Korean biotech firm Natural Endotech’s health products were found to contain an illegal substance, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said Thursday.

The company, known for its signature health goods made of Chinese traditional medicine Cynanchum wilfordii, used a cheaper toxic ingredient, Cynanchum auriculatum Royal, to make its products, the ministry said.

Cynanchum wilfordii and Cynanchum auriculatum Royal are hardly different in their appearance, but the latter is strictly banned from use for human consumption by the Korean government due to safety concerns.

The health product manufacturers appeared to have used Cynanchum auriculatum Royal, which requires less time to farm and is cheaper than Cynanchum wilfordii.

Cynanchum wilfordii, called “baeksuho” in Korean, has enjoyed popularity among the middle-aged in recent years, for its purported medicinal effects.

The herb has been widely known to treat various geriatric diseases, strengthen the immune system and improve blood circulation. It has also been traded on the global online shopping mall eBay.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has examined 300 manufacturers whose health products claim to use Cynanchum wilfordii after the Korea Consumer Agency found that Natural Endotech had not used the medicinal plant in its products.

The results of the investigation are yet to be revealed, but the ministry confirmed that 13 products, including those by Natural Endotech, have been found to include the illegal herb.

But Oriental medicine doctors said that consuming Cynanchum auriculatum Royal would not be as harmful as expected.

“In theory, Cynanchum auriculatum Royal can also be used for medicine, though it could be dangerous to use the ingredient as a replacement for Cynanchum wilfordii,” said an official from the Korean Medical Association.

By Ock Hyun-ju (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)