Integration of computational models to predict botanical phytochemical constituent clearance routes by the extended clearance classification system (ECCS) Liu et al., 2025. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2025.117385 The Botanical Safety Consortium has a new publication that demonstrates how computational modeling can streamline safety evaluations of botanical products. Using the Extended Clearance Classification System (ECCS), the…

Developing a Screening Strategy to Identify Hepatotoxicity and Drug Interaction Potential of Botanicals. Roe et al., 2024. Journal of Dietary Supplements. https://doi.org/10.1080/19390211.2024.2417679   The HESI Botanical Safety Consortium‘s Hepatotoxicity Working Group has developed a screening strategy to identify hepatotoxicity and drug interaction risks associated with botanicals. Botanical products are complex mixtures that are difficult to test in traditional…

Koturbash et al., 2024. Botanical-induced toxicity: Liver injury and botanical-drug interactions. A report on a Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting symposium. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yrtph.2024.105708   This article addresses the growing public health concerns surrounding the use of botanical supplements and herbal products, focusing on their potential to cause liver toxicity and dangerous drug interactions. As the…

A new paper from the HESI Botanical Safety Consortium describes the development and validation of a novel method for quantifying the constituents in milk thistle extracts to ensure consistency and reliability in efficacy and toxicity research. Milk thistle has been used for its purported hepatoprotective properties and other reported health benefits. Given that it is a complex…

A recent article from the Botanical Safety Consortium (BSC) Neurotoxicity Working Group aims to evaluate existing NAMs for neurotoxicity screening of botanicals as complex mixtures. The article provides background on three assays or models for neuroactivity screening (C. elegans, zebrafish embryos, and multi-electrode arrays) and well-studied botanicals used as case studies for neurotoxicity, including aconite and oleander. Article…

A newly published study from the Botanical Safety Consortium, selected for the cover of Journal of Applied Toxicology, used computational models to predict the physiochemical and pharmacokinetic properties of botanical constituents.  This study investigated 103 major compounds from 13 botanicals (e.g., ashwagandha, kratom, and yohimbe), providing insights into their absorption, bioavailability, and safety profiles.  The in-silico…

A cross-sector group of experts from the Health and Environmental Sciences Institutes (HESI)’s Botanical Safety Consortium (BSC) and Genetic Toxicology Technical Committee (GTTC) analyzed data from the National Toxicology Program (NTP) Ames test database to evaluate the need for repeat testing when assessing the mutagenic and carcinogenic potential of chemical compounds. Key Findings: High reproducibility for initial positive and…