1PhD, Assistant Professor II, Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Forensic Science, Amity School of Applied Sciences, Amity University, Gurugram, Haryana, India
2M.Sc., Sr. Scientific Assistant, Toxicology Division, Forensic Science Laboratory, Madhuban, Haryana, India
3PhD, Senior Scientific officer, Forensic Science Laboratory, Rohini, New Delhi, India
4M.Sc., Sr. Scientific Assistant, Forensic Science Laboratory, Rohini, New Delhi, India
*Corresponding Author: Dr. Bhuvnesh Yadav, PhD, Assistant Professor II, Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Forensic Science, Amity School of Applied Sciences, Amity University, Gurugram, Haryana, India, Contact : +91 98994-02613, Email : bhuvneshyadav@gmail.com
Medical abortion while a necessity is a social taboo depending upon the situations. Since ancient times, numerous methodologies have been employed for carrying out abortions. Developments in medical sciences have made the procedure easy by use of some abortive drugs like Mifepristone and Misoprostol. However, these drugs have been misused with impunity for forced abortions, especially for female foeticide. The study was conducted to standardize the method for identification of these drugs in forensic cases related to illegal abortions. Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and Fourier Transform - Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) technologies were employed for the same.
Various combinations of solvents were employed and it was observed that Mifepristone was best separated in Chloroform-Acetone (9:1) and Toluene-Ethyl acetate (7:3) solvent systems. A unique inverted foetus shaped spot of Mifepristone can be visualized with Dragondorffs reagent, Zwikker reagent and Iodine fumes. However, visualization of Misoprostol was difficult by Thin Layer Chromatography method with these developers. Fourier Transform - Infrared Spectroscopy analysis gave the positive results in both the drugs.
The standardization of Thin Layer Chromatography for forensic identification of abortive drug (Mifepristone) was done in this study. FTIR can be concluded as the method of choice in the identification of Misoprostol in forensic cases.
Drug Analysis, Misoprostol, Mifepristone, Thin Layer Chromatography, Fourier Transform - Infrared Spectroscopy
