LGC PROMOCHEM RESPONDS TO CUSTOMER DEMANDS WITH ITS NEW SNAP-N-SHOOT REFERENCE STANDARDS

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LGC PROMOCHEM RESPONDS TO CUSTOMER DEMANDS WITH ITS NEW SNAP-N-SHOOT REFERENCE STANDARDS
13 July 2004 - LGC

The demand for plant-derived phytomedicines is increasing and, consequently, manufacturers are having to widen their sources of the plant extracts which are their raw materials. Many of these extracts are imported from overseas, particularly the Far East, and quality is often variable depending on how the extraction step has been carried out.

In addition, extracts from one part of a plant may have different chemical properties to those taken from another part of the plant: for example, compounds extracted from the root of the Ginseng plant have a much higher activity than those extracted from the leaves. Hence, a high quality assay of raw materials is vital in ensuring that quantities of active substances in the final phytomedical products are consistent, and that the products are efficacious.

To assist analysts involved in identifying the authenticity of a plant or part of a plant, LGC Promochem, Europe's leading supplier of reference materials, has announced a new range of phytochemical reference standards, manufactured by ChromaDex, the market leader in the creation and supply of nutraceutical and botanical reference standards.

Active phytochemical substances are often rare or difficult to extract, which makes them ex pensive. Because they are also mainly used in small quantities, ChromaDex sought to develop a system for delivering standards more economically to a wider group of users and for this it turned to Cerilliant, a company with 20 years' experience in the production of chemical reference materials, and the founder of the now well-established Snap-n-Shoot system of standards delivery. The two companies' collaboration has led to the production of a range of Snap-n-Shoot ampoules of 0.1mg/mL phytochemical reference standards in solution, offering reduced preparation time and increased testing consistency.

The ampoules are sealed, making the materials virtually contamination-proof. Sealing under argon reduces the risk of degradation of air or moisture sensitive materials, while changes in concentration due to solvent evaporation are eliminated even if the ampoule is stored for an extended period. The ampoules are silanised to minimise any interaction between the material and active sites on the glass, which is amber-coloured to prevent reduce photo-degradation of light-sensitive materials.

Full details of the new Snap-n-Shoot phytochemical reference standards, with over 2500 different compounds, can be found on LGC Promochem's website at www.lgcpromochem.com. The website offers an advanced search facility and online ordering to account holders for over 11,000 reference materials in English, French or German. Snap-n-Shoot standards are accompanied by a detailed and full certificate of analysis and customers interested to receive an example of a certificate can contact their local LGC Promochem office.

http://www.lgc.co.uk

About: LGC
LGC is Europe's leading independent analytical laboratory providing advanced chemical, biochemical and forensic analysis, diagnostic services, DNA testing and genetic screening, research, method development, consultancy, training and analytical outsourcing. LGC operates in a diverse range of markets, in both the public and private sectors, including foods, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, environment and chemicals and is the national measurement laboratory for chemical and biochemical analysis. LGC's services are designed to help organisations produce high quality data on which to base scientific and commercial decisions. Reference materials supplied by our market-leading distribution business, LGC Promochem, underpin the quality of measurement in many industrial sectors including pharmaceuticals. LGC Promochem distributes reference standards and ATCC biomaterials throughout Europe and in India. Growing at around 15% per annum and majority-owned by Legal & General Ventures since April 2004, LGC is based in Teddington, Middlesex, with additional laboratory facilities in Runcorn, Cheshire, in Edinburgh, Scotland and in Luckenwalde, Germany. Further offices are located in France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden and India.

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