Alternative Medicine Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Alternative Medicine, including details on complementary medicine, alternative therapies, homeopathy. | ||||||||
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A traditional method of Cinnamomum carolinense preparation eliminates safrole from a therapeutic Pohnpean tea.Reynertson KA, Balick MJ, Lee R, Raynor W, Pelep Y, Kennelly EJ Lehman College and The Graduate Center, City University of New York, 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY 10468, USA. Cinnamomum carolinense, locally known as madeu, is a tree endemic to the volcanic mountains of the Island of Pohnpei in the Eastern Carolines of the South Pacific. The bark is harvested from trees and brewed to make a medicinal tea and hot beverage that is regularly consumed. Many species of Cinnamomum contain the known hepatocarcinogen safrole, sparking concern regarding habitual consumption of this beverage. HPLC-PDA analysis confirmed the presence of the carcinogen in alcoholic extracts of Cinnamomum carolinense bark shavings (0.435%, w/w), but safrole was not detected in the tea. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation of safrole were determined to be 1.25 and 3.75 microg/mL, respectively. The traditional preparation method, which boils the bark shavings, degrades the safrole. Published 24 October 2005 in J Ethnopharmacol, 102(2): 269-74.
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