The American Botanical Council on Tuesday honored six researchers for their contributions to the herbal and botanical communities.

This year's event—which was livestreamed and can be seen on ABC's Facebook page and YouTube channel—also celebrated the accomplishments of the 33-year-nonprofit education organization in its 33rd year.

"As a science-based research and education organization, ABC attempts to keep current with the explosive amount of human clinical research that is published in the scientific literature each year," said Mark Blumenthal, ABC's founder and executive director. "ABC's Botanical Excellence Awards are granted to individuals and commercial businesses that are committed to excellence in exploring and expanding the scientific research on herbs, medicinal plants, phytomedicines, medicinal fungi, and other natural products with therapeutic value."

ABC's Chief Science Officer Stefan Gafner, Ph.D., said, " It is one of the greatest privileges at ABC to honor a few of those individuals and organizations every year." The awards are named for leaders in various fields of botanical studies.

James A. Duke Excellence in Botanical Literature Award

Hobbs is a fourth-generation, internationally renowned clinical herbalist,  research scientist and consultant to the natural products industry. He holds a doctorate in phylogenetics, evolutionary biology, and phytochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley. He is also a founding member of the American Herbalists Guild.

"Hobbs' work was chosen for its consumer-friendly approach to the field of mycology, with scientific and clinical research presented in a creative and informative way and featuring beautiful photography throughout," said Hannah Bauman, assistant editor for ABC's peer-reviewed journal HerbalGram, as she presented the award to Hobbs. "He has succeeded in creating an accessible book for readers at every level of interest."

Hobbs said, "I wanted to make this book a practical guide featuring medicine making, growing, choosing commercial products and the importance of quality, combining the folklore and traditional uses with a thorough review of the scientific literature and especially all clinical trials available for each species. I hope it can inspire a love of mushrooms and a preservation of their habitats, especially the old growth forests and trees of which they are an integral part."

The award is named for well-known botanist and author, the late James A. Duke, Ph.D.

Norman R. Farnsworth Excellence in Botanical Research Award

Joseph Betz, Ph.D., acting director of the Office of Dietary Supplements at the National Institutes of Health, presented Brown with the award. "Paula has published validated analytical methods for a number of dietary supplement ingredients, including ginseng, echinacea, and many others…and has more publications of supplement ingredient methods in AOAC International's Official Methods of Analysis than any other author that I know."

In her acceptance speech, Brown said, "I want to acknowledge a few colleagues, including Susan Murch, who told me if I want to study plants, I better get out my rainboots and get out there. Mary Hardy, last year's ABC Fredi Kronenberg Award winner, reminds me, as I go down my rabbit hole of chemistry, that this is about health…Everything that I have achieved here at BCIT has been with the support and hard work and dedication of my group, many of whom have been with me for close two decades. I thank all of them because they are part of this award, as well."

This award is named for the world-famous pharmacognosist at the University of Illinois at Chicago, the late Norman R. Farnsworth, Ph.D.

Varro E. Tyler Commercial Investment in Phytomedicinal Research Award

Wikman founded SHI in 1975 to gather knowledge about medicinal plants from many parts of the world, promote scientific research and develop pharmaceutical-quality botanical medicines, or phytomedicines. His work has led to collaborations with a number of prestigious universities as well as the Russian space program. SHI's phytomedicines were used on the MIR space station.

In presenting the award, Gafner said: "ABC chose SHI for the company's exceptional commitment to the scientific and clinical research on the therapeutic effects of several botanical ingredients—most notably andographis and rhodiola. The company has initiated and supported over 30 clinical studies since 1995. SHI's clinical work has significantly added to the foundation for the evidence-based medicinal use of both andographis and rhodiola, leading to effective phytotherapeutic agents in the areas of upper respiratory infections, stress-related fatigue and mild forms of depression."

Wikman said, "I want to thank ABC and Mark Blumenthal, a friend of mine for more than 40 years, for recognizing the Swedish Herbal Institute's pioneering clinical research on adaptogens.

"We appreciate ABC's recognition of our early research on rhodiola," Wikman continued. "ABC's acknowledgement of SHI's research on the fixed combination KanJang, based on eleutheroccus and the adaptogen andrographis, has demonstrated a significant effect on upper respiratory-tract infections. Our current focus is on the application of adaptogens in COVID-19-related issues…This award is yet another milestone on the road to full acceptance of adaptogens as important health promoters on the same footing as vitamins, trace elements, and antioxidants."

The award is named for late professor of pharmacognosy and author Varro E. Tyler, Ph.D., dean of the School of Pharmacy at Purdue University for 20 years and vice-president of academic affairs at Purdue.

Fredi Kronenberg Excellence in Research and Education in Botanicals for Women's Health Award

Mary Hardy, M.D., presented the award to Hudson, saying, "Dr. Hudson has devoted her 35-plus years as a naturopath to women's health as a researcher, clinician, and educator. She has had a leading role in educating naturopaths about primary and specialty natural care of women…She has won a number of prestigious awards during her career…and has published broadly both in the lay and professional press on all aspects of women's care."

Hudson said, "I first met Fredi Kronenberg in the earliest days of the development of the Office of Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health, (now) the National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health. At these meetings, Fredi was incredibly kind, inclusive and collaborative towards me and others, and she was innovative, intellectually impressive and consistently productive in her research and academic activities, especially with regard to botanicals, integrative medicine, and women's health—three pillars of my clinical and professional career, as well."

This award is named for Fredi Kronenberg, who dedicated her professional life to the study of medicinal plants and phytomedicines for women’s health conditions. She was also a co-founder of the Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at Columbia University and a longtime member of the ABC Board of Trustees.

ABC Champion Award

In presenting the award to Cott, Lori Glenn, managing editor of ABC's HerbClip, said, "As a neuropsychopharmacologist, Jerry has researched the use of dietary supplements for psychiatric indication as well as the integration of mainstream psychiatry with nutritional and botanical intervention. ABC is recognizing Jerry for providing long-term academic and professional expertise as a peer reviewer of a wide range of publications that deal with psychopharmacology. Jerry has been the primary peer reviewer of many articles for ABC's flagship publication, HerbalGram, as well as a myriad of summaries of clinical trials and review articles. Jerry has also reviewed other publications for ABC, including chapters for The ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs."

Cott said, "Before I met Mark [Blumenthal], I was a simple neuropsychopharmacologist at the NIMH [National Institute of Mental Health] in the early '90s. I'd started a natural products research program to try and interest the drug people into searching for kinder, gentler treatments for mental health disorders. I'd never actually met any herbalists. That changed at an American Herbalists Guild meeting in West Virginia in 1994…That same year, I met the famous ethnobotanist James Duke at an NIMH meeting that I had invited him to, and Jim, along with Mark, had quite an impact on my life.…I want to thank the warm community at ABC for accepting a non-herbalist into their confidence. It is a great honor to be with you and to accept this award today."

The ABC Champion Award recognizes individuals who have been outstanding supporters of ABC and who have helped the organization promote and achieve its nonprofit research and educational mission.

Mark Blumenthal Herbal Community Builder Award

"Michael is a master of important details on a wide spectrum of significant issues necessary for the success of small, medium-sized, and large herb businesses," Blumenthal said. "Without his strong and seemingly tireless energy and leadership, it is questionable that the herb industry in the United States would be as successful, and as large, as it is today."

As president of AHPA since 1999, McGuffin has been active in the herbal industry since 1974, having owned both retail and manufacturing businesses in this field. He is leading expert on dietary supplement regulation and has been published extensively in scholarly and scientific journals.

McGuffin said, "I must share credit with the remarkable and talented AHPA staff. Each of them is actively engaged in building community, not only within the AHPA membership but more broadly among practicing herbalists, botanical researchers, and all those involved in the herb and natural products industry. The AHPA board of trustees also deserves to share this award. The board has strongly advocated for collaboration and cooperation with the other organizations that represent the herbal products industry. This not only helps us get our work done, but It's clearly an opportunity to build community."

This award is named for ABC founder and Executive Director Mark Blumenthal.

Source: American Botanical Council