ALS Singapore PharmaMail 01 looks at Aconitum Alkaloids and Ephedra Alkaloids for Herbal Medicines and Supplements

Excessive intake of Aconitum or Ephedra will pose a series of side-effects to human as their active ingredients, Aconitum alkaloids and Ephedra alkaloids are poisonous.

The Health Science Authority Singapore (HSA) has controlled that herbal products containing specific naturally occurring poisons, regulated under the Poisons Act of Singapore, have to be tested with ACCREDITED testing methods, and the test results must be quantitative and compliant to regulatory limits (1) (2):

Substance: Ephedra alkaloids
Acceptable Limit:  < 1%

Substance: Aconite alkaloids
Acceptable Limit:  Dosing of < 60 μg/day

Not only is ALS Singapore accredited by SAC-SINGLAS for toxic metals and microbiological examination, but also Ephedra alkaloids and Aconitum alkaloids tests. ALS Singapore is the first commercial laboratory accredited to alkaloids testing.

ALS provide fast turnaround time and guideline comparison report informing clients if their products are safe and compliant to Poisons Act of Singapore.

The analytical technique for these two alkaloids are referenced to AOAC. The instrument involves LC/MS/MS for the quantification.

Parameter: Determination of Aconitum Alkaloids
ALS Code: PP20_By LCMSMS;
Method Reference: J. AOAC Int. 2009 Jan-Feb; 92(1); 111-118
Level of Reporting (LOR), µg/kg: 5
Analytes: Aconitine, Hypaconitine, Mesaconitine, Benzoylaconine, Benzoylhypaconine, Benzoylmesaconine

Parameter: Determination of Ephedrine Alkaloids
ALS Code: PP22_By LCMSMS;
Method Reference:  AOAC 2003.13 (2012)
Level of Reporting (LOR), µg/kg: 10
Analytes: (-)-Ephedrine. (-)-N-Methylephedrine, (-)-Norephedrine, (+)-N-Methylpseudoephedrine, (+)-Norpseudoephedrine, (+)-Pseudoephedrine.

The parameters highlighted in red colour will only be reported in the Analysis Report, unless required. ALS provides an easy-to read format benchmarking the result as passed or failed.  Download the PDF for an example of the report.