ESCOP

Lawless, F., Stanton, C., L Escop, P., Devery, R., Dillon, P., Murphy, J.J. 1999. Influence of breed on bovine milk cis-9, trans-l 1-conjugated linoleic acid content. Livest. Prod. Sci. 62, 43-49. 

Artiges, A. Pharmaeopeial Standards for Herbal Medicinal Products in Europe, Proceedings of the 5th ESCOP International Symposium. 

Although there is limited information regarding the therapeutic efficacy and standards for herbals some resources do exist. The most widely recognized source is the German E Commission E monographs, which contain information on more than 300 herbal products. Other well referenced resources include the American Herbal Pharmacopeia, the British Herbal Pharmacopeia (BHP), the British Herbal Compendium, the European Scientific Cooperative for Phytomedicines (ESCOP), the U.S. Pharmacopeia, and the World Health Organization (WHO). 

Official standards are absolutely necessary to ensure the quality, reliability, and homogeneity of herbal products for consumers. Standardized products are paramount to those in healthcare planning to conduct clinical research with these products. Independent laboratories and university-affiliated research reports have documented the considerable variation that exists in terms of quality and reliability in these products. Abroad, the ESCOP, composed of manufacturers of herbal medicines and herbal associations, is working with European research groups to develop quality-control standards for the production of natural products. This committee is developing monographs for incorporation into such references as the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia and the British Herbal Compendium. 

ESCOP. 1997. ESCOP Monographs on the Medicinal Uses of Plant Drugs ESCOP, Exeter, United Kingdom. 

ESCOP publishes a professional newsletter. The European Phytojournal, available online (12). Also available from ESCOP is the old British Herbal Plmrmacopoeia and other important books. 

Abbreviations. CAM, complementary and alternative medicine DSHEA, Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act EEC, European Economic Community ESCOP, European Societies Cooperative of Phytotherapy HPB, Health Protection Branch NCCAM, Natiohal Cehter for Complementary and Alternative Medicine OTC, over the counter U.S. FDA, United States Food and Drug Administration WHO, World Health Organization. 

ESCOP Monojp aphs on the Medicinal Uses of Plant Drupfs. ESCOP Exeter (UK) 1997 1999. 

ESCOP (European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy) (2003). ESCOP Monographs. The scientific foundation for herbal medicinal products, ESCOP, Exeter Georg Threme Verlag, Sttutgart Thieme NewYork, New York. 

Limited animal studies have provided mixed results on use of aloe latex in pregnancy, with one study showing no adverse effects and another showing some fetal abnormalities (ESCOP 2003 Nath et al. 1992). 

Aloe latex extract (up to 1000 mg/kg) administered to pregnant rats did not demonstrate any embryotoxic, fetotoxic, or teratogenic activity (ESCOP 2003). Some fetal abnormalities were noted in fetuses of pregnant albino rats fed an extract of ground aloe vera leaf on days 0 through 9 of gestation (Nath et al. 1992). 

Although some herbal reference texts indicate that uva-ursi is contraindicated in kidney disorders (Bradley 1992 ESCOP 2003), a recent review of the literature found no evidence to support this contraindication (Upton et al. 2008). Some evidence of kidney damage has been observed in rats chronically administered the compound hydroquinone, which may have been the basis for contraindication in kidney disorders (Hoffman-Bohm and Simon 1992 Kari et al. 1992 Shibata et al. 1991). The kidney damage was seen primarily in aged male rats, a population that is predisposed to kidney damage (DeCaprio 1999 McGregor 2007). 

No case reports of drug or supplement interactions were identified. Several reference texts indicate that concomitant use of uva-ursi with medications that can acidify the urine may result in a decrease of effectiveness of uva-ursi (Bradley 1992 ESCOP 2003 Weiss and Meuss 2001). The acidity of cranberry, another botanical commonly use to treat urinary tract infections, is often cited as a reason to avoid taking... 

No mutagenic activity of uva-ursi was seen in the Ames test with Salmonella typhimurium or in the Bacillus subtilis rec-assay (ESCOP 2003 Hoffman-Bohm and Simon 1992). No mutagenicity of the compound arbutin was observed in rats subcutaneously administered 100 to 400 mg/kg daily (Itabashi et al. 1988). 

In clinical studies, pastilles containing amounts equivalent to 0.5 to 5 g of Iceland moss were generally well tolerated when taken daily for 4 or 5 days (Bradley 2006 ESCOP 2003). 

Not for use in persons with biliary obstruction, having a history of liver disease, or taking substances contraindicated with liver disease (Benninger et al. 1999 BfArM 2008 Crijns et al. 2002 ESCOP 2003 Greving et al. 1998 Hardeman et al. 2008 Rifai et al. 2006 Stickel et al. 2003). 

Not for use in excess of 2 to 4 weeks unless under the supervision of a qualified healthcare practitioner (BfArM 2008 ESCOP 2003 Mills and Bone 1999 Wichtl 2004). 

Do not exceed recommended dose (ESCOP 2003). Other Precautions... 

Due to reported cases of liver toxicity, German regulatory authorities recommend that liver function values should be monitored if celandine is used for more than 4 weeks at a time at daily doses greater than 2.5 g or containing over 2.5 mg of alkaloids (calculated as chelidonin) (BfArM 2008 ESCOP 2003 Wichtl 2004). 

Mild gastrointestinal disturbances, such as nausea, upset stomach, and diarrhea, have been reported as side effects of celandine (ESCOP 2003). Severe irritation of the digestive system has been reported in association with consumption of the fresh plant (Kingsbury 1964 Nelson et al. 2006). 

Overdose of celandine may cause abdominal pain, gastrointestinal cramps, urinary urgency, and hematuria (ESCOP 2003). 

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