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

[Mark Blumenthal]

Thank you, Patricia, for your kind and positive comments about ABC's recent critique of the Newmaster et al paper in BMC Medicine. We here at ABC certainly appreciate your sending this out to your MPWG list serve members.

Gratefully,

Mark

Mark Blumenthal
Founder & Executive Director
American Botanical Council
Editor-in-Chief, HerbalGram & HerbClip

PO Box 144345
Austin, TX 78714-4345
ph: 512-926-4900 x102
www.herbalgram.org
Skype: markblumenthal1

From: "<De Angelis>", Patricia De Angelis <patricia_deangelis at fws.gov<mailto:patricia_deangelis at fws.gov>>
Date: Thursday, November 7, 2013 7:03 AM
To: mpwg <mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org<mailto:mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org>>
Subject: [MPWG] Important critique of DNA Barcoding publication that claimed contamination and substitution in North American herbal products

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<http://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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