that includes some of the most renowned herbal and integrative medicine experts in the United States.