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.


OBJECTIVE
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.


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.
Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
Marjan
M
Khazan
Cellular and Molecular Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
Mehdi
M
Hedayati
Department of Medical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, IR Iran.
Farzad
F
Kobarfard
Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
Sahar
S
Askari
Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
Fereidoun
F
Azizi
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Herbal Medicine; United States Food and Drug Administration; Weight Loss