Spectroscopic Screening of Dexamethasone and Cyproheptadine Adulteration in Weight Gaining Products Marketed in Aden, Yemen

Background: Weight-gaining (WG) products are either medicine or herbal products that have been used intensively by the young and adolescents in Yemen. These products may contain undeclared potentially toxic ingredients that can lead to several health problems and diseases on long-term usage. This study was intended to evaluate the presence of some undeclared pharmaceuticals, dexamethasone (DX) and cyproheptadine (CPR), in WG products in Aden, Yemen.Methods: The detection of DX & CPR in WG products was evaluated using UV& Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Also, phytochemical analysis was carried out for herbal products. Findings: The study indicated the presence of CPR in Tab-II, honey mixture, and capsules in the range between ۰.۱۰%-۱۰۲.۶%. A lower percentage was detected in the honey mixture and a higher percentage in Tab-۲. DX was only detected in Tab-I (۱۰۲.۸۷%).Conclusion: It can be concluded that WG products may contain undeclared amounts of DX and CPR. Stricter regulations must be implemented for the usage and distribution of these products to avoid potential long-term adverse consequences.

کلیدواژه ها:

Adulteration ، Cyproheptadine ، dexamethasone ، Weight-gain