@2024 Afarand., IRAN

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ISSN: 1027-1457    Scientific Journal of Forensic Medicine 2019;25(2):61-64

Background
Production and distribution of herbal drugs by herb sellers are increased for addiction treatment in recent years.
Previous Studies
Opioids are one of the most commonly consumed substances worldwide and their most important complication is dependence and addiction [2]. [3-9]… One of the most important goals of addiction treatment is to stop illicit drug use, reduce relapse, decrease the severity and duration of relapse, and reduce the harm caused by addiction. The multidimensional nature of addiction requires an interdisciplinary approach to its management and treatment, and therefore holistic medicine is becoming increasingly important. In recent years, most addiction studies in Iran have focused on treatment with chemical drugs and cognitive-behavioral interventions [2] and currently, drug treatment for addiction is mainly performed using chemical drugs, such as methadone and buprenorphine [10]. [11-12]…
Aim(s)
The aim of this study was to investigate the medicine components of herbal drugs for addiction treatment, collected from the herb shops of Zanjan city.
Research type
This is an experimental study.
Research society, place and time
This study was performed in Forensic Medicine laboratory of Zanjan city in 2014. A total of 143 specimens were collected from herb shops in Zanjan city (about 20 shops) and encoded and packaged in separate plastic zip bags.
Sampling method and number
The specimens were first weighed followed by weighing the internal contents of the specimens in capsule form. The sample’s information, including weight, internal capsule content weight, color and form were entered in pre-prepared sheets according to sample code and sample number and then 100 mg of each capsule was weighed and transferred to the test tube. The tablet-shaped specimens were first powdered and then inserted into the tube for the same amount as for the capsule specimens.
Used devices&materials
All samples were dissolved in 2 ml of methanol with high pressure liquid chromatography and prepared for injection into gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). HPLC: we used HPLC device (KNAUER, Germany) with PDA Detector (Photodiode Array) and Eurospher 100-5 C18. The method used included 63% phosphate buffer (pH = 2.3) and 37% acetonitrile (1 ml/min) and adjusting the detector at 254 nm. The 20 µl of the sample was injected by Hamilton's syringe. Samples were injected into the apparatus after dilution several times and by passage of 0.22 micron filter. GC-MS: we used the 7890 GC-MS (Agilent; United States) equipped with HP-5MS (0.25 × 0.25 mm × 0.25 mm). MS software also included three sources of information, including Wily, Pest and NIST. The samples were dissolved in methanol gradient grade for chromatography and injected into MS-GC after passing 0.22 micron filter. The temperature was set at 60°C for one min, 210°C for 5 min and 20°C for one min. The injection temperature was 250°C and the transferring temperature was 280°C. Sample size was 0.1 µl and 1.5 ml/min and injection method was split ratio of 50:1. Finally, data were analyzed by SPSS 19 software.
Findings by Text
In 143 samples, 31 samples (21.7%) had no drug composition and 112 samples (78.3%) had at least one drug composition. In terms of drug form, 107 samples (74.8%) were in capsule form and 34 samples (23.8%) were in tablet form, and syrup and drop each had the least frequency (0.7%). The most common drug composition was tramadol, followed by diphenoxylate and atropine (Table 1). Regarding the number of drug combinations used in a drug, 51 samples (35.7%) had one compound, 23 samples (16.1%) had two compounds, 36 samples (25.2%) had three compounds and 2 samples (1.4%) had a combination of four compounds.
Main comparison to the similar studies
78.3% of the drugs collected from herb sellers had one or more narcotic compounds and 21.7% did not have any narcotic compounds, which is in line with the results of Rahimi Movaghar et al. [2] and Abbasi & Nazeri [13]. All findings indicate that synthetic narcotic compounds have been used in these drugs, but are offered as herbal remedies, which is consistent with the results of Khazan et al. [14] and because they often have the same composition, shapes and colors, they are made and distributed by one or more limited centers. Use of diphenoxylate and tramadol and other drugs without a prescription for those who want to withdraw not only cause withdrawal, but by symptomatic treatment of symptoms of deprivation syndrome, it induces withdrawal, but by symptomatic treatment of symptoms of deprivation syndrome induces the sense of withdrawal and by continual use of these compounds leads to addiction to substances other than primary addiction.
Suggestions
A similar study is suggested to be conducted all over Iran with the cooperation of the Iranian Anti-Narcotics Police and the examination and clinical intervention be done by clinicians in those who used these drugs.
Limitations
Of the limitations of this study was the lack of providing all available anti-addiction drugs by herb sellers to the researcher and also the lack of access to those who used these drugs to monitor their clinical symptoms.
Conclusions
In most samples collected from herb shops, one or two medicine components of opium exists that the most abundant of them is tramadol, diphenoxylate, and atropine.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank the respected the director and staff forensic medicine of Zanjan province and also the Forensic Medicine Research Center of Iran.
Conflict of interest
None declared.
Ethical Permissions

Funding Sources
The research was financially supported by the General Administration of Forensics Medicine of Zanjan Province.

TABLES and CHARTS

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