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AHPA updates nine entries to the online Botanical Safety Handbook 2nd Ed.
June 23, 2025
New updates include the top-sellers ginkgo, echinacea, ginseng, and ginger
The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) announces updates to nine botanicals via the online Botanical Safety Handbook 2nd ed. in the first 2025 release of revised entries.
The following online entries have been updated in this release:
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Anethum graveolens (dill) - A recent review added clinical trial adverse event reporting, as well as pharmacology and toxicity studies. Information on use during pregnancy and lactation was added.
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Apium graveolens (celery) - A literature review identified additional pharmacology and toxicity testing references for celery seed.
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Echinacea spp. (echinacea) - A review identified additional clinical trials and case reports of drug interactions, clinical trials with adverse event reporting, case reports, and animal and in vitro pharmacology studies.
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Ginkgo biloba (ginkgo leaf) - A comprehensive review of new data identified drug interactions studies and case reports, clinical trials with adverse event reporting, adverse event case reports, pharmacological studies, reproductive studies and toxicity assays.
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Ginkgo biloba (ginkgo seed) - A literature review added toxicity studies and a number of case reports of ingestion of uncooked ginkgo seed.
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Panax ginseng (Asian ginseng) – The latest literature review identified interactions studies, clinical trials with adverse event reporting, pharmacology studies, and toxicity studies.
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Panax notoginseng (tienchi ginseng) - A review identified new data for drug and supplement interactions, clinical trials with reports of adverse events, a case report, and pharmacological studies.
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Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng) - A review added clinical trial adverse event reporting, pharmacology studies, and a genotoxicity assay. This review also amended the interaction class from Class B to Class A after consideration of the available information on potential interactions.
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Zingiber officinale (ginger) – Recent review of new literature identified drug interactions studies and case reports, clinical trials with adverse event reporting, adverse event case reports, pharmacological studies, reproductive studies and toxicity assays.
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.
