ConsumerLab.com
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
Latest review finds St. John's wort products incorporating dried raw herb, as opposed to extract, are more likely to exceed WHO's .3 parts per million level of heavy metal cadmium for raw herb supplements. Overall, five of 21 products tested exceeded cadmium levels set by independent testing body. In addition, five products did not meet claimed amounts of hypericin and hyperforin, thought to be two active compounds giving herb its antidepressant properties. Again, raw herb-containing products tended not to pass, with two of three raw herb products having unacceptable hyperforin levels. Products using "flowers" or "flowers and leaves," as opposed to "aerial" portions - any parts that grow above ground - tended to meet label claims, firm says