By-Product of the Red Ginseng Manufacturing Process as Potential Material for Use as Cosmetics: Chemical Profiling and In Vitro Antioxidant and Whitening Activities.

Red ginseng (RG), which is obtained from heated Panax ginseng and is produced by steaming followed by drying, is a valuable herb in Asian countries. Steamed ginseng dew (SGD) is a by-product produced in processing red ginseng. In the present study, phytochemical profiling of extracts of red ginseng and steamed ginseng dew was carried out using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and rapid resolution liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (RRLC-Q-TOF-MS) analysis. Additionally, antioxidant activities (DPPH, ·OH, and ABTS scavenging ability) and whitening activities (tyrosinase and elastase inhibitory activity) were analyzed. Phytochemical profiling revealed the presence of 66 and 28 compounds that were non-saponin components in chloroform extracts of red ginseng and steamed ginseng dew (RG-CE and SGD-CE), respectively. Meanwhile, there were 20 ginsenosides identified in n-butanol extracts of red ginseng and steamed ginseng dew (RG-NBE and SGD-NBE). By comparing the different polar extracts of red ginseng and steamed ginseng dew, it was found that the ethyl acetate extract of red ginseng (RG-EAE) had the best antioxidant capacity and whitening effect, the water extract of steamed ginseng dew (SGD-WE) had stronger antioxidant capacity, and the SGD-NBE and SGD-CE had a better whitening effect. This study shows that RG and SGD have tremendous potential to be used in the cosmetic industries.

[Rapid determination of 22 functional components in cosmetics using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-linear ion trap/orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry].

Plant components from extracts of Sophora flavescens, rhodiola, ginseng, Centella asiatica, and tea play important roles in skin whitening, moisturizing, anti-aging, sun protection, anti-inflammation, antiseptic, bacteriostatic, and other effects of cosmetics. At present, no relevant standard methods have been established to detect the addition amounts of plant extracts in cosmetics. In addition, plant extracts listed in product labels may be undetectable due to their addition in trace quantities and the lack of technical support. Therefore, a quantitative method for the simultaneous determination of 22 functional components in cosmetics was established by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-linear ion trap/orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-LTQ/Orbitrap MS). Target compounds were extracted with methanol from samples using ultrasonic extraction, and then separated on a C18 column (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.8 µm) with gradient elution of 0.1% (v/v) formic acid aqueous solution (A) and acetonitrile (B). The gradient elution program were as follows: 0-5 min, 5%B-8%B; 5-25 min, 8%B-60%B; 25-35 min, 60%B-80%B; 35-36 min, 80%B-5%B; 36-45 min, 5%B. The flow rate was 0.3 mL/min and the injection volume was 5 µL. Accurate masses of precursor ions were used to detect cosmetic functional components in positive ionization mode. The fragment ions obtained by higher energy collisional dissociation were used for confirmation of the functional components. Each compound showed good linearity. The limits of detection (LODs) were in the range of 0.003-2.01 mg/kg, and the limits of quantification (LOQs) were in the range of 0.02-4.36 mg/kg. Recoveries at three levels were 63.2%-125.1%, and relative standard deviations (RSDs) were 0.18%-10.9%. Fifty-four batches of samples labeled with four monomer functional components and nine plant extracts were tested. In the 17 batches of samples labeled with nicotinamide, 4 batches labeled with caffeine, and 6 batches labeled with Sophora flavescens root extract, the labeled functional components were detected. One out of 11 batches of samples labeled with D-panthenol was not detected. Three of the seven batches of samples labeled with ascorbyl glucoside were not detected. In the 21 batches of samples labeled with licorice extracts, the corresponding functional components were not detected in 9 batches. In the 21 batches of samples labeled with Centella asiatica extract, the corresponding functional components were not detected in 11 batches. In the 13 batches of samples labeled with tea extract, the corresponding functional components were not detected in 8 batches. In 11 of the 12 batches containing ginseng root extract, the corresponding functional components were not detected. In five of the six batches of astragalus membranaceus root extract samples, the corresponding functional components were not detected. In samples labeled with Polygonum cuspidatum root extract, Rehmannia glutinosa root extract, and Ophiopogon japonicus root extract, the corresponding functional components were detected. The method is simple, rapid, reliable, accurate, and suitable for the determination of the 22 functional components in cosmetics.

Heavy metals research in Nigeria: a review of studies and prioritization of research needs.

Nigeria is experiencing continuous economic and industrial transformations, typical of many developing nations. In addition to its well-established oil industry, which is infamous for exuding various kinds of pollutants, there are increased mining operations, indiscriminate disposal and burning of wastes, illegal oil refinery and terroristic insurgency, all poised to increase the levels of heavy metal contaminants in the Nigerian environment. A recent revelation indicates that about 2 million people in South-western Nigeria alone could potentially be poisoned by lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg), emanating from illegal mining operations. This further underscores the importance of investigations of toxic trace metal levels in the country. The current review of 148 research articles was conducted to provide an understanding of the scope of heavy metals research in Nigeria and to prioritize needed research. The review recognized that the scope of heavy metals studies has been wide, covering matrices such as cosmetics, human blood, hair, medicines, foods, beverages, water, air, soil and crude oil. However, important toxic metals, especially mercury (Hg), arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb), are largely under-investigated. Also, there is a need for more studies to be conducted in the northern part of the country. Furthermore, studies need to focus on marine environments rather than the freshwater ecosystems alone. Techniques such as the inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analyses are herein recommended to bridge the data gap and to overcome limitations in trace metals analyses in the Nigerian total environment.

Determination of cannabinoids in hemp oil based cosmetic products by LC-tandem MS.

Cosmetic products containing hemp seed oil as permitted raw materials required the specific compound delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) below 10 µg/g. THC was the main psychoactive constituent of cannabis. Since hemp seed oil became an increasingly popular ingredient in cosmetics over the last few years, an efficient and reliable analytical method for THC and other cannabinoids in cannabis-infused cosmetic products was in need. A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the determination of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabinol (CBN) in hemp seed oil based cosmetic products was developed. Method validation was performed by fertilizing blank samples with analytes and internal standards (THC-d3, CBD-d3, and CBN-d3). Chromatographic method utilized a Xbridge BEH Shield RP18 column with gradient elution containing 10 mM ammonium formate in water and methanol provided successful separation of THC, CBD, and CBN in cosmetic matrix. The combination of MS detection in positive electrospray ionization (ESI) and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode offered rapid run time 13 minutes with limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.05 µg/g. The intra- and inter-day recoveries were 79.23-114.04% and 83.55-111.61% with spiking levels ranged between 0.05 µg/g and 0.5 µg/g, respectively. Surveillance results of 90 cosmetic products showed 22, 34, and 5 products containing THC (0.06-1777 µg/g), CBD (0.47-37217 µg/g), and CBN (2.2-25.2 µg/g), respectively. This validated method offered accurate, reliable, and fast way for the determination of drug contaminations including THC, CBD, and CBN in cosmetics. The surveillance results for commercial cosmetic products purchased in Taiwan between 2018-2020 provided valuable background references for THC, CBD, and CBN in hemp seed oil based cosmetic products, and could be used for administration purpose.

Fatty Acid Composition of Cosmetic Argan Oil: Provenience and Authenticity Criteria.

In this work, fatty-acid profiles, including trans fatty acids, in combination with chemometric tools, were applied as a determinant of purity (i.e., adulteration) and provenance (i.e., geographical origin) of cosmetic grade argan oil collected from different regions of Morocco in 2017. The fatty acid profiles obtained by gas chromatography (GC) showed that oleic acid (C18:1) is the most abundant fatty acid, followed by linoleic acid (C18:2) and palmitic acid (C16:0). The content of trans-oleic and trans-linoleic isomers was between 0.02% and 0.03%, while trans-linolenic isomers were between 0.06% and 0.09%. Discriminant analysis (DA) and orthogonal projection to latent structure-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were performed to discriminate between argan oils from Essaouira, Taroudant, Tiznit, Chtouka-Aït Baha and Sidi Ifni. The correct classification rate was highest for argan oil from the Chtouka-Aït Baha province (90.0%) and the lowest for oils from the Sidi Ifni province (14.3%), with an overall correct classification rate of 51.6%. Pairwise comparison using OPLS-DA could predictably differentiate (≥0.92) between the geographical regions with the levels of stearic (C18:0) and arachidic (C20:0) fatty acids accounting for most of the variance. This study shows the feasibility of implementing authenticity criteria for argan oils by including limit values for trans-fatty acids and the ability to discern provenance using fatty acid profiling.

Semiquantitative immunochromatographic colorimetric biosensor for the detection of dexamethasone based on up-conversion fluorescent nanoparticles.

A low-cost bifunctional immunochromatographic colorimetric biosensor was developed that can be read visually or by using an optical density scanner. Five test lines (T lines) coated with different antigens were set on a nitrocellulose (NC) membrane to indicate the concentration of analyte. This method was applied for the detection of dexamethasone. The corresponding detection range was 0.1-9 ng mL-1, and the detection limit for dexamethasone in food supplements and cosmetic samples was 2.0 µg kg-1. For visual inspection of the colour the quantitative relative error range between the proposed method and liquid chromatography was -62 to -25%, with a detection time of only 10 min. More accurate assay results were obtained by using an optical density scanner with the relative error range of -31 to 20%. The results indicated that the proposed method has the potential of application for rapid and efficient screening of dexamethasone in cosmetics and food supplements. Graphical abstract.

[Determination of ten kinds of α-hydroxy acids in cosmetics with quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a method for determination of ten kinds of α-hydroxy acids in cosmetics with quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker(QAMS). METHODS: The analytes were separated by high performance liquid chromatography on a Venusil XBP C_8 column(4. 6 mm×250 mm, 5 µm), with the mobile phases of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate buffer-methonal under a gradient elution. The components were detected at the wavelengths of 214 nm using a diode array detector. Citric acid was used as the internal standard to determine the relative correction factors(RCFs) of the nine other α-hydroxy acids, in order to calculate their contents in samples by their RCFs. RESULTS: Good linearity with correlation coefficients greater than 0. 9994 was obtained for all the analytes. Stabilities within 24 h and precision of ten α-hydroxy acids were all good. Recoveries of the method were from 89. 3% to 105. 0% at three concentration levels, with the relative standard deviation(RSD) from 1. 0% to 2. 9%. Nine batches of samples were determined by QAMS, as well as the standard curve method(SCM). The relative average deviations(RAD) were below 3. 2% between the result of the two method, which showed good feasibility and accuracy of QAMS. CONCLUSION: The method is simple, accurate and beneficial to the saving of reference substances, which is suitable for the determination of ten kinds of α-hydroxy acids in cosmetics.

Design and optimization of a single-use optical sensor based on a polymer inclusion membrane for zinc determination in drinks, food supplement and foot health care products.

A single-use optical sensor was designed for Zn(II) determination based on the immobilisation of the colorimetric reagent 2-acetylpyridine benzoylhydrazone (2-APBH) in a polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) adhered on the surface of an inert rectangular strip of polyester (Mylar). Different components for the membrane preparation were tested and those resulting in membrane with good appearance, proper physical and optical properties and ease of preparation were selected. Factorial design 23 with three replicates of the central point was applied for the optimisation of the membrane composition. The optimal composition consisted of 2.5 g of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), 4 mL of tributyl phosphate (TBP) and 0.04 g of 2-APBH. The optode showed a linear dynamic range from 0.03 (detection limit) to 1 mg L-1 of Zn(II) ions with a response time of 30 min in aqueous solution at pH 6 and a relative standard deviation of 3.90% for 0.4 mg L-1 of Zn(II). The sensor exhibited good selectivity to Zn(II) over other commonly ions. It was successfully applied to the determination of Zn(II) in a water certified reference material, spiked tap water, vitamin-mineral drink, food supplement and foot health care products, as contribution to the concern about this heavy metal due to its significant role in many biological and physiological processes although toxicant at high doses.

Investigation of pharmaceutical and personal care product interactions of soil and beets (Beta vulgaris L.) under the effect of wastewater reuse.

Although, several recent greenhouse studies are beginning to address the uptake of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) by a variety of crops, few studies have assessed the effects of exposure to complex, realistic wastewater effluents on uptake. Hence, in this study, a greenhouse experiment was conducted in order to study the interactions occurring exclusively between PPCPs in soil, and in the edible plant part of beets (Beta vulgaris) after exposure to treated wastewater effluent. According to the findings, the interactions between the pharmaceuticals caffeine (CFN) with bisoprolol (BSP), carbamezapine (CMZ), clarithromycin (CMC), metoprolol (MPL), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), and trimethoprim (TMP) occurring in soil were almost 99% synergistic; it was noted variability in the interactive capacity of the pharmaceuticals; the concentrations of pharmaceuticals which measured did not affect unfavorably beet yield; interactions between the PPCPs via the PPCPs contribution in plant and soil affect the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the beets.

[Application, development, and challenges of capillary electrophoresis in disease prevention and control].

Since the advent of commercial instruments in 1989, capillary electrophoresis (CE) has advanced considerably, with improvement in reproducibility and accuracy in many application fields. CE is predominantly used in research on disease prevention and control, and hygienic chemical inspection. The applications of CE range from assessment of inorganic anions and cations in drinking water to that of biological macromolecules, such as nucleic acids, in pathogenic microorganisms. Since the analytical capacity of CE ranges from inorganic ions to cell, it has become an indispensable technique in this field, particularly in public health emergency and epidemic management. Universal non-targeted analyses to detect possible pathogens, and the capability of rapid and accurate testing of large numbers of specimens are required. In the analyses of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products, nucleic acid sequencing, mutation detection and genotyping, food-borne disease pathogens, and vaccine analyses, CE methods characterized by high through-put and sensitivity are necessary. In the public health sector, CE is essential in the analyses of food (including emergency analyses for food poisoning), cosmetics, and disinfectants. Satisfactory results of the FAPAS (Food Analysis Performance Assessment Scheme) and domestic proficiency tests indicated the accuracy of CE in quantitative analyses. Application of CE in disease prevention and control is challenged by a number of new molecular biological methods, as optimizing CE methods may not be feasible, and results are difficult to interpret. CE methods, including transformation of peaks to identification of pathogens, can be an arduous task. Thus, end-users prefer using commercialized CE systems and reagents in their routine work. Alternatively, CE methods for analysis of small molecules in product analyses, such as food safety, cosmetics and disinfectant testing, is commonly performed. A plethora of studies published within the decade, indicate that CE is still an active research area in hygienic chemical inspection. To a large extent, CE has not been used for routine analysis in the centers for disease control and prevention, accredited laboratories in China, nor regulatory agencies worldwide. This may be due to the lack of practical protocols for the standards, and the misconceptions regarding the ease of use of CE, which could have hindered its widespread application. Although CE is an environmental friendly technique with minimal usage of toxic chemicals, few standard methods of CE exist in agriculture, environmental protection, food, beverage, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries in the United States, Britain, Europe, Japan, India, Brazil, Russia, and China. Since 2002, CE was used in our laboratory to analyze a large variety of samples. We found that once the CE method has been fully verified and described in detail, it was easily standardized. It is not necessary to screen the equivalent chromatographic column, or to use a specific liquid chromatographic (LC) column. This can effectively circumvent the challenge of shifting peak orders caused by different LC column selectivity. Once combined with general, high sensitivity detectors, CE can be used in the detection of bacteria or viruses in food safety, and play a greater role in the field of disease prevention and control. In the present review, applications of CE in nucleic acid detection for viruses and bacteria, analysis of vaccines, routine testing on food, dietary supplements, medical foods, cosmetics and disinfectants, proficiency tests, and emergency analyses of food poisoning were summarized. The applications and challenges of CE in the field of disease control and prevention were analyzed, and development of this technique was prospected.

An Overview on the Properties of Ximenia Oil Used as Cosmetic in Angola.

Ximenia (Ximeniaamericana L.) is a shrub, or small tree, native from Africa and spread across different continents. In Angola, the seeds oil is used by local populations, to prevent sunburn, to smooth and hydrate the skin, and to give it a pleasant color and elasticity, to prevent stretch marks, in pregnant woman, and also as hair conditioner. Herein, an oil sold in the region (LPO), and two others extracted in laboratory, from seeds collected in the same region, were investigated in terms of their composition, chemical properties, UV transmission. The three oils are similar although the LPO is more acidic, 0.48 mg KOH/g. GC-MS analysis indicated that the major components are the fatty acids, oleic (31.82%), nervonic (11.09%), ximenic (10.22%), and hexacosa-17,20,23-trienoic acids (14.59%). Long chain fatty acids, n ≥ 20, accounted for 51.1% of the total fatty acids. A thin film of the oil showed a reduction in transmittance from 200 to 300 nm. Viscosity studies of the LPO indicated that at normal temperature of skin, the oil can be spread over the skin as a thin film. At concentrations up to 10 µg/mL, the LPO is not toxic to human keratinocytes, suggesting the safety of this oil.

Parabens in breast milk and possible sources of exposure among lactating women in Korea.

Parabens, broad-spectrum antimicrobial preservatives widely used in various consumer products and food, are suspected to be linked with several adverse health effects in humans, especially newborn babies, infants, and young children. While human exposure to parabens has been frequently reported by measuring the concentration of parabens in urine, similar measurements in breast milk have rarely been made. To determine paraben concentrations in breast milk and possible sources of exposure, four major parabens, including methylparaben (MP), ethylparaben (EP), propylparaben (PP), and butylparaben (BP) were measured in breast milk samples collected from 260 lactating women in South Korea. Demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors associated with the presence of parabens in breast milk were determined. EP concentrations were detected at the highest levels in breast milk samples, followed by MP, PP, and BP. Pre-pregnancy BMI, parity, use of basic skin care products, use of cosmetics, canned beverage, and type of milk consumption were associated with higher frequencies of paraben detection. In addition, type of milk, parity, and drinking status were significantly associated with the concentration of EP. Multiple regression analyses showed that colostrum and transitional milk samples had higher levels of EP than mature milk samples. The estimated daily intake of parabens in infants via breastfeeding appears to be negligible when compared to the acceptable daily intake values set forth by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA); however, considering the vulnerability of breastfed infants and ubiquitous sources of exposure from daily use of household and personal toiletries, efforts to identify sources and mitigate exposure are warranted.

Cosmetic wastewater treatment with combined light/Fe0/H2O2 process coupled with activated sludge.

Wastewater from a cosmetic factory, with an initial chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 1140 mg/L, was treated using a combined light/Fe0/H2O2 process followed by biological treatment. The light/Fe0/H2O2 process, with 1000/2280 mg/L Fe0/H2O2 doses and 120 min process time, resulted in 70% COD removal, to final COD of 341 mg/L. The chemically treated wastewater was successfully subjected to biological treatment in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR), with up to 20% volume fraction in the influent, without significant deterioration of COD, nitrogen and phosphorus removal, but with possible small negative effects on polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs), nitrifiers and other bacteria present in the microbial community. The COD of the effluent was in the range of 14-28 mg/L, resulting in overall COD removal of up to 97.7%. Untreated cosmetic wastewater, subjected to biological treatment in SBR, caused crucial changes in the microbial community structure, leading to a significant decrease in the efficiency of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus removal.

NATURAL RADIUM ISOTOPES PRESENT IN SOME COSMETIC PRODUCTS: DETERMINATION OF ACTIVITY CONCENTRATION AND DOSE ESTIMATION.

Since the early days, clays, plant extracts and raw materials have been used for therapeutic and beauty purposes. Nowadays, this use is widely spread, as a huge amount of companies have developed new cosmetics based on natural sources. This may lead to an accumulation of radionuclides that can be hazardous for people. Especially dangerous are radium isotopes (226,228Ra), which can be part of the raw materials that cosmetics are made from. In this paper, the concentration of radium isotopes of 18 natural cosmetics was determined. Concentrations resulted in the range 7.9 ± 5.0-37.6 ± 12.5 Bq kg-1 for 226Ra; and 2.5 ± 1.7-35.4 ± 2.6 Bq kg-1 for 228Ra. The effective dose in the skin has been estimated, obtaining a mean value of 13.1 ± 4.9 µSv y-1. This value is far from the reference level of 50 mSv y-1 for the public members. Therefore, no radiological risk derived from the use of these samples, has been found.

Metabolomic Profiling of the Desiccation-Tolerant Medicinal Shrub Myrothamnus flabellifolia Indicates Phenolic Variability Across Its Natural Habitat: Implications for Tea and Cosmetics Production.

The leaves and twigs of the desiccation-tolerant medicinal shrub Myrothamnus flabellifolia are harvested for use in traditional and commercial teas and cosmetics due to their phenolic properties. The antioxidant and pharmacological value of this plant has been widely confirmed; however, previous studies typically based their findings on material collected from a single region. The existence of phenolic variability between plants from different geographical regions experiencing different rainfall regimes has thus not been sufficiently evaluated. Furthermore, the anthocyanins present in this plant have not been assessed. The present study thus used an untargeted liquid chromatography-tandem-mass spectrometry approach to profile phenolics in M. flabellifolia material collected from three climatically distinct (high, moderate, and low rainfall) regions representing the western, southern, and eastern extent of the species range in southern Africa. Forty-one putative phenolic compounds, primarily flavonoids, were detected, nine of which are anthocyanins. Several of these compounds are previously unknown from M. flabellifolia. Using multivariate statistics, samples from different regions could be distinguished by their phenolic profiles, supporting the existence of regional phenolic variability. This study indicates that significant phenolic variability exists across the range of M. flabellifolia, which should inform both commercial and traditional cultivation and harvesting strategies.

[Determination of 25 preservatives in cosmetics by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry].

A method was developed for the simultaneous determination of benzoic acid and its esters, parabens, phenoxyisopropanol, chlorphenesin, dehydroacetic acid, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol, methylchloroisothiazolone, methylisothiazolone and other preservatives in cosmetics by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). The samples were extracted ultrasonically with a 0.1 mg/mL L(+)-ascorbic acid menthol solution after being spiked with a mixture solution of 2-octanol, phenol and heptachlor as internal standards and anhydrous sodium sulfate as a dehydrating reagent. Finally, the extract was centrifuged, filtered, and then analyzed by GC-MS/MS. The analytes were separated using an HP-5MS capillary column (30 m×0.25 mm×0.25 µm) with a temperature-programming program. The inlet, transfer line and ion source temperatures were set to 260, 250 and 230℃, respectively. Helium (99.999%) was used as the carrier gas at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The final extract (1 µL) was injected in split mode (10:1). Analysis was performed in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. Three types of cosmetics, as well as water, milk and cream as samples were selected to verify the accuracy of the method at four levels. The average spiked recoveries ranged from 82.3% to 119.4% with relative standard deviations (n=6) of less than 14.3%. The limits of detection were lower than 0.99 µg/kg for all the preservatives. The method is sensitive, and reliable for the simultaneous determination of the 25 preservatives in cosmetics. Nonetheless, complementary methods need to be developed for the determination of some other preservatives that cannot be detected by GC-MS/MS.

The dynamics of the pharmaceutical and personal care product interactive capacity under the effect of artificial enrichment of soil with heavy metals and of wastewater reuse.

A greenhouse experiment was conducted, using a randomized block design, including twelve heavy metal (Mn, Zn, Cu, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, Pb) mixture treatments, with each metal participating in the treatment with 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 mg/kg, respectively. Common beet (Beta vulgaris L.) was chosen as test plant. The plants were irrigated with treated municipal wastewater taken from the Wastewater Treatment Plant of the town of Amaliada, N.W., Peloponnese, Greece. The experiment aimed at studying the interactions between heavy metals and macro-microelements, and pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). The basic scope was to shed some light on the potential environmental implications, of these interactions on the soil PPCPs for a more effective monitoring of these emerging contaminants in the plants and soil continuum. It was found that the PPCPs have a very high potential interactive capacity, having interacted with all the studied metals, and metalloids, as well as with plant macro elements (P, and K). The uptake of PPCPs by plants was statistically significantly related with their respective content in the soil. The general inference is that the interactive relations between heavy metals, macro-, microelements, and emerging contaminants, being mainly antagonistic, which contribute to the decrease the uptake of soil PPCPs.

Ion mobility spectrometry as a fast screening tool for synthetic cannabinoids to uncover drug trafficking in jail via herbal mixtures, paper, food, and cosmetics.

The greatest challenge for European drug policies is how to effectively respond to the dynamic and constantly changing market for new psychoactive substances (NPS). Even small modifications in the chemical structure of substances often allow circumventing existing laws. Also in prison, the consumption of NPS is rising and there is growing evidence that NPS are responsible for a large share of drug-related problems. Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) is the technique of choice for trace analysis of illicit drugs or explosives at security points, for example airports. Currently, databases of the reduced mobility (K0 ) values are limited to classical drugs and should be completed with data of emerging NPS. In this article, K0 values, LODs (0.7-3.6 ng) and drift times of 25 synthetic cannabinoids were evaluated. The data were added to existing databases of IMS which were then applied for fast screening in prison. The detection capability of the portable IMS technique was evaluated by the determination of intra-day (0.089%) and inter-day precision (0.004% to 0.14%), systematic error (0.19%), and separation capability for structurally related NPS. The applicability of the methodology was demonstrated by the successful analysis of 12 different pieces of paper impregnated with synthetic cannabinoids, 7 different cosmetics, and 5 food samples (liquids), spiked with a mixture of narcotic drugs and a synthetic cannabinoid. In addition, 14 herbal mixtures and 36 different casework samples from prisons were analyzed provided by the State Office of Criminal Investigation Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany).

Inorganic analysis of falsified medical products using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and chemometrics.

Falsified medical products are increasingly prevalent on markets, threatening the health of patients. This study describes the benefits of Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (ED-XRF) spectroscopy and chemometrics thus highlighting the importance of conducting inorganic analyses on falsified products. The XRF spectrum is a fingerprint containing the contribution of all chemical substances included in a suspect sample's formulation. Multivariate analysis of XRF spectra, using a properly validated classification model, allows for the authentication of suspect samples. The method is rapid, relying on multi-elemental measurements and involving minimal sample preparation. This methodology provided valuable information about samples inorganic composition and enabled the detection of falsifications of several sample types, including medicine, food supplement and cosmetic samples. Five suspect samples of Plavix® were investigated, and their XRF spectra were studied using chemometrics (Principal Component Analysis and Soft Independent Modelling of Class Analogies). A classification model was validated with positive and negative samples, and four suspect samples were identified as being falsified, whilst the fifth was concluded as an authentic medicine. ED-XRF spectroscopy was also applied on another medicine, a food supplement and three cosmetic samples, and high level of zinc was detected in the second sample and mercury was identified in the last. Estimation of the zinc content was possible using the fundamental parameters method. ED-XRF spectroscopy allows the analyst to conclude on the falsification of the samples and then to assess the harm to patient health.

Plant cell culture technology in the cosmetics and food industries: current state and future trends.

The production of drugs, cosmetics, and food which are derived from plant cell and tissue cultures has a long tradition. The emerging trend of manufacturing cosmetics and food products in a natural and sustainable manner has brought a new wave in plant cell culture technology over the past 10 years. More than 50 products based on extracts from plant cell cultures have made their way into the cosmetics industry during this time, whereby the majority is produced with plant cell suspension cultures. In addition, the first plant cell culture-based food supplement ingredients, such as Echigena Plus and Teoside 10, are now produced at production scale. In this mini review, we discuss the reasons for and the characteristics as well as the challenges of plant cell culture-based productions for the cosmetics and food industries. It focuses on the current state of the art in this field. In addition, two examples of the latest developments in plant cell culture-based food production are presented, that is, superfood which boosts health and food that can be produced in the lab or at home.