Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Digitalis Contamination Case Study

Slide 6

Case Study: Contamination of Dietary Supplements with Digitalis Ianata


From: The New England Journal of Medicine

September 17th 1998

Vol. 339 Number 12 Pages 806-811

Authors: Nancy R. Slifman, M.D., M.P.H., William R. Obermeyer, Ph.D., Joseph M. Betz, Ph.D., Brenda K. Aloi,

Steven M. Musser, Ph.D., William A. Correl, Jr., B.S., Stanley M. Cichowicz, B.S. & Lori A. Love, M.D., Ph.D.


Plantain Species

s


Digitalis Species


Illustrations of Macroscopic Structures (P. lanceolata vs. D. lanata)



Microscopy - Sheathed trichome from leaf surface of Plantain (400X)


Confirmation of Adulterant Species

- Analyses performed by the FDA screened for the presence of cardiac glycosides by chemical assay and thin-layer chromatography. Only one of the components tested positive and was later confirmed by liquid chromatography & mass spectrometry

- Estimated 3-5 weeks for confirmation


The contaminating plant species can simply be confirmed microscopically as D. lanata in 1 day.

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