FDA Bans First FD&C Dye! Which Will be Next?

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The FDA has moved to finally ban Red Dye No. 3 from use in food and drugs in America.  Red Dye No. 3 was first determined to be a cancer causing color additive almost 30 years ago.  Studies conducted using labs rats found that they became inflicted with the disease after consuming large amounts of Red dye No. 3.  Thirty years ago, the FDA officially banned Red Dye No. 3 from use in cosmetics but left the door open for it to be used as a color additive in food and prescription drugs.  By January 2027, the FDA has ordered that Red Dye No 3 must be removed from all food in the USA and by 2028--from all drugs. Food Manufacturers Shiver in their Boots Red Dye No. 3 has mostly been used in baked goods, sweets and candies.  It is used by prominent candy manufacturers such as Mars Inc (Skittles) and Just Born Quality Confections (Peeps).  Food Manufacturing giants such as Con Agra, McCormick, Heinz, General Mills and Pepsi Co will all have to find alternatives for ...
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Ancient Plant Thought to be Extinct Rediscovered by Instanbul Researcher

The Silphion (silphium) plant had great value during the Roman Empire.  The saplings of its leaves which had a gum like resin were valued at the same price as the precious metal, silver.  Ancient Greeks valued the plant so much they inscribed it on their money.  Cyrenaica was an ancient Greek city and was known as the most important city of the Pentapolis geographic region.  The Silphion plant was first discovered along the coast of Cyrenaica which is now part of North Africa. Though it was once thought to be a treasure of the ancient Roman empire, it became extinct.  Was it eaten into extinction? It’s very possible! 


      Ferula Drudeana plant

What Did Ancient Civilizations Use it For?

Ancient civilizations heavily used the Silphium plant for its numerous therapeutic and medicinal qualities.  The plant has anti-cancerous, contraceptive and anti-inflammatory compounds.  Notable Greek physician, Hippocrates tried to cultivate the plant in order to bring it into mainland Greece but he was not successful in his efforts. The plant could only be harvested in the wild.  Soranus, another physician would prescribe the plant for contraceptive purposes.  It was also used by the ancients to treat diseases such as sciatic, intestinal disorders, pain, epilepsy, hernia and tumors.  Silphion was also thought to be an aphrodisiac and used by Ancient Egyptians for ritual practices.   It was also used as a spice to flavor Roman dishes. 


The Researcher Observing the Silphion Plant

Mahmut Miski, a pharmacognosy researcher at Instanbul University, believes that he has rediscovered the silphion plant which he suspects is the Ferula Drudeana which currently grows on a volcano in Turkey named Mt. Hasan.  Both plants display the same anti-cancerous properties and have similar physical appearances.  This isn’t the first time that Silphion was thought to be rediscovered. In 1909, German engineer and plant collector, Walter Siehe discovered the species as Ferula Ovina.  It was then re-named Ferula Drudeana by Komarov Botanical Institute in 1930.  


      Dr. Mahmut Miski, Instanbul University

The Ferula species has been found in different locations in Anatolia which is present day Turkey. The locations in Anatolia where the Ferula plant exists were former Greek villages.  Dr. Miski was carrying out postdoctoral research almost forty years ago when he first discovered the plant.  He noticed various similarities between the two plants that are in line with how the ancient plant once looked on ancient Greek coins and texts.  


Ancient Greek Coins which shows the appearance of the Silphion plant

Magas of Cyrene Ancient Greek Coin


Both Ferula Drudeana and Silphion display the same type of thick branch roots, yellow flowers and celery like leaves.  Miski has followed a method called cold stratification to grow the species in a greenhouse.  He’s  conducting research on Ferula Drudeana after receiving a grant to collect specimens of the plant.  


Miski, M. (2021). Next chapter in the legend of silphion: Preliminary morphological, chemical, biological and pharmacological evaluations, initial conservation studies, and reassessment of the regional extinction event. Plants, 10(1), 102. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10010102

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