Eurofins “adopts” California poppy under American Botanical Council program

12 Sep 2023 --- The adoption of California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) by Eurofins helps to ensure that the most current information on the herb is available in the HerbMedPro database from the American Botanical Council (ABC) through its “Adopt-an-Herb” program.

Nutrition Insight sits down with Denise Meikel, ABC’s director of development in charge of the program, and Stefan Gafner, chief science officer at ABC.

“By adopting the herb, the adopting company helps advance ABC’s nonprofit research and educational mission by providing the resources needed for ABC to keep information on that specific herb updated in HerbMedPro every month,” they explain.

“Eurofins adoption of California poppy allowed ABC to add that herb to our HerbMedPro database. Previously, ABC did not have a record for California poppy. Now, visitors to the California poppy adoption page and its associated HerbMedPro database page will have free access to the information on California poppy, increasing awareness of the benefits of the herb.”

The HerbMedPro database provides access to scientific and clinical research data on the use and health effects of 265 herbs, spices, medicinal plants and fungi. 

It enables consumers, researchers, educators, media, health practitioners, government agencies and industry members to easily access abstracts of the latest scientific and clinical publications on the aspects, properties and benefits of the adopted herb.

Limited published clinical data  
ABC notes that despite limited published clinical research on the plant’s therapeutic benefits, it has a long history of traditional use. Examples include managing pain, anxiety, stress, migraines and promoting sleep. 

California poppy has a history of traditional use in managing pain, anxiety, stress and migraines and promoting sleep.Unlike the related opium poppy (Papaver somniferum), the California poppy is non-narcotic and has mild actions. Its benefits are believed to be due to its content of isoquinoline alkaloids. 

“California poppy extracts have been subject to a small number of clinical studies, alone or in combination with hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata), magnesium or valerian (Valeriana officinalis),” underscore Meikel and Gafner. 

“The clinical studies evaluated the effects of California poppy in patients with anxiety or sleep disorders, or migraine headaches (pain). Similarly, a few animal studies looked into the anxiolytic, sleep-enhancing and pain-relieving effects of the plant.” 

Scott Kneedler, business unit manager for Eurofins, explains that the company adopted the California state flower to serve the industry and community it is located in. 

“As a third-party testing laboratory, we serve our community by providing education and analysis to support the safety, purity and strength of botanical ingredients and products.”

Continuing research  
Meikel and Gafner emphasize that more clinical research is needed on the California poppy, “not only on its effects to alleviate anxiety and pain but also on the safety aspects of the plant.” 

For example, several in vitro studies have been carried out on the activities of individual alkaloids and their ability to bind to receptors in the central nervous system. 

“These tests have led to some plausible explanations as to the mechanisms behind the sedative and anxiolytic activities of California poppy – but the brain is such a complex network of interactions that there is still much left to be discovered,” Meikel and Gafner explain.  

“One aspect particular to California poppy is the variability in the alkaloid composition of the plant – there are substantial differences in this composition based on the published data. Hence, it’s difficult to assign the benefits to a specific constituent, although experts agree that the effects are likely due to the alkaloids in the plant.” 

Meikel and Gafner emphasize more clinical research is needed on the flower’s efficacy and safety.Finally, the experts note that specific medicinal uses, such as toothache or menstrual cramps, still need to be investigated.  

Each adopted botanical through ABC’s program is continuously researched for new scientific articles in botanical, chemical, pharmacological, toxicological and clinical studies to ensure that the HerbMedPro database stays current. 

Adopt-an-Herb 
The adoption allows ABC to provide scientific information accessible to the public, though much of ABC’s educational material is available only to ABC members, note Meikel and Gafner. In return, the adopting company is recognized and becomes associated with their adopted herb.

“ABC’s Adopt-an-Herb Program will continue to expand as new adopters become involved. This growth will increase the number of herbs available in the HerbMedPro database and expand the awareness of and the information on those herbs, helping promote the herbs and their benefits.”

Eurofins is one of 73 organizations participating in the Adopt-an-Herb program, with 84 herbs being adopted. 

“ABC is deeply grateful to Eurofins for its adoption of California poppy on ABC’s HerbMedPro database,” says ABC founder and executive director Mark Blumenthal. “We appreciate Eurofins’ focus on this historically used plant with a wide array of commercial and health-related applications.”

In addition to the Adopt-an-Herb program, ABC runs the Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program with the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia and the National Center for Natural Products Research at the University of Mississippi, US. This program recently published guidance on adulterating European elderberries and their extracts to inform companies working with these products. 

By Jolanda van Hal