Scientists created a group called the Botanical Safety Consortium to find better ways to test whether plant-based products are safe for people to use. Plant products are tricky to test because they contain many different chemicals that can vary from batch to batch. Instead of using old, slow testing methods, researchers are developing faster, cheaper ways to check if plants might cause harm to the liver, genes, reproduction, nerves, heart, or skin. After five years of work, they’ve found several promising testing tools that could help companies and regulators make sure botanical products are safe before people buy them.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How well new, faster testing methods work for checking if plant-based products are safe, compared to traditional testing approaches
  • Who participated: A consortium of scientists and researchers who evaluated different testing methods and studied various plant products with known safety concerns
  • Key finding: Researchers identified several new testing tools that work well for checking plant products for safety, though some adjustments are needed depending on the specific plant and type of harm being tested
  • What it means for you: Plant-based supplements and products may be tested more thoroughly and quickly in the future, potentially leading to safer products on store shelves. However, this research is still in development, so changes won’t happen immediately

The Research Details

The Botanical Safety Consortium is a collaborative group of scientists that started in 2019 to solve a real problem: testing plant products for safety is slow, expensive, and difficult. Traditional methods were designed for single chemicals, not complex plant mixtures. The consortium created working groups that tested new, faster methods including computer models, lab tests using cells, and simple organisms like worms. They selected plant products with known safety issues to see how well these new methods could detect problems.

The researchers focused on testing for different types of harm: damage to the liver, genetic damage, problems with reproduction and development, nerve damage, heart damage, and skin reactions. By testing multiple plants and multiple methods, they could figure out which testing approaches work best and which ones need improvement. This is like testing different tools to see which ones are best for different jobs.

Testing plant products the old way takes years and costs millions of dollars. Companies and regulators need faster, cheaper ways to make sure products are safe. This research matters because it could speed up safety testing while actually making it better. If successful, these new methods could help get safer products to people faster and help companies develop new plant-based products more efficiently.

This is a summary of five years of work by multiple research groups, which makes it more reliable than a single study. The researchers tested their methods on real plant products with known safety issues, which is a good way to check if the methods actually work. However, this is still early-stage research, and the new testing methods are still being refined. The findings suggest promise but aren’t yet ready to completely replace traditional testing.

What the Results Show

The Botanical Safety Consortium found that several new testing methods show promise for checking plant products for safety. These include computer models that predict which plants might be harmful, lab tests using human cells, and tests using simple organisms like worms. The researchers discovered that these new methods can often detect the same safety problems that traditional tests find, but much faster and cheaper.

However, the researchers also found that plant products don’t always behave the same way as single chemicals in these tests. This means the new methods work, but scientists need to understand how to interpret the results correctly for plants specifically. Different types of plants and different types of potential harm may need slightly different testing approaches.

The consortium identified which testing methods work best for different safety concerns. For example, certain tests are better at catching liver damage, while others are better at detecting genetic damage or nerve problems. This means scientists can now choose the right tools for the specific safety question they’re trying to answer.

The research also showed that combining multiple testing methods gives better results than using just one method. When scientists used computer predictions along with cell tests and organism tests, they could catch more potential safety problems. The consortium also found that understanding how the body absorbs, processes, and eliminates plant chemicals (called ADME) is important for predicting safety. Future work will focus on adding more information about these processes to improve predictions.

This work builds on decades of toxicology research but represents a major shift in how scientists approach testing plant products. Previous methods were designed for single chemicals and were very time-consuming. This research shows that newer, faster methods can work for complex plant mixtures, which is a significant advancement. The findings support what other researchers have been suggesting: that modern science can test safety more efficiently without sacrificing accuracy.

This research is a summary of ongoing work, not a final answer. The new testing methods are still being developed and refined. The consortium tested these methods on selected plants, but there are thousands of different plant products used worldwide, so more testing is needed. The research doesn’t yet provide complete guidance on how to use these methods for every type of plant product or every type of safety concern. Additionally, regulatory agencies haven’t yet officially adopted these new methods, so traditional testing is still the standard requirement.

The Bottom Line

If you use plant-based supplements or products: Continue using them as directed, but be aware that safety testing is improving. Look for products from companies that follow good manufacturing practices. If you’re developing plant products: Work with safety experts to use the newest testing methods. If you’re a regulator: Consider adopting these new testing approaches as they become more established. Confidence level: Moderate - these methods show promise but are still being refined.

Plant supplement companies, cosmetic manufacturers, regulatory agencies, and people who use plant-based products should care about this research. Healthcare providers may also find this useful when advising patients about botanical products. This research is less relevant for people who don’t use plant-based products. Pregnant women and people with serious health conditions should continue consulting doctors before using any botanical products.

Changes in how plant products are tested will happen gradually over the next 3-5 years as regulatory agencies adopt these new methods. You probably won’t notice immediate changes, but over time, plant-based products on store shelves may have been tested more thoroughly. Full implementation of these new methods across the industry could take 5-10 years.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • If using a botanical supplement, track: product name, brand, dose taken, time of day, and any physical changes (energy level, digestion, sleep quality, skin condition) on a scale of 1-10. Record this weekly to notice patterns.
  • Start a botanical product one at a time and wait 2 weeks before adding another. This helps you notice which products actually affect you and which don’t. Keep a simple list in the app of all botanical products you use, including when you started and why.
  • Create a monthly check-in where you review how you feel overall and whether the botanical product is still helping. If you notice any unusual symptoms, note them in the app and discuss with a healthcare provider. Set reminders to take your botanical product consistently so you can accurately track its effects.

This research describes new methods for testing plant product safety that are still in development. These methods are not yet standard requirements for all botanical products. Always consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new botanical supplement, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have existing health conditions. This article is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice. The safety testing methods described here are promising but not yet universally adopted by regulatory agencies.