title: Molecularly Imprinted Polymer of Colocynthin, An Effective Tool for Quality Control of Citrullus colocynthis Extracts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Different parts of Colocynth, Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad., are used in traditional phytotherapy and homeopathy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In our new approach, a molecularly imprinted polymer was synthesized to absorb colocynthin, the major plant marker, and its capability was evaluated using HPLC-UV.
  
  
  METHODS
  A new method was considered to achieve optimal conditions. FT-infrared, N2 adsorption porosimetry, fluorescent and scanning electron microscopy and thermo gravimetric profile of the polymers were studied. The imprinted polymer was applied as molecularly imprinted solid phase extraction sorbent to enrich colocynthin from colocynth oil extract, a traditional medicine dosage form.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The imprinted polymer showed high capacity and affinity toward colocynthin. Physical assessments demonstrated no major differences between imprinted and nonimprinted polymers. The imprinted polymer was able to absorb colocynthin more efficiently than non-imprinted and control simple solvent extraction from the real sample.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, this polymer is capable of being applied as a promising adsorbent for analysis of colocynth traditional medicine products.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Traditional Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 14155 6451, Tehran. Iran.
authors.forename: Ramezani
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Farid
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Persian Medicine and Pharmacy Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 14155 6451, Tehran. Iran.
authors.forename: Khanavi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mahnaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Persian Medicine and Pharmacy Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 14155 6451, Tehran. Iran.
authors.forename: Shams
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ardekani Mohammad Reza
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Research (INFU) of the Faculty of Chemistry, TU Dortmund, P.O. Box D-44221, Dortmund. Germany.
authors.forename: Sellergren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Börje
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Persian Medicine and Pharmacy Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 14155 6451, Tehran. Iran.
authors.forename: Eftekhari
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mahdieh
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, P.O. Box V6T 1Z4, Vancouver, BC. Canada.
authors.forename: Rastegar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hossein
authors.affiliation: Food and Drug Control Laboratories and Research Center, MOH and ME, P.O. Box 11136-15911, Tehran. Iran.
authors.forename: Shekarchi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maryam
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D065986:Citrullus colocynthis; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D054802:Molecular Imprinting; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011786:Quality Control; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013818:Thermogravimetry
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D010938:Plant Oils; D011108:Polymers; C059376:colocynithin
keywords: Citrullus colocynthis; colocynthin; high-performance liquid chromatography; molecularly imprinted polymer; traditional medicine