A herbal supplement marketed to alleviate erectile dysfunction was recently submitted for testing in our laboratory because it was surprisingly effective considering it should only contain the traditional herbals utilized for this problem such as Oyster, 2-Deoxy-D Glucose, Barberry, Snow Lotus, Bombyx Mori L., Ginger Root, Salfron Crocus.
Above: 1H NMR of ED Herbal Supplement – this is an extract of the powder from the capsules into 80:20 CD3CN:D2O – Observed suspicious specific small molecule peaks – herbals are usually broad featureless complex mixture spectra. This is something in different – a specific drug material appears to have been added.Comparison with the spectrum of Viagra (Sildenafil Citrate) below shows a strong similarity between the 2 active ingredients.
We also obtained the COSY, 13C and DEPT NMR Spectra on the ED herbal supplement. These are shown below.
The analysis of the NMR data led us to find that the extractable components of the sample contained predominantly Sulfoaildenafil (thioaildenafil) which is a strutural analog of Sildenafil (Viagra) and is not approved by any health regulation agency for use in erectile dysfunction medicines or supplements. Apparently these structural analogs to Viagra are found widely in herbal supplements sold for this malady. I guess we have one more for the list that the FDA keeps on such dangerously adulterated products.