ABOUT THE CENTER

The Center for Research on  Botanical Dietary Supplements at Iowa State University (ISU) and the University of Iowa (UI) links two traditionally strong complementary institutions and focuses their effort on important research on botanical supplements.  This multidisciplinary Center includes scientists from the fields of horticulture, botany, biochemistry, molecular biology, toxicology, chemistry, medicinal pharmacology, nutrition, epidemiology, clinical medicine, and statistics. 

We have chosen to study Echinacea and Hypericum because they are two of the herbs most commonly used by consumers in the United States.  There is substantial evidence for potential health benefits, both genera are readily grown in Iowa, and our affiliated North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station maintains the nation's germplasm repository for Echinacea, conserving all known species in the genus.

These herbs also offer different models for research on botanical supplements and for expanding our understanding of the potential health benefits of herbs.  Echinacea has potential broad bioactivity, but little is know regarding the active constituents, and nothing is known regarding mechanisms of action.  In contrast, active constituents have been identified from Hypericum and there is growing information on mechanism.

Click here to learn more about Echinacea.

Click here to learn more about Hypericum.