Detection of irradiated granules preparation of Chinese patent medicine by ESR spectroscopy

Objective To develop a simple and convenient method to detect the granules preparation of Chinese patent medicine (GPCPM), based on the effect of ESR spectroscopy using 60Co-γ ray irradiation. Methods Two kinds of GPCPM were irradiated by 60Co-γ ray under nine doses (0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.7, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 kGy) at 1.0 kGy/h dose rate. The ESR spectroscopy was characterized by ESR detector with 0.05 g of sample and repeated for three times. Results It was shown that the ESR spectra were obviously different with or without irradiation. The intensity of ESR signal increased with the irradiation dose increasing, but decreased with the storage time expansion with a linear correlation. The intensity of ESR was weakened gradually during the storage at the room temperature for 120 d, though the ESR signal could be still detected. Conclusion The method of ESR spectroscopy is simple, rapid, and practically valuable for the identification of GPCPM irradiated or not.