Grapefruit Seed Extract
What about rumours of Chemicals in GSE? Newsgroups and email groups have received postings to the effect that GSE contains Triclosan, Benzelthonium Chloride, or Methyl Paraben. The source of this type of report comes from both Germany and Japan, where Citricidal is not approved for human consumption. The reason is that Citricidal is very similar in molecular weight to both Benzelthonium Chloride and Triclosan, both of which are effective disinfectants, but are toxic to human and animal life.
In Germany their test (which is not well documented at all) for BC, Triclosan, and M.Paraben came up positive (which is more correctly called a "false positive") and in Japan, the same is happening for Triclosan. USDA found benzelthonium chloride in its 2001 test. Was this a simple error or a deliberate attempt to scare people away from Citricidal products?
Meanwhile, Citricidal has been tested for the presence of these toxins by independent labs, and has been proven clean. (Ex: Weston Gulf Coast Laboratories, Inc., University Park, IL, test completed in March of 1992. Tested for heavy metals, Cyanides, Pesticides and PCBs and Benzelkonium Chloride. Results: None Detected.) In fact, the accusations about triclosan (used in many dish and hand soaps in the US) became so frequent a few years ago, that Citricidal began specifically testing each batch of GSE for its absense, and providing a Certificate of Analysis to that effect.
The truth is, Citricidal is not only effective, it has been in use for decades and recommended by many high profile doctors and healthcare professionals. If these allegations had any validity, there certainly would be a history of complaints and judgements against the product, and it would have been removed from the market many years ago.
Triclosan has recently been compared to "Agent Orange" in toxicity. The EPA rates triclosan as "highly toxic". The US FDA made inspections of the Citricidal manufacturing facility back in the 1990's and found no chemical preservatives; and the formula is the same today.
Such rumours are false, and are not a threat to those armed with accurate information. The test reports from Germany and Japan and the USDA are certainly bothersome, but they have produced "false positives", not accurate profiles. The vast body of evidence from many years of use by thousands of satisfied consumers, doctors, manufacturers, and veterinarians, speaks most loudly against such reports. (The German report, linked above, does suggest that some suppliers of "GSE" may, in fact, be fraudulent. But Citricidal has been proven a safe, and effective product.)
Typical Certificate Of Analysis of our Grapefruit Seed Extract.
Certificate Of Analysis
Citricidal Liquid
Appearance Viscous Liquid pH 2.3 Color Dark Yellow Odor Mild Citrus Moisture 2.7% Molecular Weight (Active Compound) 565 Ascorbic Acid 2.61% Glycerin USP 40% Grapefruit Extractive 60% Heavy Metals None Detected Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Pesticides None Detected PCBs Negative Salmonella, E.Coli, Enterobacteria None Detected Proplyl Hydroxybenzoate None Detected Methyl Hydroxybenzoate None Detected Arsenic None Detected Benzethonium Chloride None Detected Solubility Soluble: In Water, Alcohol, Organic Solvents.
Density 9.5 lbs./gal Benzalkonium Chloride None Detected Quarternary compounds derived from grapefruit bioflavonoids.
How Does it Work?
It should come as no surprise that we know a lot more about what GSE is good for, than exactly how it works.
Take aspirin. Since its development in 1899, billions of people have benefited from its ability to reduce inflammation, lessen pain, and lower fever. But exactly how it works is only recently being better understood.
From Seoul, Korea, Dr. Sung-Hwan of Abcom Chemie Co., Ltd states:
"Considering all the electron micrographs, we believe that the microbial uptake of GSE alters the cell membrane by inhibiting enzymatic activities… You can see the loss of the cytoplasmic membrane."
What is not known is how GSE can affect the cell membranes of such a diverse group of microbes with virtually no toxicity toward animal life(The "Acute Oral Toxicity Study" performed by an independent laboratory concluded that you would have to take 4,000 times the normal adult dose to risk a 50% chance of poisoning). And to complicate matters further, since viruses do not have a cell membrane of their own, how is it that GSE can act as an antiviral remedy as it does?
Unraveling the mysteries of GSE and its mechanisms would undoubtedly provide extremely valuable insight into the basic activity of microbes. We might hope that research funds will become available to answer the many questions raised about how it can be so potent and yet so safe.