Last week, Botanical Liaisons and NaturPro Scientific announced that the two companies have jointly completed a successful ingredient identity verification programme for Rhodiolife (Rhodiola rosea) — which is marketed by PLT Health Solutions.
Verification of Rhodiolife identity was based on a comprehensive set of criteria, including supplier verification, chain of custody review and identity testing using HPLC and DNA testing.
The authenticity of Rhodiola dietary supplement products has been called into question by the October 2017 publication of "Adulteration of Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea) Rhizome, Root and Extracts" by the American Botanical Council (ABC).
The report, authored by top natural products experts, outlined that less expensive Rhodiola species grown in China may be commonly added to the intended species, resulting in its adulteration.
Read the ABC Botanical Adulterants Bulletin here.
According to Trish Flaster, CEO and Founder of Botanical Liaisons, who led the review team, a spike in demand for Rhodiola in the USA and globally may be responsible for quality and identity issues.
"The global demand for Rhodiola rosea has rapidly increased, which has led to shortages of authentic material. Most harvesting comes from alpine regions and forests, where supplies can be depleted quickly without replanting and sustainability efforts," said Flaster.
"I applaud PLT Health Solutions for taking the initiative to develop a sustainable supply by building relationships with rural co-ops in the Altai Mountains," she added.
Rhodiolife's unique "fingerprint" composition provides the spectrum of compounds found in the root of the plant that are thought to be responsible for its biological activity - including rosavin, rosarin, rosin and salidroside.
With Rhodiolife, not only is the percentage of the primary actives - rosavin and salidroside — the same as the root, but so is the ratio of actives. This is not the case with many other Rhodiola rosea ingredients on the market.
Rhodiolife is wildcrafted sustainably by local experts from the Altai Mountains of Siberia and extracted in a state-of-the-art, GMP facility.
