NIS - libdoc.who.int - World Health Organization

WHO monographs on medicinal plants commonly used in the Newly Independent States (NIS)
Foreign organic matter
Not more than 8% lignified branches with a diameter greater than 2.5 mm
(1) and not more than 2% other foreign matter (1, 15).
Total ash
Not more than 10% (1).
Loss on drying
Not more than 10% (1).
Pesticide residues
The recommended maximum limit of aldrin and dieldrin is not more than
0.05 mg/kg (17). For other pesticides, see the European pharmacopoeia
(17), and the WHO guidelines on quality control methods for medicinal
plants (16) and pesticide residues (18).
Other purity tests
Chemical, acid-insoluble ash, sulfated ash, water-soluble extractive and
alcohol-soluble extractive tests to be established in accordance with national
requirements.
Heavy metals
For maximum limits and analysis of heavy metals, consult the WHO
guidelines on quality control methods for medicinal plants (16).
Radioactive residues
Where applicable, consult the WHO guidelines on quality control methods
for medicinal plants (16) for the analysis of radioactive isotopes.
Chemical assays
Contains not less than 1.5% of flavonoids, calculated as hyperoside (1),
and not less than 0.6% of flavone C-glycosides, calculated as vitexin (14),
determined by spectrophotometry at 410 and 336 nm, respectively (1). A
high-performance liquid chromatography method is also available (19).
Major chemical constituents
The major constituents are flavonoids (rutin, hyperoside, vitexin, vitexin-2´´
rhamnoside, acetylvitexin-2´´ rhamnoside) and related proanthocyanidins
(19, 20). In the inflorescence, flavonol glycosides, mainly in the
form of hyperoside, spiraeoside and rutin, are present. The primary flavo-
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