ARRGO puts each grower lot of Rhodiola rosea through a series of analyses to ensure quality and purity. Each lot comes with its own Certificate of Analysis (COA), and all testing is done at third party labs.
Our Rhodiola lots are tested for yeast, molds, E-coli and total microbials. The raw root can be high in micro’s, comparatively. Once dried and after a period of several months the micro count drops, but does not approach levels necessary for human consumption.
Micro testing is done when the root has just been processed – washed, chipped and dried. Any visible mold is thrown out, and the chipped root goes through a final rinse of dilute hydrogen peroxide before entering the dryer.
The lots also go through a battery of heavy metals testing – lead, arsenic, mercury and cadmium. Alberta’s wide-open spaces, pure air and green fields yield Rhodiola root with low levels of heavy metals.
Some areas of Alberta were native prairie and rolling hills prior to the current generation of farmers breaking the land. Organic farmers in certain locations can produce roots with no detectable signs of pesticides.
HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) is the testing method used for all analyses of the most important phenylpropanoids – rosin, rosarin, rosavin and salidroside. The three rosavins are analyzed separately and the value listed on the COA is the summation, and is called Total Rosavins. For customers who need the breakdown, the full set of compounds analyzed is available. The full set also includes tyrosol and cinnamyl alcohol.
Currently there is no standard analytical method for Rhodiola rosea. For ARRGO that means we must be consistent in our testing and method of analysis. Our customers frequently run their own analyses, and the comparison is within the ranges stated on our COA.
Our roots earn their COA through the hard work our ARRGO members, who ensure the highest standards are met for quality, traceability and purity. Our rigorous testing proves they are doing it right.
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