Assessing herbal products with health claims
Abstract
Herbs, herbal extracts, or phytochemicals are broadly used as foods, drugs, and as traditional medicines. These are well regulated in Europe, with thorough controls on both safety and efficacy or validity of health claims. However, the distinction between medicines and foods with health claims is not always clear. In addition, there are several cases of herbal products that claim benefits that are not scientifically demonstrated. This review details the European Union (EU) legislative framework that regulates the approval and marketing of herbal products bearing health claims as well as the scientific evidence that is needed to support such claims. To illustrate the latter, we focus on phytoecdysteroid (PE)-containing preparations, generally sold to sportsmen and bodybuilders. We review the limited published scientific evidence that supports claims for these products in humans. In addition, we model the in silico binding between different PEs and human nuclear receptors and discuss the implications of these putative bindings in terms of the mechanism of action of this family of compounds. We call for additional research to validate the safety and health-promoting properties of PEs and other herbal compounds, for the benefit of all consumers.
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Different phytoecdysteroids could show binding interactions with human nuclear receptors.
“Different PEs could show binding interactions with human nuclear receptors22.”
From The Phytochemical, Biological, and Medicinal Attributes of Phytoecdysteroids: An Updated Review (2021) · cites this paper as [22]
Phytoecdysteroids have been utilized by sportsmen and bodybuilders for improving physical performance and enhancing stress resistance by promoting vitality.
“PEs have been utilized by sportsmen and bodybuilders for improving physical performance, and for enhancing stress resistance by promoting vitality22.”
From The Phytochemical, Biological, and Medicinal Attributes of Phytoecdysteroids: An Updated Review (2021) · cites this paper as [22]
PEs promote enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense systems, decreasing reactive oxygen species (superoxide and hydroxyl radicals) and reducing malondialdehyde content.
“PEs promote enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense systems, which decrease reactive oxygen species in the form of superoxide radicals and hydroxyl radicals and reduce malondialdehyde content.”
From Phytoecdysteroids: Distribution, Structural Diversity, Biosynthesis, Activity, and Crosstalk with Phytohormones (2022) · cites this paper as [17]
PEs induce protein biosynthesis and modulate carbohydrate and lipid synthesis.
“PEs also induce protein biosynthesis and modulate carbohydrate and lipid synthesis.”
From Phytoecdysteroids: Distribution, Structural Diversity, Biosynthesis, Activity, and Crosstalk with Phytohormones (2022) · cites this paper as [17]
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- Authors
- Lapenna, S., Gemen, R., Wollgast, J., Worth, A., Maragkoudakis, P., & Caldeira, S.
- Affiliations
- European Commission (BE)
- Corresponding author
- Lapenna, Silvia
- Venue
- Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2013-04
- Volume
- 55
- Issue
- 13
- Pages
- 1918-1928
- ISSN
- 1040-8398 (ISSN-L)
- 1549-7852
- OpenAlex
- W2084249527
- Cited by
- 23
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Joint Research Centre (European Commission) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Agricultural safety and regulations
- Keywords
- herbal products, health claims, phytoecdysteroids, European Union regulation, nuclear receptor binding, mechanism of action, sports supplements, bodybuilding supplements
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Consumer Product Safety, European Union, Humans, Mammals, Phytotherapy, Medicine, Traditional, Models, Biological, Plants, Medicinal, Ecdysteroids, Plant Preparations, Herbal Medicine, Marketing
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