by Alexandra Scammell, Vanderbilt University

Analysis of CY dietary supplements with low or unusual content of alkaloids. Credit: Frontiers in Pharmacology (2025). DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1518750

A recent study by Paula Luis and Claus Schneider, researchers in the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Basic Sciences Department of Pharmacology and the Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, has uncovered substantial inconsistencies in the alkaloid content of Corydalis yanhusuo (CY) dietary supplements.

The work, published in Frontiers in Pharmacology, highlights concerns regarding the efficacy and authenticity of these widely used supplements and raises concerns about possible toxicological liability.

CY, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, is renowned for its analgesic properties, primarily attributed to its active alkaloid ingredients. As such, alkaloids are the main bioactive components of dietary supplements made from CY. Consumers often turn to CY supplements, which can be taken as tablets, granules, and powders, for pain relief and to address conditions such as addiction. However, until now, there has been limited analysis of the actual alkaloid content present in commercially available CY products.

The CY plant naturally has 12.7 milligrams of alkaloids per gram of plant material, so the study evaluated the total alkaloid content in 14 CY dietary supplements and found a wide range, from levels below quantifiable limits in some products to approximately 11 mg/g in others.

Notably, only five of the products analyzed contained alkaloid levels comparable to those found in the natural CY plant. The remaining samples exhibited significantly lower alkaloid content, with some containing none at all. Additionally, some of the supplements that were analyzed appeared to be contaminated or otherwise altered.

Schneider, emphasizing the implications of these findings, said, “For consumers and scientists interested in using CY alkaloids, it’s the luck of the draw whether they happen to buy one that contains alkaloids or not.”

Schneider and Luis embarked on this analysis while investigating the analgesic activity of specific CY alkaloids, particularly dehydrocorybulbine. They hypothesized a molecular target for dehydrocorybulbine and sought to isolate the alkaloid from CY dietary supplements, but in the process discovered the significant variability in alkaloid content among different products, prompting a more systematic investigation.

The researchers hope their findings will highlight the need to verify the alkaloid content of CY products before others use them in animal or clinical studies. For consumers, the study suggests trying different sources or brands of CY supplements to find one that meets their needs or expectations.

The study underscores the necessity for quality control and standardization in the production of herbal supplements to ensure that consumers receive products that are consistent and reliable.

More information: Paula B. Luis et al, Large variability in the alkaloid content of Corydalis yanhusuo dietary supplements, Frontiers in Pharmacology (2025). DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1518750

Journal information:Frontiers in Pharmacology

Provided by Vanderbilt University

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