 Market
Update on Select Herbs
Black Cohosh
(Cimicifuga racemosa):
Prices for this North American
root range from $1.50/kg to $15/kg. Currently, black cohosh
is considered "at risk" of commercial over-harvesting
from the American forests where it is wild-harvested. The
majority of black cohosh is still exported to Europe for use
in popular menopause products, such as Remifemin. Black cohosh
is relatively easy to grow and there has been a trend toward
cultivation in Europe. Certified organic materials command
higher prices.
Buchu
(Agathosma betulina)
:
There is currently a ban on importation
of buchu into the US, and demand for the plant is slight.
None of our correspondants are buying buchu. A certified cultivated
supply may be able to pique interest. HRF is investi-gating
the import ban to determine if exceptions are possible for
cultivated material.
Devil’s Claw
(Harpagophytum procumbens):
Prices for devil’s claw range from
$3.00/kg to $5.00/kg. Devil’s claw is more popular in Europe
than in the US. In the US, glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin
sulfate are the ingredients of choice for arthritis products.
Devil’s claw desperately needs credible clinical support for
the joint health indication, which is one of the most lucrative
markets. It is somewhat surprising that companies with so
much to gain from promoting this ingredient have not sponsored
the research that could put it on the map as a viable remedy
for arthritis relief.
Echinacea
(Echinacea purpurea):
Echinacea’s popularity in the
West has led to such large-scale overproduction that it is
practically "free," according to major herb buyers.
The going rate for E. purpurea has bottomed out at
around $1/kg for herb and $8/kg for root. E. angustifolia
continues to garner higher prices, approximately $40 to
$60/kg, even though there is no scientific evidence to suggest
that this species has more potent immune-stimulating properties.
One buyer estimates that there is enough echinacea in warehouses
to last the next two years at current sales rates.
Goldenseal
(Hydrastis canadensis):
Goldenseal is one of the few medicinal
plants for which inadequate supply and high cost continue
to be issues. The majority of goldenseal root comes from dwindling
wild populations in North America, although some cultivation
has begun. Prices currently range from $66 to $110/kg, but
can reach more than $200/kg depending on the time of year.
One of our sources purchases only organically cultivated goldenseal,
which costs between $110 to $132/kg, a price roughly 10% higher
than for wildcrafted material. Goldenseal is now listed as
an endangered specie by CITES, so efforts to cultivate it
are essential.
As more goldenseal comes under
cultivation, prices will drop accordingly. Cultivation seems
to be on the rise, according to a 1998 tonnage survey commissioned
by the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA). In 1998,
only 2.5% of goldenseal on the market came from cultivated
sources. The AHPA survey projected that from the years 1999
to 2003, as much as 19% of goldenseal may be cultivated. Watch
for an update on goldenseal in upcoming HRF market reports,
following the release of AHPA’s 1999 survey.
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