Journal Highlight: Use of diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy and HPLC–UV–SPE–NMR to identify undeclared synthetic drugs in medicines illegally sold as phytotherapies

Use of diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy and HPLC–UV–SPE–NMR to identify undeclared synthetic drugs in medicines illegally sold as phytotherapies

Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry, 2013, 51, 541-548
Lorena M. A. Silva, Elenilson G. A. Filho, Sérgio S. Thomasi, Bianca F. Silva, Antonio G. Ferreira, Tiago Venâncio

Abstract: The informal (and/or illegal) e-commerce of pharmaceutical formulations causes problems that governmental health agencies find hard to control, one of which concerns formulas sold as natural products. The purpose of this work was to explore the advantages and limitations of DOSY and HPLC–UV–SPE–NMR. These techniques were used to identify the components of a formula illegally marketed in Brazil as an herbal medicine possessing anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. DOSY was able to detect the major components present at higher concentrations. Complete characterization was achieved using HPLC–UV–SPE–NMR, and 1D and 2D NMR analyses enabled the identification of known synthetic drugs. These were ranitidine and a mixture of orphenadrine citrate, piroxicam, and dexamethasone, which are co-formulated in a remedy called Rheumazim that is used to relieve severe pain, but it is prohibited in Brazil because of a lack of sufficient pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic information.

• This paper is free to view for all users registered on spectroscopyNOW.com until the end of November 2013.
  After this time, you can purchase it using Pay-Per-View on Wiley Online Library.

• Click here to access the abstract of this paper >>>
  From the abstract page you can progress to read the full paper.

• Click here for more information about Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry >>>