Supplements were the most contaminated drugs

Researchers concluded that the majority of herbal medicines from the alternative medicine are contaminated.

To date, there is no generally accepted methodology for the identification of the origin of plant product. Of course, we can determine the form of all plants, but the plant material has undergone industrial processing, is much more difficult to analyze.

For this purpose, inter alia, are used in genetic engineering techniques by which one can recognize the individual characteristics of different types of DNA. It is this methodology was the basis of a study conducted at the University of Guelph (Canada).

Scientists decided to investigate the species specificity of the plant material, which consist of dietary supplements and alternative medicine preparations. It appeared that 59% of such preparations were composed plants not listed on the package. Two-thirds of them contained the main ingredients substitutes (ie, the concentration of the active ingredient actually provided less than this), and a third contained additional vegetable impurities.

The World Health Organization is convinced that the neglect of the composition by the manufacturers of herbal products pose a threat to consumers. A Canadian study has confirmed it: of the above impurities and substitutes, scientists have discovered a plant with an installed toxic and dangerous side effects. We should also mention the potential adverse drug interaction, which is extremely often noted the appointment of herbal remedies.