ABSTRACT
Sales trend of herbal products in the United States suggests a dramatic increase in the use of these products. According to industry reports, consumers spend approximately $14 billion a year on dietary supplements. It has been estimated that as many as 2-3 billion doses of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids were consumed each year in the United States (GAO, 1999; Andersen, 2000). Among the products containing ephedrine alkaloids, Ephedra sinica (ma huang) is the most commonly used plant source. Ephedrine and related alkaloids found in ephedra can also be produced synthetically. Ephedra products have been extensively used for weight loss, weight management, and/or energy enhancement. Dietary supplements containing ephedra extract generally contain 6%–8% ephedrine alkaloids.
