Indena reports new technique for bilberry purity standards
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contain sufficient quantities of the active anthocyanin to have a
physiological effect, according to new research from Italy.
Moreover, ten per cent of the products do not even contain the active
principle anthocyanin, according to a survey of 40 typical bilberry
preparations from 24 different brands from Europe, Japan and America
evaluated by researchers from Indena, using high performance liquid
chromatography (HPLC).
"Furthermore, all the products exhibit labels which are not clear and
often not true," wrote the researchers in the Journal of AOAC
International.
"Hence, there is an urgent need for common standards of quality for
bilberry preparations in order to ensure their efficacy and safety.
The application of the present method together with clear information
on the labels is desirable to enhance the security and confidence of
the consumers."
Concerns were first raised last year when Australian scientists
discovered that azo dyes were used to mimic the colour of bilberries
in a commercial product (J. Agric. Food Chem 2006, Vol. 54, Issue 19,
pp. 7378 -7382). This has since expanded to reports of mulberry or
black bean skins being used to increase the anthocyanin content of the
extracts.
The anthocyanins content is used as the standard for bilberry, and UV
spectrometry is needed to verify the 25 per cent anthocyanins.
However, according to unconfirmed reports, this has led to extracts
masquerading as bilberry but actually containing mulberry (22-24 per
cent), or black bean skin (20 per cent).
The Australian study from 2006 reported that, when high-performance
liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used, one extract was found to
contain nine per cent anthocyanins that were "probably not derived
from [bilberry]".
Researchers from Indena reported the use of the new technique to
identify and quantify anthocyanins and anthocyanidins in the
commercial extracts and products. They report that the method shows
good reproducibility and is suitable to identify unequivocally the
botanical raw materials used.
According to the researchers, the method has been included in several
Pharmacopoeias, including the European and Italian editions, and is
under evaluation in the USA.
"In order to unequivocally identify and quantify the profile of a
botanical extract, Indena has always developed and validated
analytical methods, which are recognised as reliable and
reproducible," said co-author Roberto Pace, Indena's analytical
research director.
"With this study we have highlighted how the use of validated
analytical methods to determine identity can be successfully applied
to single or multi-component formulations," he added.
Commenting on these results, Christian Artaria, marketing director at
Indena, confirmed that: "Indena has always strived to ensure that the
production of botanical derivatives respects Good Agricultural
Practices (GAPs) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)...
"We believe that the introduction and correct application of the new
GMPs in the U.S, together with the use of officially validated
analytical methods, will at last ensure high quality dietary
products."
Indeed, only 65 per cent of products sold in the United States
contained ingredients that matched what was declared on the label,
said the researchers.
Source: Journal of AOAC International
Volume 90, Issue 4, Pages 911-919
"New Liquid Chromatography Method with Ultraviolet Detection for
Analysis of Anthocyanins and Anthocyanidins in Vaccinium myrtillus
Fruit Dry Extracts and Commercial Preparations"
Authors: C. Cassinese, E. De Combarieu, M. Falzoni, N. Fuzzati, R.
Pace, N. Sardone