Botanical Testing Library
Every botanical has a known
adulteration profile.
We screen for it before it lands in your finished product. Browse the botanicals we test most, the substitution and contamination patterns each one is exposed to, and the recommended Ayah Labs / Qalitex test panel.
All testing performed under Qalitex Laboratories' ISO 17025 accreditation. Sample receiving in Countryside, IL.
Ashwagandha
Withania somnifera
Adulteration Patterns
Withanolide marker substitution; root vs. leaf misidentification; lead from soil uptake.
Recommended Tests
- ✓ HPTLC Identity
- ✓ Withanolide Quantification (HPLC)
- ✓ Heavy Metals (ICP-MS)
Turmeric
Curcuma longa
Adulteration Patterns
Lead chromate adulteration (color enhancement); curcumin spiking with synthetic dye; species substitution with Curcuma zedoaria.
Recommended Tests
- ✓ DNA Barcoding
- ✓ Curcuminoid Profile (HPLC)
- ✓ Heavy Metals (ICP-MS)
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo biloba
Adulteration Patterns
Quercetin/rutin spiking to inflate flavonoid count; species substitution; ginkgolic acid above 5 ppm limit.
Recommended Tests
- ✓ HPTLC Identity
- ✓ Flavonoid Glycoside Profile (HPLC)
- ✓ Ginkgolic Acid Limit Test
Echinacea
Echinacea purpurea / angustifolia
Adulteration Patterns
Species mix-up between purpurea, angustifolia, and pallida; root/aerial misidentification.
Recommended Tests
- ✓ DNA Barcoding
- ✓ HPTLC Identity
- ✓ Microbiology (USP <61>/<62>)
Rhodiola
Rhodiola rosea
Adulteration Patterns
Rosavin/salidroside ratio out of spec; substitution with Rhodiola crenulata; lower-grade species mislabeled.
Recommended Tests
- ✓ HPTLC Identity
- ✓ Rosavin/Salidroside Quantification (HPLC)
Ginseng
Panax ginseng / quinquefolius
Adulteration Patterns
Asian/American Panax substitution; ginsenoside spiking; non-Panax species (e.g., Eleutherococcus) sold as ginseng.
Recommended Tests
- ✓ DNA Barcoding
- ✓ Ginsenoside Profile (HPLC)
- ✓ Heavy Metals (ICP-MS)
Milk Thistle
Silybum marianum
Adulteration Patterns
Silymarin under-spec; oxidative degradation in poorly stored material; non-extracted seed sold as extract.
Recommended Tests
- ✓ HPLC Silymarin Quantification
- ✓ HPTLC Identity
- ✓ Stability Testing
Valerian
Valeriana officinalis
Adulteration Patterns
Species substitution with Valeriana edulis or jatamansi; valerenic acid drift; volatile oil loss.
Recommended Tests
- ✓ HPTLC Identity
- ✓ Valerenic Acid Quantification
- ✓ Microbiology (USP <61>/<62>)
St. John's Wort
Hypericum perforatum
Adulteration Patterns
Hyperforin loss in storage; hypericin spiking with dye; photosensitivity-related compound under-spec.
Recommended Tests
- ✓ HPLC Hypericin/Hyperforin
- ✓ HPTLC Identity
- ✓ Stability Testing
Holy Basil (Tulsi)
Ocimum sanctum
Adulteration Patterns
Species mix-up with sweet basil; pesticide carryover from non-organic farms; eugenol under-spec.
Recommended Tests
- ✓ DNA Barcoding
- ✓ Pesticide Residue Screening
- ✓ Essential Oil Profile (GC-MS)
Maca
Lepidium meyenii
Adulteration Patterns
Color-grade ratio mislabeling (yellow/red/black); heavy metals from Andean volcanic soil; gelatinized vs. raw misrepresentation.
Recommended Tests
- ✓ Macamide Profile (HPLC)
- ✓ Heavy Metals (ICP-MS)
- ✓ Microbiology (USP <61>/<62>)
Shilajit
Mineral pitch resin
Adulteration Patterns
Lead and arsenic above safe limits (mineral source); fulvic acid under-spec; synthetic humic acid substitution.
Recommended Tests
- ✓ Heavy Metals (ICP-MS)
- ✓ Fulvic Acid Quantification
- ✓ Identity (FTIR)
How We Test Botanicals
Two-method identity. Always.
Single-method labs miss substitution. We pair HPTLC fingerprinting with DNA barcoding so species, plant part, and chemical profile all line up before we issue a CoA.
DNA Barcoding
Species-level confirmation using ITS, matK, or rbcL barcoding regions. Catches substitution that chemistry alone can miss.
HPTLC Fingerprinting
High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography compares your sample's chemical fingerprint to authenticated reference materials.
ICP-MS + USP Micro
Heavy metals (As/Cd/Pb/Hg) per USP <232>/<233>, plus full microbiology under USP <61>/<62>.
Don't see your botanical?
We test 100+ botanicals through Qalitex's ISO 17025 scope. Tell us what you need and we'll quote a per-sample test panel.