Start Date: 5/6/2025 9:00 AM MDT
End Date: 5/8/2025 5:00 PM MDT
Venue Name: Weber State University
Location:
Tracy Hall Science Center
1369 Edvalson St #1361
Ogden, UT United States 84403
Organization Name:
American Herbal Products Association
Contact:

Back by popular demand, the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is hosting a combined, in-person workshop on microscopic and macroscopic assessment of herbal ingredients for cGMP compliance. This 3-day, hands-on workshop features expert faculty who will dedicate a day and half of instruction to macroscopy and a day and half of instruction to microscopy in laboratory facilities at Weber State University in Ogden, UT.
Participants may register for either of the macroscopy or microscopy sessions of the workshop individually or both at a discounted combined rate:
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BOTH: Microscopic Identification & Macroscopic Assessment of Herbal Ingredients for cGMP Compliance (May 6-8, 2025)
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AHPA Member: $1,700
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Non-Member: $2,700
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MACRO ONLY: Macroscopic Assessment of Herbal Ingredients for cGMP Compliance (May 6-7, 2025)
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AHPA Member: $1,000
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Non-Member: $1,500
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MICRO ONLY: Microscopic Identification of Herbal Ingredients for cGMP Compliance (May 7-8, 2025)
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AHPA Member: $1,000
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Non-Member: $1,500
Space is limited! Register by March 14 and use promo code EARLYBIRD100 to secure your seat and SAVE $100.
SESSION 1: Macroscopic Assessment of Herbal Ingredients for cGMP Compliance
Botanical identification, using classical botany as the basis, is the primary manner in which plant materials are identified. For identification and quality assessment of crude herb materials, macroscopic and organoleptic analysis are among the most rapid, accurate, cost-effective, and environmentally sound of all the analytical technologies.
This workshop session will provide a detailed orientation of botanical, macroscopic, and organoleptic identification methods, quality assessment techniques and terminology, and demonstrate how these techniques are used to evaluate crude plant parts in a scientifically valid manner.
Topics include:
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Botanical identity current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) compliance requirements
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Strengths and weaknesses of various analytical technologies (botanical, morphological, microscopic, chemical, DNA)
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Botanical terminology and botanical identification of plant materials
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Language of botanical pharmacognosy and organoleptics: terminology and assessment techniques for roots, leaves, stems, barks, flowers, fruits, seeds
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Developing and documenting macroscopic and organoleptic assessments in a scientifically valid manner
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Common and uncommon botanical adulterants: how to detect and how to avoid them
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Sourcing of botanical reference materials and developing internal standards
Discussion will be accompanied by hands-on training. Lab equipment, botanical materials, and lunch will be provided.
Instructors:
SESSION 2: Microscopic Identification of Herbal Ingredients for cGMP Compliance
Microscopy is an important tool for both the identification and authentication of botanical materials, in the whole form and as powders. Of all the analytical methods, microscopy is one of the most rapid, revealing, cost-effective and environmentally sound technologies available. Applying microscopic analysis to help gain a better understanding of plant anatomy will help you meet GMP requirements, and will better assist in navigating the industry’s regulatory landscape.
In this session, participants will become familiar with various plant parts at the microscopic level to help in understanding the characteristic cellular features of each plant part examined using botanical microscopy techniques. The basic structure of various tissue types will be discussed and identified using examples of some of the popular botanicals.
Topics include:
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Preparation of botanicals for microscopic examination and general use of reagents
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Microscopic features of various plant parts (leaves, stems, barks, woods, flowers, fruits, seeds, subterranean organs)
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Developing and documenting microscopic assessment in a scientifically valid manner
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Common and uncommon botanical adulterants: how to detect and how to avoid them
Discussion will be accompanied by hands-on training. Lab equipment, botanical materials, and lunch will be provided.
Instructor: