Quality Assessment of Herbal Medicinal Products in Benign Prostate Hypertrophy: Chemical Markers and Fingerprint Analysis

This study evaluated the quality of herbal formulations used to treat benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH) in the Syrian market by analyzing the fatty acids profile, tocopherols, and chromatographic fingerprints of methanol extracts. Using GC/MS analysis, the study found that the fatty acids content met quality requirements in four samples, while α and γ tocopherols were consistent with previous studies, except for one sample with lower levels. The chromatographic fingerprint analysis revealed a shortage of ∆7 phytosterols in pumpkin seed oil samples and the presence of parabens in one sample. Additionally, the absence of lauric acid in one sample was confirmed. The study emphasizes the importance of combining active markers with chromatographic fingerprinting for effective quality evaluation of herbal products, ensuring their efficiency and safety.