Page 10 - 2018 SP Product Guide

Our philosophy

Ultra High Performance Liquid Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry
Chromatography (UHPLC) is a separation (FTIR) is an identification technique that exposes
technique performed in the liquid phase. Liquid the sample to light and measures how the
samples are injected into a solvent stream under molecule interacts in the infrared region
high pressure at an extremely rapid flow rate, (molecule vibrational spectra). This testing is
which is carried onto a high resolution packed useful in elucidating molecular structural
column and separated into individual information by identifying samples and
constituents based on the interaction between quantification. FTIR is the next generation UV-vis.
the solvent and column chemistry. Constituents It is more sensitive and more detailed and useful
are detected and quantified by Photo-Diode for delivering unknown compounds as it gives
Array (PDA), which measures the absorption detailed information about the functional groups
spectrum of each chemical constituent at an attached to the molecule.
extremely rapid acquisition rate (Mass We hold all our suppliers to our benchmark testing Golden Seal: identifying
Spectrometry can also be used). UHPLC offers standards, and before any herb is purchased, we substitution issues
a three times higher pressure rate than HPLC and analyze a batch sample to ensure compliance with
is much faster and more sensitive. Notably, it our strict quality criteria. The purchased batch is Golden Seal (Hydrastis canadensis) is very
allows us to gain more detailed information also sampled and subjected to the same battery of expensive and has always been in
about the breakdown of various peaks and tests. Only if the herb passes this second set of
marker compounds for a more accurate tests is the batch accepted into the factory for short supply; thus it is commonly
identification. In addition, the use of less solvent further processing. Our stringent testing processes substituted with cheaper herbs that
is a great environmental benefit. UHPLC allows us reveal any quality issues from substitution of greatly affect efficacy. These cheaper
to establish our own test methods for compounds species to adulteration or simply a poor quality species do not contain hydrastine;
creating a greater understanding of plant. All herbs approved for use in our products rather they contain only berberine and
phytochemistry. are the correct species, plant part, active
Mass Spectrometry (MS) is an extremely constituent profile and are free from berberine-related compounds. They do,
specific and sensitive technique that volatilizes, contamination. however, produce an extract of the
ionizes and filters molecules in complex See diagram on page 10 same color as Golden Seal. Berberine is
mixtures. It can be used to identify molecular a potent antibacterial agent, but it is the
weights of molecules or for quantification hydrastine that is believed responsible
purposes. They can be connected to most for the unique trophorestorative effects
separation techniques to detect the eluting
molecules from the column. MS is used routinely of Golden Seal upon mucous
with GS and UHPLC testing. membranes.
Ultraviolet/Visible Detector (UV-vis) is a Similarly, the hair roots of Golden Seal,
quantitative technique that exposes the sample which have lower levels of hydrastine
to light and measures how the molecule interacts
in the Ultraviolet/Visible region (electron than the rhizome, are sold as the root
excitation spectra). It can also be useful in and rhizome, which provides lower
elucidating molecular structure and can be efficacy. The presence of hydrastine
attached to a UHPLC as a detection technique (i.e. and the differentiation of adulterants
photo diode array). UV-vis is a sensitive technique are easily determined by UHPLC, and,
used to measure the spectrum of each
phytochemical as it passes the detector (diode therefore, we only purchase cultivated
array) and depending on the herb being tested, is Golden Seal as it is now considered
connected to UHPLC. endangered.

Our philosophy • MediHerb Product Catalog 2018 9
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