title: The application of metabolomics for herbal medicine pharmacovigilance: a case study on ginseng.
abstract: Herbal medicines are growing in popularity, use and commercial value; however, there remain problems with the quality and consequently safety of these products. Adulterated, contaminated and fraudulent products are often found on the market, a risk compounded by the fact that these products are available to consumers with little or no medical advice. Current regulations and quality control methods are lacking in their ability to combat these serious problems. Metabolomics is a biochemical profiling tool that may help address these issues if applied to quality control of both raw ingredients and final products. Using the example of the popular herbal medicine, ginseng, this essay offers an overview of the potential use of metabolomics for quality control in herbal medicines and also highlights where more research is needed.
authors.affiliation: Separation Science and Metabolomics Laboratory and the Advanced Mass Spectrometry Facility, Murdoch University, South St, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia.|School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South St, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia.
authors.forename: Elly
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Crighton
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South St, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mullaney
authors.affiliation: Separation Science and Metabolomics Laboratory and the Advanced Mass Spectrometry Facility, Murdoch University, South St, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Trengove
authors.affiliation: Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Kent St, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bunce
authors.affiliation: Separation Science and Metabolomics Laboratory and the Advanced Mass Spectrometry Facility, Murdoch University, South St, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia G.Maker@murdoch.edu.au.|School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South St, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia.
authors.forename: Garth
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maker
mesh_terms: D029001:Herbal Medicine; D006801:Humans; D055432:Metabolomics / Q000379:methods*; D005894:Panax / Q000378:metabolism*; D060735:Pharmacovigilance