[MPWG] Important critique of DNA Barcoding publication that claimed contamination and substitution in North American herbal products

[De Angelis, Patricia]

The efficacy of medicinal plants in the United States is often maligned due
to poorly designed clinical trials or research projects.  Unfortunately,
the public hears the sensational headlines surrounding the initial negative
findings, but rarely do balanced, reliable responses such as the one
provided by American Botanical Council get any airtime. I'm doing my part.

Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.
Botanist, Division of Scientific Authority-US Fish & Wildlife
Service-International Affairs
Chair, Medicinal Plant Working Group-Plant Conservation Alliance
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 110
Arlington, VA  22203
703-358-1708 x1753
FAX: 703-358-2276

Promoting sustainable use and conservation of our native medicinal plants.
<www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal>

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=============================ABC Review and Critique of the Research
Article "DNA Barcoding Detects Contamination and Substitution In North
American Herbal Products" by Newmaster et al.
By Stefan Gafner, PhD; Mark Blumenthal; Danica Harbaugh Reynaud, PhD; Steven
Foster; Natascha Techen, PhD

A team of botanical identification, natural product, and other experts
critiques an article published in the open-access journal BMC Medicine
that found a high percentage of adulterated herbal products. This
critique lists 10 problems, errors, and areas of confusion in the DNA
paper, as noted in a November 5 press release from ABC.

Read more>>
http://cms.herbalgram.org/heg/volume10/11November/DNAbarcodingReviewandCritique.html?ts=1383766837&signature=a128c179cbedfa05155fc48079e7ceb4
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