title: Ecdysteroid-containing food supplements from Cyanotis arachnoidea on the European market: evidence for spinach product counterfeiting.
abstract: Phytoecdysteroids like 20-hydroxyecdysone ("ecdysterone") can exert a mild, non-hormonal anabolic/adaptogenic activity in mammals, and as such, are frequently used in food supplements. Spinach is well-known for its relatively low ecdysteroid content. Cyanotis arachnoidea, a plant native in China, is among the richest sources of phytoecdysteroids, and extracts of this plant are marketed in tons per year amounts via the internet at highly competitive prices. Here we report the investigation of a series of food supplements produced in Germany and claimed to contain spinach extracts. Twelve ecdysteroids including two new compounds were isolated and utilized as marker compounds. A comparative analysis of the products with Cyanotis and spinach extracts provides evidence that they were manufactured from Cyanotis extracts instead of spinach as stated. Based on the chromatographic fingerprints, 20-hydroxyecdysone 2- and 3-acetate are suggested as diagnostic markers for related quality control. This case appears to represent an unusual type of dietary supplement counterfeiting: undeclared extracts from alternative plants would supposedly 'guarantee' product efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacognosy, University of Szeged, Eötvös str. 6, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hunyadi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacognosy, University of Szeged, Eötvös str. 6, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: Ibolya
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Herke
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacognosy, University of Szeged, Eötvös str. 6, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: Katalin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lengyel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacognosy, University of Szeged, Eötvös str. 6, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: Mária
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Báthori
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Dóm Sq. 8, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kele
authors.affiliation: NMR Group, Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Szt. Gellért Sq. 4, H-1111 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: András
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.affiliation: NMR Group, Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Szt. Gellért Sq. 4, H-1111 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tóth
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacognosy, University of Szeged, Eötvös str. 6, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: Kálmán
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Szendrei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002681:China; D034821:Commelinaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000592:standards*; D004440:Ecdysone / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D026461:Ecdysteroids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004441:Ecdysterone / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005858:Germany; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D011786:Quality Control; D018724:Spinacia oleracea / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D026461:Ecdysteroids; D010840:Phytosterols; D010936:Plant Extracts; C021238:phytoecdysones; D004440:Ecdysone; D004441:Ecdysterone