Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for the detection of piperine, an active component in herbal formulations

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a highly sensitive technique that can be used to detect trace amounts of chemicals. We have demonstrated a method using Ag@citrate nanoparticles for detecting piperine. Piperine, the major alkaloid responsible for the pungency and therapeutic properties of black pepper (Piper nigrum) and long pepper (Piper longum), serves as the essential criterion for quality control and authentication. This study demonstrates the efficacy of an economical Raman spectrometer equipped with a portable probe and SERS for the precise identification and quantification of piperine. Substantial signal amplification occurred with Ag@citrate as the substrate, enabling the identification of the characteristic Raman peaks associated with piperine. High sensitivity, repeatability, and specificity were demonstrated by this approach. Inspired by the results, we have done the analysis of two important commercial Ayurvedic medicines, namely Thaleesapathradi choornam and Ashta choornam. Our study demonstrates the potential of SERS as a rapid and effective tool for quality assurance and authenticity verification in the pharmaceutical sector.