GC–MS Analysis of an Herbal Medicinal Remedy to Identify Potential Toxic Compounds
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-1-2014
Abstract
In most countries, herbal medicinal products (HMPs) are introduced into the market without proper scientific evaluation or enforced safety and toxicological studies. Consumers can purchase them without a prescription totally oblivious of the potential hazards that HMPs could pose. In this study, the constituents of an unlabeled HMP obtained from a Somalian patient were evaluated. The HMP was attributed to the Commiphora molmol species from Somalia. The HMP is used as a topical antimicrobial rub for wound treatment. Various analytical techniques were utilized to isolate and identify its constituents. Volatile components were isolated using both steam distillation and Soxhlet extraction. The extracts were analyzed using a gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) system with a 5% phenyl-methylpolysiloxane capillary column and electron ionization. Compounds were identified by comparison of their mass spectra with a built-in National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) mass spectra library. Many sesquiterpenes related to C. molmol were identified. Only a few compounds not characteristic of C. molmol were detected.
Publication Information
Kimaru, Irene and Nguyen, Hang P. (2014). "GC–MS Analysis of an Herbal Medicinal Remedy to Identify Potential Toxic Compounds." LCGC Supplements 12.4, 14-18.
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