Abstract
Herbal supplements, a type of dietary supplement containing one or more herbs, have been used worldwide by individuals attempting to improve their health. Nutraceuticals, defined as a fortified food or dietary supplement, should provide medical or health benefits to those individuals consuming them. However, there is no regulatory definition of nutraceuticals, therefore there is no requirement for manufacturers of nutraceuticals to prove their efficacy or safety. Recently, clear evidence of carcinogenicity was demonstrated for several popular herbal extracts in 2-year bioassays by the National Toxicology Program which has raised concerns about their safety. In this chapter the authors summarize recent findings on the genotoxic effects of three prevalent herbal supplements: Aloe vera, Ginkgo biloba, and goldenseal, with the focus on standard genotoxicity assays. In general, there is a paucity of genotoxicity data for herbal extracts, and recent studies have focused on the mutagenicity of their key chemical ingredients. Currently, a need exists for a comprehensive understanding of risk versus efficacy profiles, standardization of chemical components, and systematic clinical trials for safe application of herbal products.
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