A new chemical testing method can help distinguish between the compounds present in both real and bogus ‘male enhancement’ drugs (Photo credit: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, via Flickr)
A new technique can successfully distinguish between 82 different compounds used in both real and bogus ‘male enhancement’ pills in less than 10 minutes.
Compounds – both natural and synthetic – that are chemically similar to the active ingredients in erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra and Cialis are often mixed into pills and sold as ‘natural male enhancement’. Yet unlike the real deal, many of these compounds have not been tested for efficacy or safety, and could cause dangerous side effects.
The state-of-the-art technique will help regulators determine exactly what is in these bogus pills and shut down the manufacturers who pose a risk to public health.
Original research paper published in the Journal of Chromatography A on May 23, 2014.
Names and affiliations of selected authors
Karen Waldron, Université de Montréal, Quebec
Alexandra Furtos, Université de Montréal, Quebec
