Rapid Determination and Quantification of Hair-Growth Compounds in Adulterated Products by Ultra HPLC Coupled to Quadrupole-Orbitrap MS

The study developed a rapid and sensitive method using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS) to screen for 12 hair-growth enhancing compounds in adulterated products. The method demonstrated high accuracy and precision, with limits of detection and quantification ranging from 0.05 to 50 ng/mL and 0.17 to 167 ng/mL, respectively. It was applied to 14 dietary supplements marketed for hair loss treatment, revealing that approximately 21% contained synthetic drugs like triaminodil, minoxidil, and finasteride, which are known to promote hair growth. This method aimed to protect public health by identifying illegal products containing these compounds.