Healthy Skepticism Library item: 12607
Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.
Publication type: Journal Article
Wiergowski M, Galer-Tatarowicz K, Nowak-Banasik L, Rutkowska J, Kucułyma G, Waldman W, Chodorowski Z, Jankowski Z, Sein Anand J.
[Hazard for human health and life by unintentional use of synthetic sibutramine, which was sold as Chinese herbal product ]
Przegl Lek 2007; 64:(4-5):268-72
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17724884?dopt=Abstract
Abstract:
Problem of adulteration of herbal medicines with synthetic drugs is getting a common and dangerous phenomenon in Poland. The purpose of this study was the qualitative estimation of content of the Chinese herbal medicine for slimming “Meizitanc” as well as the estimation of hazard for human health and life. Twenty herbal packages which were secured by police in the 2006 year were investigated. The main ingredient of herbal medicine “Meizitanc” was sibutramine. The average mass of sibutramine hydrochloride in the “Meizitanc” capsule was about 10 mg. Additionally the trace amount of xylene and a starch were detected in the capsules. The presence of mentioned above substances were confirmed by different analytical methods like: gas chromatography with mass spectrometry GC/MS, thin layer chromatography TLC, high-pressure liquid chromatography HPLC/UV-DAD and infrared spectrometry IR. There were not determined any herbal-originated substances, which were mentioned on the packages. It was not found any pharmacologically active substance in one of the twenty examined packages. Conclusions: The medicine containing sibutramine should be used under the strict medical control. For safety of the patients all herbal products should be buy from authorized her
Keywords:
Appetite Depressants/analysis*
Chromatography, Gas
Chromatography, Liquid
Consumer Product Safety
Cyclobutanes/adverse effects
Cyclobutanes/analysis*
Drug Contamination*
Drug Labeling/classification
Drug Labeling/standards
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/analysis*
Drugs, Non-Prescription/analysis*
Hazardous Substances/analysis
Humans
Medicine, Herbal/classification
Medicine, Herbal/standards*
Plants, Medicinal
Poland
Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
