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Phthalic Acid Ester-Binding DNA Aptamer Selection, Characterization, and Application to an Electrochemical Aptasensor
Published on: March 21, 2018
A new problem. Contamination of botanicals by phthalates. Rapid detection tests
Armandodoriano Bianco1, Alessandro Venditti, Sebastiano Foddai
1a Dipartimento di Chimica , Università di Roma 'La Sapienza' , Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma , Italy;
Natural Product Research
|October 4, 2013
Summary
Phthalate contamination can occur in solvents stored in plastic containers, impacting medical, herbal, and food products. This risk extends to final extracts, including botanical food supplements, highlighting the need for careful container selection.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Food Science
- Pharmacognosy
Background:
- Solvent purity is critical for medical, herbal, and food product safety.
- Plastic containers may leach phthalate contaminants into stored solvents.
- This contamination poses a risk to the quality and safety of end products.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential for phthalate contamination in solvents stored in plastic containers.
- To assess if this contamination transfers to derived extracts, such as botanical food supplements.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of solvents stored in plastic versus glass containers for phthalates.
- Detection of phthalates in final extracts derived from contaminated solvents.
Main Results:
- Phthalates were identified as potential contaminants in solvents stored in plastic containers.
- Evidence suggests contamination can be present in marketed extracts, including botanical food supplements.
Conclusions:
- The use of plastic containers for solvent storage presents a risk of phthalate contamination.
- Ensuring solvent purity requires careful consideration of container materials, especially for sensitive applications like food supplements.
