title: Identification of gamma-ray irradiated medicinal herbs using pulsed photostimulated luminescence, thermoluminescence, and electron spin resonance spectroscopy.
abstract: Dried herbal samples consisting of root, rhizome, cortex, fruit, peel, flower, spike, ramulus, folium, and whole plant of 20 different medicinal herbs were investigated using pulsed photostimulated luminescence (PPSL), thermoluminescence (TL), and electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR) to identify gamma-ray irradiation treatment. Samples were irradiated at 0-50 kGy using a 60Co irradiator. PPSL measurement was applied as a rapid screening method. Control samples of 19 different herbs had photon counts less than the lower threshold value (700 counts 60 s(-1)). The photon counts of non-irradiated clematidis radix and irradiated evodia and gardenia fruits were between the lower and upper threshold values (700-5,000 counts 60 s(-1)). TL ratios, i.e., integrated areas of the first glow (TL1)/the second glow (TL2), were found to be less than 0.1 in all non-irradiated samples and higher than 0.1 in irradiated ones providing definite proof of radiation treatment. ESR spectroscopy was applied as an alternative rapid method. In most of the irradiated samples, mainly radiation-induced cellulosic, sugar, and relatively complicated carbohydrate radical ESR signals were detected. No radiation-specific ESR signal, except one intense singlet, was observed for irradiated scrophularia and scutellaria root and artemisiae argyi folium.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-742, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sukdeb
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.forename: Byeong Keun
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Won Young
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Min Jung
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyeon A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Ki
authors.forename: Kyeong-Hee
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Woo Suk
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: In Ho
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Shin Jung
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Joon Myong
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry*; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D005720:Gamma Rays; D049449:Luminescence; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000379:methods*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal