Accurate and fast identification of Chinese medicine materials has been more difficult work during production and trade. However the molecular identification at present was only used in the laboratory, and difficult to scene application in producing area, market and pharmacy that limited its usage greatly. There are two important technologic bottlenecks for scene application: DNA rapid extraction and fast detection of DNA markers. This study developed a module system for the scene application of molecular identification in Chinese medicine materials.
Counterfeit Drugs ; DNA ; analysis ; genetics ; Genetic Markers ; genetics ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Quality Control

A sensitive antibody-based lateral flow dipstick was developed for ginsenoside Re (GRe) detection. The stick consisted of a sample pad, a conjugate pad, membrane and an absorbent pad. The membrane was coated with two capture reagents, GRe-BSA conjugate and goat anti-mouse antibodies, forming a test line and a control line, respectively. The conjugate pad was saturated with colloidal gold particles coated with affinity purified monoclonal anti-GRe antibody. The visual detection limit was 200 microg x L(-1) of GRe and the reaction time was 10 min. The Panax ginseng roots were identified after these samples (10 mg) were extracted with 5 mL tap water for 30 min at room temperature, and the extracts were tested by the dipsticks and ELISA kit. The true and false P. ginseng could be distinguished with dipsticks. The dipstick could be used to detect the quality of the P. ginseng samples when the extract was diluted 100-folds. The results were compared with those obtained using an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icELISA). The dipstick assay proved to be a sensitive and rapid tool for quality control of P. ginseng.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; Counterfeit Drugs ; analysis ; Ginsenosides ; analysis ; Immunoassay ; instrumentation ; methods ; Mice ; Panax ; chemistry ; Reagent Strips ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVE: Online pharmacies were introduced in some countries such as United States of America or Canada. They can provide benefits to consumer because they can buy and take conveniently drugs without limitation of location or time. In Korea, online pharmacies are illegal and only pharmacists can sell drugs to consumers or patients. Therefore, we investigated the knowledge of online pharmacy and the possible problem in Korea to survey pharmacists. METHODS: We developed questionnaire based on previous articles about online pharmacy and surveyed nation-wide pharmacists by mail or e-mail. The data was analyzed by SPSS and Microsoft Excel. P-values less than 0.05 were statistically significant. RESULTS: 175 pharmacists involved in this study. About introduction of online pharmacies, 53.1% were opposition while 10.3% were approval and 36.6% were conditional. Although online pharmacies were introduced, 46.3% pharmacists do not have a plan to start online pharmacy. However, the approval and tends about starting online pharmacies were higher in younger pharmacists (20s, 30s) (p < 0.05). The criteria of permission about opening online pharmacies were 100% pharmacist license regardless of holding off-line pharmacy. 53.7% pharmacists responded education about taking medication is impossible. When online pharmacies are introduced, 65.1% pharmacists responded traditional pharmacies are affected negatively. Pharmacists concerned that the competition with large-sized distribution corporations, reduced reliance between pharmacists and patients, illegal transaction of counterfeit drugs, increased misuse of drugs. CONCLUSION: These results showed that Korea pharmacists have negative standard on online pharmacies. Therefore it is required to be more cautious before introducing online pharmacy and it need strict watching system and continuous education and study for safety after introducing online pharmacy.
Americas ; Canada ; Counterfeit Drugs ; Education ; Electronic Mail ; Humans ; Internet ; Korea ; Licensure ; Pharmaceutical Services, Online ; Pharmacies ; Pharmacists ; Pharmacy ; Postal Service ; Public Health ; United States

Sibutramine is an anorectic that has been banned since 2010 due to cardiovascular safety issues. However, counterfeit drugs or slimming products that include sibutramine are still available in the market. It has been reported that illegal sibutramine-contained pharmaceutical products induce cardiovascular crisis. However, the mechanism underlying sibutramine-induced cardiovascular adverse effect has not been fully evaluated yet. In this study, we performed cardiovascular safety pharmacology studies of sibutramine systemically using by hERG channel inhibition, action potential duration, and telemetry assays. Sibutramine inhibited hERG channel current of HEK293 cells with an IC50 of 3.92 muM in patch clamp assay and increased the heart rate and blood pressure (76 Deltabpm in heart rate and 51 DeltammHg in blood pressure) in beagle dogs at a dose of 30 mg/kg (per oral), while it shortened action potential duration (at 10 muM and 30 muM, resulted in 15% and 29% decreases in APD50, and 9% and 17% decreases in APD90, respectively) in the Purkinje fibers of rabbits and had no effects on the QTc interval in beagle dogs. These results suggest that sibutramine has a considerable adverse effect on the cardiovascular system and may contribute to accurate drug safety regulation.
Action Potentials ; Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular System ; Counterfeit Drugs ; Dogs ; Heart Rate ; HEK293 Cells ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; Pharmacology* ; Purkinje Fibers ; Rabbits ; Telemetry