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In recent years, discovering new drug candidates has become a top priority in research. Natural products have proven to be a promising source for such discoveries as many researchers have successfully isolated bioactive compounds with various activities that show potential as drug candidates. Among these compounds, phenolic compounds have been frequently isolated due to their many biological activities, including their role as antioxidants, making them candidates for treating diseases related to oxidative stress. The isolation method is essential, and researchers have sought to find effective procedures that maximize the purity and yield of bioactive compounds. This review aims to provide information on the isolation or separation methods for phenolic compounds with antioxidant activities using column chromatography, medium-pressure liquid chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, counter-current chromatography, hydrophilic interaction chromatography, supercritical fluid chromatography, molecularly imprinted technologies, and high-performance thin layer chromatography. For isolation or purification, the molecularly imprinted technologies represent a more accessible and more efficient procedure because they can be applied directly to the extract to reduce the complicated isolation process. However, it still requires further development and refinement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last decade, advances have been made in nanotechnology using nanomaterials, leading to improvements in their performance. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been widely used in the field of sensor analysis and are also combined with certain materials to obtain the desired characteristics. AuNPs are commonly used as colorimetric sensors in detection methods. In developing an ideal sensor, there are certain characteristics that must be met such as selectivity, sensitivity, accuracy, precision, and linearity, among others. Various methods for the synthesis of AuNPs and conjugation with other components have been carried out in order to obtain good characteristics for their application. AuNPs can be applied in the detection of both heavy metals and biological molecules. This review aimed at observing the role of AuNPs in its application. The synthesis of AuNPs for sensors will also be revealed, along with their characteristics suitable for this role. In the application method, the size and shape of the particles must be considered. AuNPs used in heavy metal detection have a particle size of around 15–50 nm; in the detection of biological molecules, the particle size of AuNPs used is 6–35 nm whereas in pharmaceutical compounds for cancer treatment and the detection of other drugs, the particle size used is 12–30 nm. The particle sizes did not correlate with the type of molecules regardless of whether it was a heavy metal, biological molecule, or pharmaceutical compound but depended on the properties of the molecule itself. In general, the best morphology for application in the detection process is a spherical shape to obtain good sensitivity and selectivity based on previous studies. Functionalization of AuNPs with conjugates/receptors can be carried out to increase the stability, sensitivity, selectivity, solubility, and plays a role in detecting biological compounds through conjugating AuNPs with biological molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of drug residues in food products has become a growing concern because of the adverse health risks and regulatory implications. Drug residues in food refer to the presence of pharmaceutical compounds or their metabolites in products such as meat, fish, eggs, poultry and ready-to-eat foods, which are intended for human consumption. These residues can come from the use of drugs in the field of veterinary medicine, such as antibiotics, antiparasitic agents, growth promoters and other veterinary drugs given to livestock and aquaculture with the aim of providing them as prophylaxis, therapy and for promoting growth. Various analytical techniques are used for this purpose to control the maximum residue limit. Compliance with the maximum residue limit is very important for food manufacturers according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or European Union (EU) regulations. Effective monitoring and control of drug residues in food requires continuous advances in analytical techniques. Few studies have been reviewed on sample extraction and preparation techniques as well as challenges and future directions for the determination of veterinary drug residues in food. This current review focuses on the overview of regulations, classifications and types of food, as well as the latest analytical methods that have been used in recent years (2020–2023) for the determination of drug residues in food so that appropriate methods and accurate results can be used. The results show that chromatography is still a widely used technique for the determination of drug residue in food. Other approaches have been developed including immunoassay, biosensors, electrophoresis and molecular-based methods. This review provides a new development method that has been used to control veterinary drug residue limit in food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hg2+ is one of the most dangerous pollutants that can cause damage to organs and the immune system. The common detection methods of Hg2+ require sophisticated instrumentation and a long time for analysis. The purpose of this study was to develop a sensor for the detection of Hg2+ using filter paper immobilized by gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) conjugated with cyanuric acid (CA). The clear color change from pink to bluish purple is the response of the CA-AuNPs filter paper sensor to exposure to Hg2+. Detection can be observed visually with the naked eye and/or with imageJ software; the detection limit is 0.05 µM. The colorimetric response of the sensor was also selective towards Hg2+ after testing with different metal ions. In addition, the response from the sensor was also consistent for lake water samples spiked with Hg2+. The results of this research provide a promising basic technology for the development of sensors that are affordable, fast, portable, and easy to use for the detection and monitoring of Hg2+ levels in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dexamethasone is a chemical drug that is usually added to herbal medicine because of its effects on pain relief, arthritis, anti-inflammation, etc. Chemical drugs should not be used in herbal medicine because uncontrolled consumption causes some side effects. A polymer-based indicator was developed to detect dexamethasone in herbal medicine samples in a fast and simple way compared to instrumental analysis. The indicator strips were made by mixing polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) polymer with sulfuric acid (H2SO4) as a reagent. When reacting with dexamethasone, H2SO4 can cause the color to change into a specific light pink-purple color. Indicator strips were prepared with a composition of 5% PMMA in ethyl acetate:H2SO4 (9:1) by using the reagent blending method. The indicator strips showed a pink-purple color when they were applied to a positive herb containing dexamethasone. The indicator strips could selectively detect dexamethasone rather than other active substances that are often found in herbal medicine. These indicator strips could also detect dexamethasone with the smallest detection limit of 13.13 ppm, and they had a stability of up to 36 days. Detection was carried out in real samples to show the performance of the indicator strips. The result showed that of nine samples, five were confirmed to contain dexamethasone. These results showed a good agreement with the results of thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). According to the result, these indicator strips provide a simple and applicable method for on-site analysis to detect dexamethasone in samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural pigments occur in plants as secondary metabolites and have been used as safe colourants in food. Studies have reported that their unstable colour intensity might be related to metal ion interaction, which leads to the formation of metal–pigment complexes. This underlines the need for further investigations on the use of natural pigments in metal detection using colorimetric methods, since metals are important elements and can be hazardous when present in large amounts. This review aimed to discuss the use of natural pigments (mainly betalains, anthocyanins, curcuminoids, carotenoids, and chlorophyll) as reagents for portable metal detection based on their limits of detection, to determine which pigment is best for certain metals. Colorimetric-related articles over the last decade were gathered, including those involving methodological modifications, sensor developments, and a general overview. When considering sensitivity and portability, the results revealed that betalains are best applied for copper, using a smartphone-assisted sensor; curcuminoids are best applied for lead, using a curcumin nanofiber; and anthocyanin is best applied for mercury, using anthocyanin hydrogel. This provides a new perspective on the use of colour instability for the detection of metals with modern sensor developments. In addition, a coloured sheet representing metal concentrations may be useful as a standard to support on-site detection with trials on masking agents to improve selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pigment red 53 is a synthetic dye that has been banned in cosmetic products due to the possibility of causing blood disorders and spleen sarcoma. The indicator strip employs qualitative analysis methods that are simpler, easier, and quicker than an instrumental analysis. The indicator strip is made of a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and polystyrene (PS) mixture using a reagent blending method with specific reagents of concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4), concentrated hydrochloric acid (HCl), or 10% sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Pigment red 53 detections with an indicator strip are based on the occurrence of a specific color change reaction between the reagent and pigment red 53 through sulfonation with concentrated H2SO4, neutralization with 10% NaOH, and reaction of pigment red 53's azo group with concentrated HCl. PMMA was made with a concentration of 5% (w/t), and mixtures of PS:PMMA 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4 had solvent-to-specific reagent ratios of 60:40, 80:20, and 90:10. The best results were obtained for PMMA-H2SO4 (90:10), PMMA-HCl (80:20), and PMMA-NaOH (60:40), with the lowest detection limits equaling 20 ppm, 50 ppm, and 20 ppm, respectively. Meanwhile, the best PS:PMMA (1:4)-based indicator strips obtained were PS:PMMA-H2SO4 (90:10), PS:PMMA-HCl (80:20), and PS:PMMA-NaOH (60:40), with the lowest detection limits being 20 ppm, 10 ppm, and 20 ppm, respectively. All indicator strips are stable for at least 80 days. Indicator strips can be used as a simple and applicable method for detecting pigment red 53 in cosmetic products with a good performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The general public uses cosmetics daily. Cosmetic products contain substances (ingredients) with various functions, from skincare to enhancing appearance, as well as ingredients that preserve the cosmetic products. Some cosmetic ingredients are prohibited or restricted in certain geographical regions, such as the European Union and the United States of America, due to their potential to cause adverse effects such as cancer, birth defects, and/or developmental and reproductive disorders. However, the ingredients may be used in other regions, and, hence, the monitoring of the cosmetic ingredients actually used is important to ensure the safety of cosmetic products. This review provides an overview of recent analytical methods that have been developed for detecting certain ingredients that are restricted or prohibited by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and/or EU legislation on cosmetic products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbal medicine has become popular in recent years as an alternative medicine. The problem arises when herbal medicines contain an undeclared synthetic drug that is illegally added, since it is a natural product that does not contain any chemical drugs due to the potential cause of harmful effects. Supervision of herbal medicines is important to ensure that these herbal medicines are still safe to use. Thus, developing a reliable analytical technique for the determination of adulterated drugs in herbal medicine is gaining interest. This review aims to provide a recent analytical method that has been used within the past 5 years (2016–2021) for the determination of chemical adulterants in herbal medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Codeine is derived from morphine, an opioid analgesic, and has weaker analgesic and sedative effects than the parent molecule. This weak opioid is commonly used in combination with other drugs for over-the-counter cough relief medication. Due to the psychoactive properties of opioid drugs, the easily obtained codeine often becomes subject to misuse. Codeine misuse has emerged as a concerning public health issue due to its associated adverse effects such as headache, nausea, vomiting, and hemorrhage. Thus, it is very important to develop reliable analytical techniques to detect codeine for both quality control of pharmaceutical formulations and identifying drug misuse in the community. This review aims to provide critical outlooks on analytical methods applicable to the determination of codeine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction of three cationic porphyrins—meso-tetrakis (N-methylpyridinium-4-yl) porphyrin (TMPyP), meso-tetrakis (1,3-dimethylimidazolium-2-yl) porphyrin (TDMImP), and meso-tetrakis (1,2-dimethylpyrazolium-4-yl) porphyrin (TDMPzP)—with five heavy metals was studied computationally, and binding constants were calculated based on data obtained by an experimental method and compared. The reactivity and stability of their complexes formed with lead, cadmium, mercury, tin, and arsenic ions were observed in DFT global chemical reactivity descriptors: the electronic chemical potential (µ), chemical hardness (η), and electrophilicity (ω). The results show that M-TDMPzP has higher chemical hardness and lower electrophilicity compared to M-TMPyP and M-TDMImP, indicating the reaction of TDMPzP with metals will form a more stable complex. Specifically, Cd-TDMPzP complexes can stabilize the system, with a lower energy and electronic chemical potential, higher chemical hardness, smaller electrophilicity, and higher binding constant value compared to Pb-TDMPzP and Hg-TDMPzP. This result suggests that the interaction of the Cd2+ ion with TDMPzP will produce a stable complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]