Validation of the reagent-based paper test strips method for the detection of paracetamol in herbal medicines

Abstract

The widespread use of herbal medicines in Indonesia raises concerns regarding the possible addition of prohibited chemical drugs, such as paracetamol. Therefore, a rapid detection method is needed as an alternative to the standard BPOM methods. This study aims to validate a reagent-based paper test strip for detecting paracetamol in herbal medicines through a specificity test. The test strip prepares with the immersion of Whatman chromatography paper on the FeCl₃ and Folin–Ciocalteu reagents. The response time was determined by observing the color change at intervals of 5 to 60 minutes after immersing the test strip in the paracetamol solution. The specificity test was performed by comparing the RGB values among the standard, sample (herbal medicines for muscle aches, rheumatism, and gout), and spiked solutions. The results showed that the optimal response time occurred between 30 and 45 minutes for both reagents. The specificity test indicated that both reagents could not distinguish paracetamol from other compounds in samples, by the absence of significant differences in the RGB values between the samples and the spiked solutions. Thus, the reagent-based paper test strip may serve as an initial screening tool but lacks sufficient selectivity for confirmatory analysis. Further research is recommended to develop more specific reagents or to integrate the paper-based test with instrumental techniques to improve accuracy.