Screening of illegal sexual enhancement supplements and counterfeit drugs sold in the online and offline markets between 2014 and 2017. (May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Ji Hyun; Park, Han Na; Park, Ok Rim; Kim, Nam Sook; Park, Sung-Kwan; Kang, Hoil
• Is Part Of: Forensic science international. Volume 298(2019)
• Page Start: 10
• Page End: 19
• Publication Date: 2019-05
• Subjects: Erectile dysfunction -- Illegal products -- Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry -- Method validation -- Screening; Medical jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Forensic -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine légale -- Périodiques; Chimie légale -- Périodiques; Gerechtelijke geneeskunde; Gerechtelijke chemie; Gerechtelijke psychiatrie; Chemistry, Forensic; Medical jurisprudence; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 614.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.02.014
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0379-0738

Abstract

Highlights: LC–MS/MS method for the presence of 80 PDE-5 inhibitors and analogues were validated. Illegal ED products were investigated between 2014 and 2017. Out of 362 measured samples, 145 were adulterated samples mostly detected in food (51%). Sildenafil group was frequently detected, followed by tadalafil group. The concentrations of detected samples were ranged from 0.1 mg/g to 826.0 mg/g. Abstract: The worldwide spread of illegal sexual enhancement products is posing a threat to public health. The aim of this study was to investigate illegal products claiming to be effective in improving sexual performance through the online or offline markets between 2014 and 2017; these products include foods, dietary supplements, counterfeit drugs, and herbal medicines. These samples were analysed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) for the presence of 80 PDE-5 inhibitors (PDE-5i) and analogues. The developed method was validated as follows: LODs and LOQs spiked in solid- and liquid-type negative samples (0.03–3.33 ng/mL and 0.08–10.00 ng/mL), linearities (R 2 > 0.997), recoveries spiked negative samples (82.2–109.3 %), accuracies (81.6–118.9 %), precisions (≥ 6.5%, RSD) of intra-day and inter-day, and stability (≥10.0%, RSD). Out of 362 measured samples, 145 were adulterated samples mostly detected in food (51%). Sildenafil group (50%) was frequently observed, followed by tadalafil group (41%). Although sildenafil and tadalafil were mainly detected in adulterated samples, their analogues were also found. In particular, new analogues have appeared steadily on illicit erectile dysfunction (ED) products even after they were first discovered. The concentration of detected samples ranged from 0.1 to 826.0 mg/g, and sildenafil of them contained a considerable amount in illicit ED products in 2014, posing a potential toxicology risk of public health. The testing method is fast and reliable making it suitable for both routine screening and up-to-date quantitative analysis of PDE-5i and their analogues in suspicious foods, dietary supplements, and counterfeit drugs.