title: Determination of Common Adulterants in Herbal Medicine and Food Samples using Core-shell Column Coupled to Tandem Mass Spectrometry.
abstract: High-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry was used to develop and validate a rapid method to qualitatively and quantitatively analyse 18 common adulterants in herbal medicine and food samples. Initially, the mobile phase composition was optimized in three different columns: core-shell, monolithic and standard 3.5-µm-particle-size columns. The results show that the core-shell column provides the best separation. Moreover, the tandem mass spectrometry was optimized. The linear range for all adulterants was 0.5-500 μg mL-1. Finally, the samples that were supplied by the Public Authority of Customer Protection, Ministry of Health, and those collected from the local market were analysed. The results indicate that 7 of 33 analysed samples contained adulterants. The adulterated samples mainly contain sildenafil, tadalafil or vardenafil. The concentrations of these three adulterants in the samples were 0.18-39 wt%. This study is the first report in the Sultanate of Oman about adulteration in herbal medicine and food samples. The results clearly raise some concern and require proper plan of action to increase public awareness about this serious issue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 36, Al-Khod 123, Oman.
authors.forename: Haider A J
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Al Lawati
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 36, Al-Khod 123, Oman.
authors.forename: Idris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Al Busaidi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 36, Al-Khod 123, Oman.
authors.forename: Afsal M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kadavilpparampu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 36, Al-Khod 123, Oman.
authors.forename: FakhrEldin O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Suliman
mesh_terms: D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D004340:Drug Contamination; D005504:Food Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D005506:Food Contamination; D006795:Household Products / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards; D009850:Oman; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate / Q000032:analysis; D000068581:Tadalafil / Q000032:analysis; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D000069058:Vardenafil Dihydrochloride / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D028321:Plant Preparations; D000069058:Vardenafil Dihydrochloride; D000068581:Tadalafil; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate