Publication Date:
2011-06-15
Description:
Chemical analysis of ancient residues of pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparations such as balms or ointments is made problematic by the high complexity of these mixtures, composed of organic and inorganic materials. Consequently, a multi-analytical approach and special caution in the interpretation of the results are necessary. In order to contribute to the improvement of analytical strategies for the characterization of complex residues and to reconstruct ancient medical practices, a replica of a pharmaceutical formulation of the seventeenth century was prepared in the laboratory according to a historically documented recipe. In a round robin exercise, a portion of the preparation was analysed as a blind sample by 11 laboratories using various analytical techniques. These included spectroscopic, chromatographic and mass spectrometric methods. None of the laboratories was able to completely reconstruct the complex formulation, but each of them gave partial positive results. The round robin exercise has demonstrated that the application of a multi-analytical approach can permit a complete and reliable reconstruction of the composition. Finally, on the basis of the results, an analytical protocol for the study of residues of ancient medical and pharmaceutical preparations has been outlined. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-14 DOI 10.1007/s00216-011-5105-1 Authors M. P. Colombini, Dipartimento di Chimica, SCIBEC, Università di Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy F. Modugno, Dipartimento di Chimica, SCIBEC, Università di Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy M. C. Gamberini, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy M. Rocchi, Dipartimento di Chimica, SCIBEC, Università di Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy C. Baraldi, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy T. Deviese, British Museum, Department of Conservation and Scientific Research, London, WC1B 3DG UK R. J. Stacey, British Museum, Department of Conservation and Scientific Research, London, WC1B 3DG UK M. Orlandi, Dipartimento di Scienze dell’Ambiente e del Territorio, Università di Milano Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy F. Saliu, Dipartimento di Scienze dell’Ambiente e del Territorio, Università di Milano Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy C. Riedo, Dipartimentodi Chimica IFM e NIS Centro di Eccellenza, Università degli Studi di Torino, 10124 Turin, Italy O. Chiantore, Dipartimentodi Chimica IFM e NIS Centro di Eccellenza, Università degli Studi di Torino, 10124 Turin, Italy G. Sciutto, Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca per le Scienze Ambientali, Microchemistry and Microscopy Art Diagnostic Laboratory (M2ADL), Università di Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy E. Catelli, Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca per le Scienze Ambientali, Microchemistry and Microscopy Art Diagnostic Laboratory (M2ADL), Università di Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy L. Brambilla, Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy L. Toniolo, Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy C. Miliani, Istituto CNR-ISTM Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy P. Rocchi, Istituto CNR-ISTM Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy J. Bleton, LETIAM, IUT d’Orsay, 91400 Orsay, France U. Baumer, Doerner Institut, 80799 Munich, Germany P. Dietemann, Doerner Institut, 80799 Munich, Germany G. Pojana, Università Ca‘Foscari Venezia, 30123 Venetia, Italy S. Marras, Università Ca‘Foscari Venezia, 30123 Venetia, Italy Journal Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry Online ISSN 1618-2650 Print ISSN 1618-2642
Print ISSN:
1618-2642
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
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