TY  - JOUR
T1  - Rapid detection of synthetic adulterants in Indonesian herbal medicines using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy combined with chemometrics
AU  - Azminah, Azminah
AU  - Ahmad, Islamudin
AU  - Fikri, Jihan Azmi Nur
AU  - Jumadil, Muhammad Irsal
AU  - Erza, Nadia Aqilah Fakhriyyah
AU  - Abdullah, Sarini
AU  - Simamora, Adelina
AU  - Mun’im, Abdul
PY  - 2025
DA  - June
JF  - Journal of Research in Pharmacy
JO  - J. Res. Pharm.
PB  - Marmara University
WT  - DergiPark
SN  - 2630-6344
SP  - 184
EP  - 196
VL  - 27
IS  - 1
LA  - en
AB  - Herbal medicines have been gaining popularity as alternative medicines in recent years, including in Indonesia. Synthetic drug compounds can be illegally included in herbal medicines to achieve a faster effect.  Detection of synthetic drugs in adulterated herbal products is important because of the negative side effects associated with short- and long-term use.  Sildenafil, phenylbutazone, and sibutramine HCl are common adulterants in Indonesian herbal products intended to promote sexual arousal and performance, relieve muscle pain, and reduce weight. The aim of this study was the rapid and cost-effective detection of sildenafil citrate, phenylbutazone, and sibutramine HCl in Indonesian herbal products and herbal drug preparations by Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transmission Infrared Spectrometer (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy combined with chemometrics. Herbs (aphrodisiac, muscle pain relieving and slimming herbs) and medicinal plants (Pasak Bumi (Eurycoma longifolia Jack.) roots, black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) leaves and West Indian Elm (Guazuma ulmifolia Lamk.) leaves) were intentionally adulterated with synthetic drug compounds in the range of 0-40% (w/w). ATR-FTIR spectra were recorded for all unadulterated and adulterated samples at 4000 - 650 cm-1. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were applied to analyze the spectra of the unadulterated and adulterated samples. All samples were successfully classified with respect to their synthetic compound content. The presence of sildenafil, phenylbutazone and sibutramine can be rapidly detected with simple and non-destructive sample preparation using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy in combination with chemometrics. In conclusion, this method can be used for screening sildenafil citrate, phenylbutazone and sibutramine HCl adulterants in herbal products and herbal powders.
KW  - Adulteration
KW  - aphrodisiac herb
KW  - pain-relieving herb
KW  - principal component analysis
KW  - hierarchical cluster analysis
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UR  - https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/jrespharm/issue//1686576
L1  - https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/4817580
ER  -