Technical Guidance Issued on Echinacea Adulteration and Authentication

The ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program (BAPP) has released its 18th Laboratory Guidance Document (LGD), providing an updated evaluation of analytical methods to authenticate Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea pallida, and Echinacea purpurea ingredients and finished products.¹ Authors Sebnem Harput Döner, PhD, and Stefan Gafner, PhD, alongside 14 international peer reviewers, evaluated more than 60 analytical methods to assist herb and dietary supplement manufacturers in navigating the evolving landscape of echinacea adulteration.

“So far as we are aware — and we have reviewed much of the world’s scientific literature on the herbs for which BAPP has produced laboratory guidance documents — no one, anywhere, is doing what BAPP is doing,” explained Mark Blumenthal, founder and executive director of American Botanical Council (ABC) and founder of BAPP. “That is, BAPP is unique in its attempts to evaluate all available laboratory analytical methods to determine if the published methods are currently fit for purpose to detect the current types of adulteration and fraud that we have confirmed exist in the global market. In this way BAPP is providing responsible members of the herb and medicinal plant community the ability to conform with government-mandated current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs) and properly authenticate the correct identity of their botanical ingredients.”

What is the Market Relevance for Echinacea?

Echinacea remains a staple of the dietary supplement sector. As noted by HerbalGram, in 2024, echinacea-based supplements ranked among the top 20 selling herbal dietary supplements in the United States, generating a combined $35 million across mainstream and natural retail channels.² Finished preparations derived from the roots or herbs of these three primary commercial species are widely utilized to prevent or treat upper respiratory tract infections, as well as for topical applications to promote wound healing.

The Evolution of Echinacea Supply Chain Fraud

While historic adulteration with American feverfew (Parthenium integrifolium) root has largely faded from commercial trade, modern supply chain vulnerabilities present alternative verification challenges. Current market issues focus primarily on species substitution, mislabeling, and the undeclared blending of species. Furthermore, products marketed exclusively as echinacea root are sometimes compromised by the inclusion of undeclared leaf material or extracts. Manufacturers also face instances where excessive manufacturing aids—such as binders, diluents, and flowing agents—dilute active formulations, reducing consumer therapeutic benefits. A more recent trend includes the adulteration of root extracts from E. angustifolia with extracts from Cistanche species.

Limitations of Single Chemical Marker Testing

To address these vulnerabilities, the guidance document examines macroscopic, microscopic, genetic, chromatographic, spectroscopic, and spectrometric test methods. Gafner cautions quality control professionals against relying solely on one or two chemical markers. “Manufacturers should be aware that several botanicals that are not in the Echinacea genus contain cichoric acid or echinacoside and may be inappropriately used as echinacea substitutes,” he explains. “As with other botanical ingredients, a series of orthogonal methods, using different analytical tests that measure fundamentally different properties of a sample, is needed to exclude the presence of undeclared Echinacea species or adulterants.”

This allows quality control laboratories to effectively exclude undeclared materials and ensure true species identity.

What are the Compliance Implications?

By assessing the market-readiness and fitness-for-purpose of published analytical methods against verified global marketplace fraud, the LGD provides actionable verification standards for sourcing, manufacturing, and regulatory compliance. The full peer-reviewed document is accessible via the BAPP webpage on the American Botanical Council website.

References

1. ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program. BAPP publishes laboratory guidance document on echinacea herb, root, and extract adulteration. June 17, 2026. Accessed June 17, 2026. Press release provided via email.
2. Smith T, Lang C, Craft E. US sales of herbal supplements increase 5.4% in 2024. HerbalGram. 2025;144:46-69.