Herb Pharm Expands Its R&D & QA Departments

Two analytical chemists join the herbal extract company

WILLIAMS, Oregon – May 24, 2007 /Natural Newswire/ -- Herb Pharm, America’s leading liquid herbal extract company, is pleased to announce that Hellen Oketch, Ph.D. and Anthony Smith, Ph.D. have joined Herb Pharm as botanical analytical chemists in its R&D and QA departments.

Raised in Kenya by her traditional herbalist mother, Dr. Hellen Oketch has been passionate about herbal medicine from childhood, which led her to study at the Pharmaceutical Sciences Institute of the University of Copenhagen in Denmark where she received her Ph.D. in pharmacognosy in 1997. Thereafter she taught pharmacognosy at the School of Pharmacy at the University of Nairobi in Kenya where she also did research on Kenyan medicinal plants, and received a grant from the World Health Organization (WHO) to study anti-malarial botanical medicines. She has also done research at the University of California at Berkeley on medicinal plants for the treatment of post-menopausal symptoms and on cancer biology. Dr. Oketch has authored publications in peer-reviewed journals as well as book chapters and review papers, and is an active member of the American Society of Pharmacognosy and the American Association of Cancer Research.

Dr. Anthony Smith earned his doctorate in biochemistry and molecular biology at Oregon State University in 2005. He has worked in the LinusPauling Institute at Oregon State University where he focused on the biochemical mechanisms behind inflammation and cardiovascular aging. Along with a growing knowledge of herbal medicine, Anthony has a passionate interest in the dynamic interface of physiology, health, and human nutrition and performance. He is a member of Sigma Xi and the Biochemical Society, and has authored numerous publications, including research papers and review articles.

“We feel that bringing Dr. Oketch and Dr. Smith to Herb Pharm continues our long tradition of combining the best of herbal traditions and cutting edge scientific knowledge,” said Ed Smith, Herb Pharm’s co-founder and co-owner. “What distinguishes our new analytical chemists is their background and interest in medicinal herbs combined with their rigorous scientific training.” Smith continued, “Herb Pharm has always been a recognized leader when it comes to ensuring the quality of our full-spectrum herbal extracts. We were among the first in the industry to establish an on-site analytical lab and to make the considerable investment in equipment, technology and people that established Herb Pharm as a premier provider.”

Since 1979 Herb Pharm has been providing the highest quality whole herb extracts and herbal healthcare products possible and educating people on the safe and effective use of medicinal plants. Herb Pharm offers over 260 whole-herb healthcare products including single herb liquid extracts, alcohol-free glycerites, herbal extract compounds, oils, salve, and capsules.

Contact:
Peter F. Littell
413-665-3519
peterlittell@comcast.net