title: Plants and parts of plants used in food supplements: an approach to their safety assessments.
abstract: In Italy most herbal products are sold as food supplements and are subject only to food law. A list of about 1200 plants authorised for use in food supplements has been compiled by the Italian Ministry of Health. In order to review and possibly improve the Ministry's list an ad hoc working group of Istituto Superiore di Sanità was requested to provide a technical and scientific opinion on plant safety. The listed plants were evaluated on the basis of their use in food, therapeutic activity, human toxicity and in no-alimentary fields. Toxicity was also assessed and plant limitations to use in food supplements were defined.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria e Sicurezza Alimentare, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Brunella
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Carratù
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Federici
authors.forename: Francesca R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Geraci
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guidotti
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Multari
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palazzino
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sanzini
mesh_terms: D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D007883:Legislation, Medical; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000633:toxicity; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000633:toxicity; D012449:Safety
chemical_list: D028321:Plant Preparations