Showing papers by "Maria Luisa Cervera published in 2015"

Near Infrared Spectroscopy Detection and Quantification of Herbal Medicines Adulterated with Sibutramine.

Abstract: There is an increasing demand for herbal medicines in weight loss treatment. Some synthetic chemicals, such as sibutramine (SB), have been detected as adulterants in herbal formulations. In this study, two strategies using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy have been developed to evaluate potential adulteration of herbal medicines with SB: a qualitative screening approach and a quantitative methodology based on multivariate calibration. Samples were composed by products commercialized as herbal medicines, as well as by laboratory adulterated samples. Spectra were obtained in the range of 14,000-4000 per cm. Using PLS-DA, a correct classification of 100% was achieved for the external validation set. In the quantitative approach, the root mean squares error of prediction (RMSEP), for both PLS and MLR models, was 0.2% w/w. The results prove the potential of NIR spectroscopy and multivariate calibration in quantifying sibutramine in adulterated herbal medicines samples.

The importance of incorporating a waste detoxification step in analytical methodologies

Abstract: The introduction of a waste detoxification step in the analytical process was highlighted using, as example, the determination of copper in pesticide formulations using electrogravimetry, flame atomic absorption spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. This quantitative study showed the improvement of the previously mentioned analytical methods, from a green perspective, after addition of electrodeposition or neutralization steps to the analytical process. Based on this, the application of the eco-scale and the Green Certificate to the evaluation of these methodologies allows the method to be moved from the B and C classes to the A class.