Characterization of fresh and aged natural ingredients raw materials used in historical ointments by molecular spectroscopic techniques: IR, Raman and Fluorescence

Natural organic materials used to prepare pharmaceuticalmixtures including ointments and balsams havebeen characterized by a combined non-destructive spectroscopicanalytical approach. Three classes of materialswhich include vegetable oils (olive, almond and palm tree),gums (Arabic and Tragacanth) and beeswax are consideredin this study according to their widespread use reported inancient recipes. Micro-FTIR, micro-Raman and fluorescencespectroscopies have been applied to fresh and mildlythermally aged samples. Vibrational characterization ofthese organic compounds is reported together with tabulated frequencies, highlighting all spectral features and changes inspectra which occur following artificial aging. Synchronousfluorescence spectroscopy has been shown to be particularlyuseful for the assessment of changes in oils after aging;spectral difference between Tragacanth and Arabic gum couldbe due to variations in origin and processing of raw materials.Analysis of these materials using non-destructive spectroscopictechniques provided important analytical informationwhich could be used to guide further study.