Rapid and reliable determination of illegal adulterant in herbal medicines and dietary supplements by LC/MS/MS

GC Analysis of Metformin, Ranitidine and Famotidine from Pharmaceuticals and Human Serum

A method has been designed based on gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (FID) for the separation and analyses of ranitidine, famotidine and metformin after pre-column derivatization with trifluoroacetylacetone and ethyl chloroformate. DB-1 (30 m × 0.32 mm id) column with film thickness 0.25 μm was used for the separation at an initial temperature of column was 100°C for 2 min, and ramping at 20°C/min up to 250°C, with a hold time of 3 min. The rate of nitrogen flow was 2.5 mL/min and FID was used for detection. Complete separation was obtained between all the three drugs including excess of derivatization reagents. Linear calibration curves and detection limits were obtained in the ranges 0.1-30 μg/mL and 0.011-0.015 μg/mL. The procedure was repeatable in terms of peak heights/peak areas and retention time (n = 5) for derivatization, quantitation and separation with relative standard deviations (RSDs) within 2.0-3.0%. The approach was examined for the analyses of drug products and serum after the intake of the drugs by healthy volunteers, and recoveries were obtained within 95-98% with RSDs 2.4-3.1%.

Determination of Fluoxetine in Weight Loss Herbal Medicine Using an Electrochemical Sensor Based on rGO-CuNPs

The rising popularity of herbal medicine as a weight loss remedy, fueled by misleading propaganda, raises concerns about the manufacturing processes and potential inclusion of controlled substances such as fluoxetine (FLU). The objective of this work is to develop and evaluate the performance of an electrochemical device by modifying a glassy carbon electrode (GC) with a nanocomposite based on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) for detecting FLU in manipulated herbal medicines. Scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were applied for morphological and electrochemical characterization and analysis of the composite's electrochemical behavior. Under optimized conditions, the proposed sensor successfully detected FLU within the range of 0.6 to 1.6 µmol L-1, showing a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.14 µmol L-1. To determine the presence of FLU in herbal samples, known amounts of the analytical standard were added to the sample, and the analyses were performed using the standard addition method, yielding recoveries between -2.13 and 2.0%.

Development and Validation of a High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method to Determine Promethazine and Its Metabolites in Edible Tissues of Swine

This study aimed to determine promethazine (PMZ) and its metabolites, promethazine sulfoxide (PMZSO) and monodesmethyl-promethazine (Nor₁PMZ), in swine muscle, liver, kidney, and fat. A sample preparation method and high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis were established and validated. The samples were extracted using 0.1% formic acid-acetonitrile and purified with acetonitrile-saturated n-hexane. After concentration by rotary evaporation, the extract was re-dissolved in a mixture of 0.1% formic acid-water and acetonitrile (80:20, v/v). Analysis was performed using a Waters Symmetry C₁₈ column (100 mm × 2.1 mm i.d., 3.5 μm) with 0.1% formic acid-water and acetonitrile as the mobile phase. The target compounds were determined using positive ion scan and multiple reaction monitoring. PMZ and Nor₁PMZ were quantified with deuterated promethazine (PMZ-d6) as the internal standard, while PMZSO was quantified using the external standard method. In spiked muscle, liver, and kidney samples, the limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantification (LOQ) for PMZ and PMZSO were 0.05 μg/kg and 0.1 μg/kg, respectively, while for Nor₁PMZ, these values were 0.1 μg/kg and 0.5 μg/kg, respectively. For spiked fat samples, the LOD and LOQ for all three analytes were found to be 0.05 μg/kg and 0.1 μg/kg, respectively. The sensitivity of this proposed method reaches or exceeds that presented in previous reports. The analytes PMZ and PMZSO exhibited good linearity within the range of 0.1 μg/kg to 50 μg/kg, while Nor₁PMZ showed good linearity within the range of 0.5 μg/kg to 50 μg/kg, with correlation coefficients (r) greater than 0.99. The average recoveries of the target analytes in the samples varied from 77% to 111%, with the precision fluctuating between 1.8% and 11%. This study developed, for the first time, an HPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of PMZ, PMZSO, and Nor₁PMZ in four swine edible tissues, comprehensively covering the target tissues of monitoring object. The method is applicable for monitoring veterinary drug residues in animal-derived foods, ensuring food safety.

Liquid chromatography-quadrupole orbitrap and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry system for rapid identification and quantitation of thirty nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen in illegal products

RATIONALE

As the public interest in healthcare increases, illegal dietary supplements, foods, and drugs containing unauthorized pharmaceutical ingredients, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen, have been identified. Excessive and unintentional consumption is toxic to the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, and liver; therefore, these pharmaceuticals must be monitored using analytical methods.

METHODS

A rapid and reliable analysis system involving liquid chromatography-quadrupole orbitrap mass spectrometry (LC-Q-Orbitrap/MS) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) was established and validated to identify and quantify 30 NSAIDs and acetaminophen. In addition, we obtained the MS² spectrum for each component with the proposed structure of the fragment ions.

RESULTS

The analytical method was applied to 505 samples of illicitly distributed dietary supplements, foods, and pharmaceuticals. Non-steroidal analgesics were detected in 126 samples. Carbamazepine (42.9%) and diclofenac (30.2%) were the most detected components in the samples; other pharmaceutical adulterants were also detected in some cases. Additionally, we present the identification of an unknown component, dexamethasone (799 μg/g), using LC-Q-Orbitrap/MS in a sample containing the unknown component with meloxicam (15.4 mg/g).

CONCLUSIONS

The developed analysis system, consisting of qualitative analysis using LC-Q-Orbitrap/MS and quantitative analysis using LC/MS/MS, can rapidly and accurately identify and quantify NSAIDs and acetaminophen while also identifying non-analytical components.

Development and Validation of the LC-MS/MS Method for Determination of 130 Natural and Synthetic Cannabinoids in Cannabis Oil

Dietary supplements are widely available products used by millions of people around the world. Unfortunately, the procedure of adding pharmaceutical and psychoactive substances has recently been observed, in order to increase the effectiveness of supplements in the form of hemp oils. For this reason, it is extremely important to develop analytical methods for the detection of substances prohibited in dietary supplements and food products. In the present study, using the LC-MS/MS technique, an innovative method for the detection and quantification of 117 synthetic cannabinoids and 13 natural cannabinoids in dietary supplements and food products in the form of oils during one 13-min chromatographic run was developed. Each method was fully validated by characterization of the following parameters: The limit of detection was set to 0.1 ng/mL (100 µg/g, 0.01%). The limit of quantification ranged from 0.05 ng/mL to 50 ng/mL. The criteria assumed for systematic error caused by methodological bias (±20%) resulting from the recovery of analytes after the extraction process, as well as the coefficient of variation (CV) (≤20%), were met for all 130 tested compounds. The positive results of the validation confirmed that the developed methods met the requirements related to the adequacy of their application in a given scope. Additionally, methods developed using the LC-MS/MS technique were verified via proficiency tests. The developed analytical procedure was successfully used in the analysis of hemp oils and capsules containing them in the studied dietary supplements.

Based on Unmodified Aptamer-Gold Nanoparticles Colorimetric Detection of Dexamethasone in Food

Residue and illegal addition of Dexamethasone (DEX) in food has received widespread attention over the past few decades. Long-term intake of DEX will have a strong endocrine-disrupting effect, and there is an urgent need to develop highly sensitive and rapid on-site detection methods. In this work, a colorimetric sensor based on an unmodified aptamer and gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) was designed to detect DEX in milk and glucosamine. Under optimized conditions, the absorbance ratio of Au NPs increased linearly with DEX concentration over the range of 10-350 nmol/mL (r² = 0.997), with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.5 nmol/mL, and the recoveries ranged from 93.6 to 117%. To explore the interaction mechanism between aptamer and DEX, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were applied to probe intermolecular interactions and structures of the complex. The establishment of aptamer-based sensors effectively avoids the antibody screening response, with a cost-efficient, excellent selective and great potential in DEX determination.

Adulteration of Weight Loss Supplements by the Illegal Addition of Synthetic Pharmaceuticals

Weight loss supplements that have illegal additives of pharmaceutical drugs or analogues have additional health risks, and customers may not be aware of what they are taking. This research is an essential investigation and quantification of illegally added pharmaceuticals or prescription medications, specifically fluoxetine, phenolphthalein, and sibutramine, in herbal weight loss supplements offered for sale in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In this case, 137 weight loss supplements were collected and analyzed in this study. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with UV absorption detection coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (RP-HPLC-MS/MS) analyses were used to determine the presence of the pharmaceutical chemicals. Among the weight loss supplements, 15.3% (95% CI: 9.2-21.4) contained undeclared sibutramine, 13.9% (95% CI: 8.01-19.7) contained undeclared phenolphthalein, and 5.1% (95% CI: 1.4-8.8) contained undeclared fluoxetine. Amongst all weight loss supplements, 17.5% (95% CI: 11.07-24) contained significant concentrations of either sibutramine, phenolphthalein, or fluoxetine. Whilst weight loss herbal supplements offered for sale in the UAE have relatively low percentages of undeclared pharmaceuticals, many people take several different supplements daily and may encounter quite high levels of combined exposure to toxic compounds.

Detection of glibenclamide adulterated in antidiabetic Chinese patent medicine by attenuated total reflectance -infrared spectroscopy and chemometrics

There have been many reports of adulterated Chinese patent medicine with synthetic prescription that are claimed to be "pure natural". The present work investigates the feasibility of combining attenuated total reflectance-Mid-infrared (ATR-MIR) spectroscopy and several interval-based PLS algorithms for detecting the glibenclamide illegally adulterated in antidiabetic Chinese patent medicine (Jiangtangning). The full-spectrum PLS, four kinds of traditional interval PLS algorithms (iPLS, biPLS, siPLS and mwPLS) and a modified algorithm, i.e., a combination of mwPLS and window size optimization, named cmwPLS, were used for building calibration models. A total of 21 samples adulterated with 0-3.5% glibenclamide were prepared. The dataset was equally split into a training set and a test set for building and testing the prediction models, respectively. For those interval-based PLS, the whole wavenumber axis was divided into 20 sub-intervals. In terms of the prediction on the test set, the new cmwPLS produce the best model, followed by mwPLS. The modified algorithm can optimize automatically the window width (i.e., the number of adjacent variables used for modeling) and position. It can be concluded that cmwPLS coupled with ATR-MIR technique is a good alternative to other traditional chemical analysis for detecting the adulteration of Chinese patent medicine.

Structural Determination, Biological Function, and Molecular Modelling Studies of Sulfoaildenafil Adulterated in Herbal Dietary Supplement

Unapproved ingredients included in herbal medicines and dietary supplements have been detected as adulterated synthetic drugs used for erectile dysfunction. Extraction from a dietary supplement was performed to isolate the compounds by HPLC analysis. The structural characterization was confirmed using mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF/MS and LC-MS/MS), 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectroscopy techniques. Results identified the thus-obtained compound to be sulfoaildenafil, a thioketone analogue of sildenafil. The biological activities of this active compound have been focused for the first time by the experimental point of view performance in vitro. The results revealed that sulfoaildenafil can affect the therapeutic level of nitric oxide through the upregulation of nitric oxide synthase and phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) gene expressions. This bulk material, which displays structural similarity to sildenafil, was analyzed for the presence of a PDE5 inhibitor using a theoretical calculation. These unique features of the potential activity of PDE5 protein and its inhibitors, sildenafil and sulfoaildenafil, may play a key consideration for understanding the mode of actions and predicting the biological activities of PDE5 inhibitors.

An immunochromatographic strip sensor for sildenafil and its analogues

In this study, a new hapten of sildenafil (Sild) was successfully synthesized and a sensitive monoclonal antibody (mAb) against Sild was produced based on this new hapten. The subclass of the mAb was IgG2a, and the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the mAb was 0.53 ng mL-1. Next, an immunochromatographic assay (ICA) was established for detecting Sild and its analogues in functional foods, where the visual detection limit (vLOD) and cut-off values were 0.5 and 20 μg kg-1, respectively. With the aid of a strip scan reader, the ICA can measure Sild with an LOD of 0.7 μg kg-1 and a line range of detection between 1.40 and 13.11 μg kg-1. The whole test process takes only 15 min. Therefore, the ICA provides a useful tool for the on-site detection and rapid initial screening of Sild in functional food samples.

Identification of Erectile Dysfunction Drugs in Dietary Supplements by Liquid Chromatography Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry

With the rise in consumption of dietary supplements for various ailments such as erectile dysfunction (ED), there is concern that these supplements may contain illegally added phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitor and its analogs. HPLC or LC is a general separation method, and MS is a detection technique, together LC/MS/MS technology provides the mass spectral confirmation in identifying sildenafil, vardenafil, tadalafil and their analogs. In our present study, a sample extraction technique with 1:1 acetonitrile: water solvents and sonication was used for screening, then identification was performed using an LC coupled with Velos Pro linear ion trap mass spectrometry. This was a simple and reliable method for a variety of matrices of dietary supplements and pharmaceutical formulations in tablet, capsule or liquid form. The run time is only 6.5 min, allowing for a quick screening and identification of all of analytes of ED drugs using full scan and data-dependent scan MS/MS, except for tadalafil and aminotadalafil (MS/MS/MS). To conclude this study, Sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil, and other 16 analogs in dietary supplements could be quickly screened and identified by HPLC coupled with ion trap MS using data dependent scanning function. The main method using the short column is very rapid, and saves a lot of running time and solvents, and the identification is further confirmed by MS/MS information. The current study develops and validates a quick and reliable method to screen for ED drugs.

Investigation of the Presence of Sildenafil in Herbal Dietary Supplements by Validated HPLC Method

Objectives

As the first FDA-approved phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, sildenafil (SDF) is widely used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction due to its strong pharmacodynamic activity. Since many food supplements are now involved in illegal adulteration, the presence of SDF in food supplements is very important because of their toxicological risks. In this study a simple fast, reliable high-performance liquid chromatography method with ultraviolet (UV) detector has been developed and validated for SDF analysis in herbal dietary supplements (HDSs).

Materials and Methods

10 mM phosphate buffer containing 0.1% triethylamine (pH 3.5) and acetonitrile (65:35, v/v), as mobile phase was applied isocratically to a reverse phase C₁₈ analytical (4.6×250 mm, 5 μm) column. Chromatographic separation was achieved by a C₁₈ reverse-phase analytical column 4.6×250 mm, 5 μm particle size, using acetonitrile, with 10 mM phosphate buffer containing 0.1% triethylamine (65:35, v/v, pH 3.5) as a mobile phase. The mobile phase flow rate was 1 mL min^-1 and the column temperature was 35°C. The UV detector was set at 293 nm. The liquid-liquid extraction method used in the study provided a simple and practical method for the recovery of SDF in HDSs and their obtained values ranged from 87.6 to 111.7%.

Results

The method showed linearity with an excellent correlation coefficient (r²>0.999). Moreover, it was specific and sensitive with the limit of quantification, 6.5 ng mL^-1. Intraday and interday method precision was ≤8.2 (relative standard deviation %). Intraday and interday method accuracy was between -4.0 and 7.1 (RE%). The method was strong according to the robustness test results obtained from UV detection, mobile phase buffer pH, column temperature, and flow rate changes. The described procedure was simple, fast, precise, and feasible for routine adulteration analysis of SDF, especially in food control or toxicology laboratories. This method was successfully applied to 50 individual solid and liquid form HDSs.

Conclusion

The results showed that 37 out of 50 samples of HDSs (represented 74.0%) examined contained SDF between 0.01 and 465.47 mg/g, 150.87±127.48 (mean ± standard deviation), which could lead to serious health problems and might even be fatal for consumers. The described procedure was found to be simple, rapid, precise and feasible for routine adulteration analysis of SDF, especially in food control or toxicology laboratories.

Common risks of adulterated and mislabeled herbal preparations

Due to the growing trend of returning to nature and the fear of adverse reactions from conventional medicines, people are increasingly resorting to the use of herbal preparations. Because of long-term use and natural origin these preparations give a sense of security. But herbal formulations also possess undesirable effects and, among other dangers, present a risk connected with deliberate addition of synthetic compounds, deliberate or unintentional replacement of the plant species or simply a risk of mislabeling. While the replacement of the plant species occurs in a very different groups of herbal products, reports of added illicit synthetic substances often include groups of herbal weight-loss preparations, sexual enhancers, preparations for treatment of rheumatic and inflammatory diseases, antidiabetic and blood pressure lowering preparations. In the world of Internet ordering, these are the dangers that everyone should be aware of. In this article, we reviewed the safety issues related to adulterated or mislabeled herbal products.

A rapid ATR-FTIR spectroscopic method for detection of sibutramine adulteration in tea and coffee based on hierarchical cluster and principal component analyses

Sibutramine may be illicitly included in herbal slimming foods and supplements marketed as "100% natural" to enhance weight loss. Considering public health and legal regulations, there is an urgent need for effective, rapid and reliable techniques to detect sibutramine in dietetic herbal foods, teas and dietary supplements. This research comprehensively explored, for the first time, detection of sibutramine in green tea, green coffee and mixed herbal tea using ATR-FTIR spectroscopic technique combined with chemometrics. Hierarchical cluster analysis and PCA principle component analysis techniques were employed in spectral range (2746-2656cm^-1) for classification and discrimination through Euclidian distance and Ward's algorithm. Unadulterated and adulterated samples were classified and discriminated with respect to their sibutramine contents with perfect accuracy without any false prediction. The results suggest that existence of the active substance could be successfully determined at the levels in the range of 0.375-12mg in totally 1.75g of green tea, green coffee and mixed herbal tea by using FTIR-ATR technique combined with chemometrics.

Biomolecules and Natural Medicine Preparations: Analysis of New Sources of Bioactive Compounds from Ribes and Rubus spp. Buds

It is well known that plants are important sources for the preparation of natural remedies as they contain many biologically active compounds. In particular, polyphenols, terpenic compounds, organic acids, and vitamins are the most widely occurring groups of phytochemicals. Some endemic species may be used for the production of herbal preparations containing phytochemicals with significant bioactivity, as antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory capacities, and health benefits. Blackberry sprouts and blackcurrant buds are known to contain appreciable levels of bioactive compounds, including flavonols, phenolic acids, monoterpenes, vitamin C, and catechins, with several clinical effects. The aim of this research was to perform an analytical study of blackcurrant and blackberry bud-preparations, in order to identify and quantify the main biomarkers, obtaining a specific phytochemical fingerprint to evaluate the single botanical class contribution to total phytocomplex and relative bioactivity, using a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph−Diode Array Detector; the same analyses were performed both on the University laboratory and commercial preparations. Different chromatographic methods were used to determine concentrations of biomolecules in the preparations, allowing for quantification of statistically significant differences in their bioactive compound content both in the case of Ribes nigrum and Rubus cultivated varieties at different harvest stages. In blackcurrant bud-extracts the most important class was organic acids (50.98%) followed by monoterpenes (14.05%), while in blackberry preparations the main bioactive classes were catechins (50.06%) and organic acids (27.34%). Chemical, pharmaceutical and agronomic-environmental knowledge could be important for obtaining label certifications for the valorization of specific genotypes, with high clinical and pharmaceutical value: this study allowed to develop an effective tool for the natural preparation quality control and bioactivity evaluation through the chemical fingerprinting of bud preparations.

Adulteration of Dietary Supplements by the Illegal Addition of Synthetic Drugs: A Review

In the last few years, the consumption of dietary supplements, especially those having plants as ingredients, has been increasing due to the common idea that they are natural products posing no risks to human health. In the European Union and the United States, dietary supplements are legally considered as foods/special category of foods, thus are not being submitted to any safety assessment prior to their commercialization. Among the issues that can affect safety, adulteration by the illegal addition of pharmaceutical substances or their analogs is of major concern since unscrupulous producers can falsify these products to provide for quick effects and to increase sales. This review discusses the various classes of synthetic drugs most frequently described as being illegally added to dietary supplements marketed for weight loss, muscle building/sport performance and sexual performance enhancement. Information regarding regulation and consumption is also presented. Finally, several conventional and advanced analytical techniques used to detect and identify different adulterants in dietary supplements and therefore also in foods, with particular emphasis on plant food supplements, are critically described. This review demonstrates that dietary supplement adulteration is an emerging food safety problem and that an effective control by food regulatory authorities is needed to safeguard consumers.

Determination of phytochemicals, antioxidant activity and total phenolic content in Andrographis paniculata using chromatographic methods

Antioxidant activity, total phenolics content and selected phytochemicals (alkaloids and andrographolides) were determined in Andrographis paniculata and in dietary supplements containing this plant. Antioxidant activity was measured by FRAP, CUPRAC and DPPH procedures and ranged from 503.36 to 6164.09μmol TE/100g d.m. depending on methods, part of plant and kind of dietary supplement. The total phenolics (175.13-1723.79mg GAE/100g) and andrographolides content (19.44-85.13mg/g) in the studied samples were correlated with antioxidant activities determined by CUPRAC, FRAP and DPPH (r>0.95, p<0.05 level). Purine alkaloids: caffeine, theobromine, theophylline and indole alkaloids: harmine, harmane, harmol, yohimbine, brucine and strychnine were detected in the studied samples by different chromatographic techniques (HPLC-DAD, LC-MS/MS, GC-MS). The total alkaloids content in APs-roots and APs-leaves varies from 50.71±0.36mg/g d.m. to 78.71±0.48mg/g d.m., respectively, whereas for dietary supplements (Pn and DK) TAC was found between 19.52±0.15mg/g and 22.18±0.15mg/g d.m.. The highest concentration of andrographolides was found in A. paniculata leaves, whereas the lowest in dietary supplement Pn. Moreover principal component analysis, cluster analysis and one-way ANOVA follow by Duncan's tests were also performed.

Identification of (antioxidative) plants in herbal pharmaceutical preparations and dietary supplements

The standard procedures for the identification, authentication, and quality control of medicinal plants and herbs are nowadays limited to pure herbal products. No guidelines or procedures, describing the detection or identification of a targeted plant or herb in pharmaceutical preparations or dietary supplements, can be found. In these products the targeted plant is often present together with other components of herbal or synthetic origin. This chapter describes a strategy for the fast development of a chromatographic fingerprint approach that allows the identification of a targeted plant in herbal preparations and dietary supplements. The strategy consists of a standard chromatographic gradient that is tested for the targeted plant with different extraction solvents and different mobile phases. From the results obtained, the optimal fingerprint is selected. Subsequently the samples are analyzed according to the selected methodological parameters, and the obtained fingerprints can be compared with the one obtained for the pure herbal product or a standard preparation. Calculation of the dissimilarity between these fingerprints will result in a probability of presence of the targeted plant. Optionally mass spectrometry can be used to improve specificity, to confirm identification, or to identify molecules with a potential medicinal or antioxidant activity.

Analytical methods for determination of benzodiazepines. A short review

Benzodiazepines (BDZs) are generally commonly used as anxiolytic and/or hypnotic drugs as a ligand of the GABAA-benzodiazepine receptor. Moreover, some of benzodiazepines are widely used as an anti-depressive and sedative drugs, and also as anti-epileptic drugs and in some cases can be useful as an adjunct treatment in refractory epilepsies or anti-alcoholic therapy. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods, thin-layer chromatography (TLC) methods, gas chromatography (GC) methods, capillary electrophoresis (CE) methods and some of spectrophotometric and spectrofluorometric methods were developed and have been extensively applied to the analysis of number of benzodiazepine derivative drugs (BDZs) providing reliable and accurate results. The available chemical methods for the determination of BDZs in biological materials and pharmaceutical formulations are reviewed in this work.

Mass spectrometric analysis of pharmaceutical adulterants in products labeled as botanical dietary supplements or herbal remedies: a review

The increased availability and use of botanical dietary supplements and herbal remedies among consumers has been accompanied by an increased frequency of adulteration of these products with synthetic pharmaceuticals. Unscrupulous producers may add drugs and analogues of various classes, such as phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors, weight loss, hypoglycemic, antihypertensive and anti-inflammatory agents, or anabolic steroids, to develop or intensify biological effects of dietary supplements or herbal remedies. The presence of such adulterated products in the marketplace is a worldwide problem and their consumption poses health risks to consumers. Analytical methods that allow rapid and reliable testing of dietary supplements for the presence of synthetic drugs are needed to address such fraudulent practices. Mass spectrometry (MS) and hyphenated techniques such as liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) have become primary tools in this endeavor. The present review critically assesses the role and summarizes the applications of MS in the analysis of pharmaceutical adulterants in botanical dietary supplements and herbal remedies. The uses of MS techniques in detection, confirmation, and quantification of known pharmaceutical adulterants as well as in screening for and structure elucidation of unexpected adulterants and novel designer drugs are discussed.

Development and validation of an ultra-performance liquid chromatography method for simultaneous analysis of 20 antihistaminics in dietary supplements

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate an ultra-performance liquid chromatography method for simultaneous analysis of 20 antihistamines (illegal additives) in dietary supplements. The limits of detection and quantitation of the method ranged from 1.5 to 2.5 µg/mL and from 20.0 to 50.0 µg/mL, respectively. The determination coefficient was >0.999, precisions were 0.2-5.1% (intra-day) and 0.1-8.8% (inter-day), and accuracies were 84.5-111.2% (intra-day) and 91.9-112.0% (inter-day). The mean recoveries of 20 targeted compounds from dietary supplements ranged from 75.4 to 119.3%. The relative standard deviations were <6.6% and complied with established international guidelines. The relative standard deviation of stability was <0.8%. Fifty-two commercially available dietary supplements were evaluated using this method, and were found to have none of the 20 antihistamines in significant abundance.

Identification and determination of synthetic pharmaceuticals as adulterants in eight common herbal weight loss supplements

Background:

Adulterated herbal weight loss products with containing undeclared synthetic drugs are common and responsible for many serious health damages.

Objectives:

The purpose of the study was to determine five synthetic adulterants in eight common herbal weight loss supplements, which are currently sold in Iran markets, to verify their presence in supplements, without mentioning on the labels.

Materials and Methods:

Eight common herbal weight loss samples were obtained from the Iran pharmaceutical market after advertising in the Persian language on satellite channels and internet. Five pharmacological classes of drugs used for weight loss, namely sibutramine, phenolphthalein, phenytoin, bumetanide and rimonabant, were investigated and quantified by GC-MS for the first three and LC-MS for the last two medications.

Results:

The most undeclared ingredients, which were illegally added include sibutramine, phenolphthalein, bumetanide, and phenytoin in the original super slim, herbaceous essence, super slim green lean, and fat loss, supplements, respectively. Rimonabant was not found. Caffeine, pseudoephedrine, theobromine and amfepramone were also found in the supplements using GC-MS assay.

Conclusions:

Adulterated synthetic substances were detected in the herbal weight loss products. Health care professionals should make people aware of the risks of taking herbal weight-loss supplements.

Receptor-based high-throughput screening and identification of estrogens in dietary supplements using bioaffinity liquid-chromatography ion mobility mass spectrometry

A high-throughput bioaffinity liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (BioMS) approach was developed and applied for the screening and identification of recombinant human estrogen receptor α (ERα) ligands in dietary supplements. For screening, a semi-automated mass spectrometric ligand binding assay was developed applying (13)C2, (15) N-tamoxifen as non-radioactive label and fast ultra-high-performance-liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation-triple-quadrupole-MS (UPLC-QqQ-MS), operated in the single reaction monitoring mode, as a readout system. Binding of the label to ERα-coated paramagnetic microbeads was inhibited by competing estrogens in the sample extract yielding decreased levels of the label in UPLC-QqQ-MS. The label showed high ionisation efficiency in positive electrospray ionisation (ESI) mode, so the developed BioMS approach is able to screen for estrogens in dietary supplements despite their poor ionisation efficiency in both positive and negative ESI modes. The assay was performed in a 96-well plate, and all these wells could be measured within 3 h. Estrogens in suspect extracts were identified by full-scan accurate mass and collision-cross section (CCS) values from a UPLC-ion mobility-Q-time-of-flight-MS (UPLC-IM-Q-ToF-MS) equipped with a novel atmospheric pressure ionisation source. Thanks to the novel ion source, this instrument provided picogram sensitivity for estrogens in the negative ion mode and an additional identification point (experimental CCS values) next to retention time, accurate mass and tandem mass spectrometry data. The developed combination of bioaffinity screening with UPLC-QqQ-MS and identification with UPLC-IM-Q-ToF-MS provides an extremely powerful analytical tool for early warning of ERα bioactive compounds in dietary supplements as demonstrated by analysis of selected dietary supplements in which different estrogens were identified.

Botanicals in Ribes nigrum bud-preparations: an analytical fingerprinting to evaluate the bioactive contribution to total phytocomplex

CONTEXT. Ribes nigrum L. (Grossulariaceae) is among the most commonly used herbal medicines and it is popularized for its alleged tonic effect and curative and restorative properties. The current practice of identifying herbal extracts is by measuring the concentration of the main botanicals. Their concentrations are used to characterize the herbal preparations and fingerprinting is recommended by the main Pharmacopeias as a potential and reliable strategy for the quality control of complex mixtures.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this research was to perform an analytical study of R. nigrum bud-preparations, in order to identify and quantify the main bioactive compounds, obtaining a specific chemical fingerprint to evaluate the single class contribution to herbal preparation phytocomplex.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The same analyses were performed using a high-performance liquid chromatograph-diode array detector both on University lab preparations and on commercial preparations from different Italian locations. Different chromatographic methods were used to analyse the macerated samples, two for polyphenols and one for terpenic compounds. RESULTS. Ribes nigrum was identified as a rich source of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds. The observed analytical firgerprint demonstrated that these bud-preparations represent a rich source of terpenic and polyphenolic compounds, especially catechins and phenolic acids.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Analytical fingerprinting could be an important tool to study the assessment of chemical composition and bioactivities of plant-derived products, helping to find new sources of natural health-promoting compounds: this study allowed the development of an effective tool for quality control through botanical fingerprinting of bud preparations.

Mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy: modern high-end detectors for high resolution separation techniques--state of the art in natural product HPLC-MS, HPLC-NMR, and CE-MS hyphenations

Current natural product research is unthinkable without the use of high resolution separation techniques as high performance liquid chromatography or capillary electrophoresis (HPLC or CE respectively) combined with mass spectrometers (MS) or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometers. These hyphenated instrumental analysis platforms (CE-MS, HPLC-MS or HPLC-NMR) are valuable tools for natural product de novo identification, as well as the authentication, distribution, and quantification of constituents in biogenic raw materials, natural medicines and biological materials obtained from model organisms, animals and humans. Moreover, metabolic profiling and metabolic fingerprinting applications can be addressed as well as pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic issues. This review provides an overview of latest technological developments, discusses the assets and drawbacks of the available hyphenation techniques, and describes typical analytical workflows.

Determination of diuretics and laxatives as adulterants in herbal formulations for weight loss

A new method is described for the determination of the most common diuretic and laxative adulterants found in formulations of anorexics and antidepressants. The method is based on the separation of furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, chlorthalidone and amiloride (diuretics), phenolphthalein (laxative), amfepramone (anorexic) and fluoxetine and paroxetine (antidepressants) by capillary zone electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection. The method showed a precision ranging from 1.9% to 6.9% for a concentration of 25 mg/L, 0.6% to 5.3% for a concentration of 50 mg/L and 1.6% to 6.0% for a concentration of 100 mg/L for all analytes. The accuracy was 99% for amiloride, 102% for chlorthalidone, 101% for hydrochlorothiazide, 101% for furosemide, 94% for phenolphthalein, 105% for fluoxetine, 114% for paroxetine and 117% for amfepramone. The method allowed the drugs to be determined in the formulations at concentrations higher than 5.1 mg/kg for amiloride, 7.7 mg/kg for chlorthalidone, 6.8 mg/kg for hydrochlorothiazide, 10.7 mg/kg for furosemide, 8.4 mg/kg for phenolphthalein, 11.0 mg/kg for fluoxetine, 9.4 mg/kg for paroxetine and 11.0 mg/kg for amfepramone. Three of the 26 analysed herbal formulations were found to be adulterated (not declared on the label) with the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide. Five other samples contained diuretics declared on the label on the formulation. Thus, a total of eight samples, which were marketed as natural products, contained diuretics (declared or not) on the formulation.

Analytical methods for the detection of undeclared synthetic drugs in traditional herbal medicines as adulterants

Traditional herbal medicines (THMs) are gaining popularity worldwide as an alternative approach to prescription drugs for many reasons including a general perception that they are safe. But recently there have been number of reported studies that reveal adulteration of THMs with undeclared synthetic drugs, which may potentially cause serious toxic adverse effects. This paper reviews the various classes of synthetic drugs that were found to be adulterated in THMs worldwide. The main focus is to highlight newer analytical tools used to detect adulteration. Due to the advancement in hyphenated techniques like liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) and other conventional tools, it has become possible to detect synthetic drugs and their structural analogues as adulterants even if they are present in small quantities. This review also gives an overview of health-related risks after consuming such spurious products and challenges for future perspectives to control such type of malpractices.