Investigation on the occurrence of anorexigens, benzodiazepines and antidepressants in the weight-reducer phytotherapy formulations

Several weight-reducer phytotherapic formulations commercialized in Brazil contain undeclared synthetic drugs. This situation constitutes a public health issue for the country. This study aimed at evaluating the occurrence of anorexigenic, benzodiazepinic and antidepressant drugs in the phytopharmac...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Andriolo, Daniela Santos Maia, Cunha, Luzia Helena da, Santana, Amália Soares, Sampaio, Maria Eloíza, Valenzuela, Virgíniael Carmen Troncoso, Duarte, Maria Gorette Resende, Garcia, Eliana de Faria
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2012
Country:Brasil
Institution:Instituto Adolfo Lutz
Repository:Revista do Instituto Adolfo Lutz (Online)
Language:Portuguese
OAI Identifier:oai:ojs.periodicos.saude.sp.gov.br:article/32404
Online Access:https://periodicos.saude.sp.gov.br/RIAL/article/view/32404
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:adulteration
phytomedicines
anorexigens
anxyolytics
antidepressants
adulteração
formulação fitoterápica
anorexígenos
ansiolíticos
antidepressivos
Description
Summary:Several weight-reducer phytotherapic formulations commercialized in Brazil contain undeclared synthetic drugs. This situation constitutes a public health issue for the country. This study aimed at evaluating the occurrence of anorexigenic, benzodiazepinic and antidepressant drugs in the phytopharmaceutical preparations monitored and collected by the Public Health Surveillance of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. By chemical tests, the absence of at least one class of the analyzed secondary metabolites (flavonoids, saponins and quinones) was found in all analyzed samples. Fenproporex, fluoxetine and chlordiazepoxide, alone or in association, were identified by GC-MS in all formulations. Therefore, the analyzed samples did not comply with the established quality standards, as these formulations contain undeclared synthetic compounds in their compositions, along with the association of anorexigens and anxiolytics drugs, which are not allowed by the Brazilian sanitary legislation. Hence, a more effective quality control of the weight-reducer phytotherapy formulations is demanded, as well as improving educational actions addressed to health professionals and consumers.