In many aspects stability testing of HMPs follows the same requirements as stability testing of chemically defined substances. However, some specific characteristics have to be taken into consideration:
In consequence, analysis of HMPs should consider:
Markers are chemically defined constituents,or groups thereof, which are of interest for control purposes independent of whether they have any therapeutic activity. Therefore, they are used as “Deputy APIs” for an extract and its entirety of constituents. Markers serve to calculate the quantity of herbal substance(s) or herbal preparation(s) in the HMP if the marker could be quantitively determined in the herbal substance and/or herbal preparations. The choice of the marker has to be justified.
Finding the “right” analytical marker is a crucial need for stability testing of HMPs!
Typical sources for finding markers are:
The search for suitable and new marker substances is an important interface between scientific research and the use of the results in HMP-industry´s routine quality control. The isolation and structure elucidation of chemically defined substances in a plant, drug and/or drug preparation not only helps to better understand the active principle of an HMP. It can enhance analytical quality control. But to utilise results of scientific research on an industrial scale, any new marker should meet certain requirements:
Moreover, for HMP-industry´s routine quality control it is of great importance that the substance is available as reference standard in an appropriate quality, quantity and for a reasonable price.
Hops (Humulus lupulus L., Cannabaceae)
Xanthohumol is a characteristic constituent of hops. Therefore, it could serve as a suitable marker for identity testing and assay. But due to its lipophilic nature it is rarely detectable in the hydrophilic extracts from hops which are commonly used in HMPs.
=> Therefore, an alternative marker is needed for testing aqueous extracts and finished products thereof, e.g. the flavonoides Rutoside and Isoquercitrin.
Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium L., Asteraceae)
Parthenolide is a specific marker for feverfew. But it is known to be unstable in particular at higher temperatures. Additionally, effects of the product’s matrix may reduce the stability.
=> If Parthenolide is used as a marker to test a product’s stability, problems with instability findings and Out-of-specification (OOS) results are more likely to occur.
Birch (Betula pendula Roth, B. pubescens Erh., Betulaceae)
Exemplary, for birch only one marker, hyperoside, can be installed to verify the traceability in the drug birch leaf, in the drug preparation (dry extract) and in the finished product, e.g. a tablet.
=> This marker shows sufficient stability to prove a shelf-life of at least 3 years for the finished product.
Scientific research and structure elucidation plays an essential role in finding new markers for established and new herbal drugs and their corresponding HMPs. In order to be applicable for industrial routine quality control, it is necessary to consider the marker´s stability and the traceability in drug preparations (extracts) and if possible product formulations. Analytical data should be available and the methods used have to be validated. Reflecting these requirements, phytopharmaceutical research helps to ensure that herbal medicinal products can be used safely throughout their shelf-life.
Fig. 1: The goal for an analytical marker for the analysis of HMPs.
Fig. 2: HPLC chromatograms from birch leaf, extract and finished product, incl. product stability.