Botanical Research Centers NIEHS Interests Elizabeth A Maull

Botanical Research Centers: NIEHS Interests Elizabeth A. Maull, Ph. D. Program Administrator, NIEHS

Historical • 1998 – National Toxicology Program held a Workshop on Herbal Medicines • Recommendations – More research on herbals – A call for industry to identify and standardize product ingredients – Increase consumer education

National Toxicology Program Efforts • Herbs and active or toxic ingredients of herbs nominated and selected for study by NTP • Criteria – widespread human exposure • Assessments preformed by NTP – Acute high dose effects – Chronic low dose effects – Reproductive toxicity – Neurotoxicity – Immunotoxicity

National Toxicology Program Efforts (cont. ) Of special interest to the NTP: – Potential for herb/herb or herb/drug interactions – Responses of sensitive subpopulations • Pregnant women • Developing fetus • Young • Elderly

NIEHS Focus for BRC Recompetition • Centers structured around a central scientific theme • Research projects that complement ongoing National Toxicology Program efforts

NIEHS Focus for BRC Recompetition Agriculturally related issues Biologically related issues

Agriculturally Related Issues • Identification of environmental factors influencing the concentration of bioactive constituents • Localization of bioactive ingredients within the plant • Development of “fingerprinting” technologies – Identify the plant source of a botanical – Detection of adulterations of botanicals

Biologically Related Issues • Mechanisms of action of bioactive ingredients • Identification of targets for botanicals (molecular, cellular, organ) • Identification of interactions (antagonistic or synergistic) with other botanical components • Potential botanical/botanical or botanical/drug interactions

Biologically Related Issues (cont. ) • Pharmacokinetic / pharmacodynamic analyses of botanicals • Study the role of botanicals as regulators of genetic pathways or epigenetic events • Identify and validate biomarkers of botanical intake or biological effects

Botanicals of Interest (NTP) http: //ntpserver. niehs. nih. gov/htdocs/liason/factsheets/Herb. Med. Facts. pdf • • Aloe vera gel Black cohosh Bladderwrack Blue green algae extract • Comfrey • Echinacea purpurea Ephedra • Ginkgo biloba extract • Ginseng and ginsenosides • Goldenseal • Green tea extract • Kava kava extract • Milk thistle extract • Pulegone • Senna • Thujone

Elizabeth A. Maull, Ph. D. Program Administrator Susceptibility and Population Health Branch National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences T: (919) 316 -4668 F: (919) 316 -4606 E: maull@niehs. nih. gov