Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32048209›Full record

ArticlePharmaceutical medicine2020

Combined Liquid Chromatography-mass Spectrometry and Next-generation DNA Sequencing Detection of Adulterants and Contaminants in Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Herbal Medicines.

Claire L Hoban, Ian F Musgrave, Roger W Byard, Christine Nash, Rachael Farrington, Garth Maker, Elly Crighton, Michael Bunce, Megan Coghlan

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Pharmaceutical medicine, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
2.0field-weighted citation impact, top 13% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 12 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Claire L HobanAdelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia. claire.hoban@adelaide.edu.au.ORCID 0000-0002-7027-5558
Ian F MusgraveAdelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia.
Roger W ByardAdelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia.
Christine NashForensic Science SA, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia.
Rachael FarringtonAdelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia.
Garth MakerSeparation Science and Metabolomics Laboratory and the Advanced Mass Spectrometry Facility, Murdoch University, South St, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia.
Elly CrightonSeparation Science and Metabolomics Laboratory and the Advanced Mass Spectrometry Facility, Murdoch University, South St, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia.
Michael BunceTrace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, 6845, Australia.
Megan CoghlanTrace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, 6845, Australia.
The University of Adelaide · AUCurtin University · AUMurdoch University · AUSouth Australia Pathology · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionMethods for assessing the quality of herbal medicine preparations have advanced significantly in recent years in conjunction with increases in herbal medicine use and reports of adulteration and contamination.

objectiveThis study examined the quality of analgesic and anti-inflammatory herbal medicine preparations available on the Australian market by detecting the presence of listed ingredients, adulterants and contaminants.

methodsForty-nine analgesic and anti-inflammatory herbal medicine preparations were randomly sourced from Australian capital cities. They were audited using a dual approach of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) combined with next-generation DNA sequencing. Once screened, a comparison of listed ingredients with verified ingredients was conducted to determine the accuracy of labelling, and the extent of adulteration and contamination.

resultsTwenty-six of 49 (53%) herbal medicines were adulterated or contaminated with undeclared ingredients. LC-MS revealed the presence of pharmaceutical adulterants including atropine and ephedrine. DNA sequencing uncovered concerning levels of herbal substitution, adulteration and contamination, including the use of fillers (alfalfa, wheat and soy), as well as pharmacologically relevant species (Centella asiatica, Panax ginseng, Bupleurum and Passiflora). Pig/boar and bird DNA was found in some preparations, inferring substandard manufacturing practices. Of the 26 contaminated samples, 19 (73%) were manufactured in Australia, and 7 (27%) were imported from other countries (6 from China, 1 from New Zealand). In 23 of 49 (47%) herbal medicine samples, no biological ingredients were detected at all. These were predominantly pain and anti-inflammatory preparations such as glucosamine and eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids found in krill and fish oils, so DNA would not be expected to survive the manufacturing process.

conclusionThe high level of contamination and substitution of herbal medicine preparations sourced from Australian dispensaries supports the need for more stringent pharmacovigilance measures in Australia and abroad.

Indexed as

AnalgesicsAnti-Inflammatory AgentsAustraliaChinaChromatography, LiquidDNA, PlantDrug ContaminationHigh-Throughput Nucleotide SequencingMass SpectrometryNew ZealandPlant PreparationsPlantsSequence Analysis, DNAAnalgesicsAnti-Inflammatory AgentsDNA, PlantPlant Preparations

Identifiers

PMID32048209
OpenAlexW2982954975

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.