@article{ref1,
title="Application of screening methods for weight-loss compounds and identification of new impurities in counterfeit drugs",
journal="Forensic science international",
year="2019",
author="Lee, Ji Hyun and Park, Han Na and Kim, Nam Sook and Park, Seongsoo and Bogonda, Ganganna and Oh, Kyungsoo and Kang, Hoil",
volume="303",
number="",
pages="e109932-e109932",
abstract="With the increasing prevalence of obesity, the use of counterfeit drugs for weight loss is widespread owing to their easy and rapid availability. Since counterfeit weight-loss drugs are not prepared under the rigorous standard of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), they pose a risk to public health and cause significant side effects. To counteract the risk posed by counterfeit drugs, we investigated counterfeit weight-loss drugs seized by the Incheon Customs Services using UHPLC-PDA. Five of 23 confiscated samples with distinctive pink-coloured coating contained levothyroxine, sennoside A and B, and phenolphthalein in amounts ranging from 0.03-132.40 mg/g. In addition, three unknown compounds in one of the adulterated samples containing phenolphthalein were structurally elucidated by several analytical techniques. Their accurate masses corresponded to molecular formula of C<sub>34</sub>H<sub>22</sub>O<sub>7</sub>, C<sub>34</sub>H<sub>20</sub>O<sub>6</sub>, and C<sub>20</sub>H<sub>12</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, respectively. These compounds were identified as impurities, possibly produced during the synthesis of phenolphthalein or by improper removal during purification. These impurities were detected for the first time in counterfeit drugs.<br><br>Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0379-0738",
doi="10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.109932",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.109932"
}