Adulterated herbal medicines

Adulteration : the addition of an impure or inferior component not ordinarily part of that substance; or removal of a crucial entity; usually used to imply that a substance is debased (desecrated) as a result. [Miller LG, Hume A, Harris IM et al. Adulteration: its various meanings. Pharmacotherapy. 2001;21:770-1]

Adulterated herbal medicines :

• herbal medicines which contain undeclared potent substances and/or are contaminated with potentially hazardous substances and residues
• herbal medicines which contain intentionally added undeclared chemical substances which are not linked to the presence of naturally occurring substances associated with certain herbs of other ingredients of herbal medicines. [WHO guidelines on safety monitoring of herbal medicines in pharmacovigilance systems, 2004]

Necessity of adulterated herbal medicines information

• Herbal medicines are likely to be neglected countries where herbal medicines are not in the mainstream of health care system.
• Herbal medicines are considered to have less side effect, which may be of an adverse nature, but some herbal medicines cause them, mainly due to adulteration of herbal products.
• There is less information regarding the safety and/or adverse events of herbal medicines.
• Each member has their own adulterated herbal medicine reports and/or database but not fully shared among FHH members.

History of the report of the adulterated herbal medicines in FHH

• 7th Standing Committee Meeting (26-27 November 2009)
  • Members agreed to conduct a trial run of reporting adulteration of herbal medicines for 1 year.
• 8th Standing Committee Meeting (28-29 October 2010) & 9th Standing Committee Meeting (17-18 November 2011)
  • Reviewed the reporting system of adulterated herbal medicines.
  • Enhanced information exchange of adulteration cases amongst FHH members.
  • Established a reporting system as a regular basis.
• Proposal for adulterated herbal medicines information on FHH website was suggested by NIFDS, Korea. (12 Mar 2015)
• Database and online submission system for adulterated herbal medicines opened. (October 2018)

Purpose of adulterated herbal medicines information on FHH website

• To advise FHH members about safety information regarding herbal medicines.
• To provide suggestions for the safety monitoring of herbal medicines among FHH members.
• To provide information related to potentially suspected adulterated herbal medicines.
• To access easily on adulterated herbal medicines information among FHH members.