Analysis and confirmation of synthetic anorexics in adulterated traditional Chinese medicines by high-performance capillary electrophoresis

Six synthetic anorexics, clobenzorex, diethylpropion, fenfluramine, methamp hetamine, phenylpropanolamine and phentermine, mint, which can be found as adulterants in traditional Chinese medicines were assayed simultaneously by high-performance capillary electrophoresis. The electrolyte was a buffer s olution containing 120 mM phosphate buffer (NaH2PO4/H3PO4, pH 2.0) and 15% acetonitrile. Applied voltage was 16 kV and temperature was 30 degrees C, F luoren-2,7-diammonium chloride was used as an internal standard and detecto r set at 200 nm. The recoveries of the synthetic anorexic adulterants in tr aditional Chinese medicinal formula using C-8-SCX mixed solid-phase extract ion were studied. Several traditional Chinese medicinal powders obtained fr om clinics were also studied by the above HPCE method and confirmed by GC-M S. Clobenzorex, diethylpropion and fenfluramine were found and determined i n these samples. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.