Identification of sinicuichi alkaloids in human serum after intoxication caused by oral intake of a Heimia salicifolia extract

A 26-year-old male came to hospital around midnight complaining about muscle pain of the extremities as well as the tongue and slightly raised temperature. He reported the intake of an unknown amount of sinicuichi tea he had fermented over 24 h by adding yeast and sugar. The patient was treated with Vomex A (dimenhydrinate) and released from hospital the following afternoon. A blood sample taken shortly after submission and a small amount of the used plant material were available for analysis. Herbal drugs are widely used as stimulants as a legal alternative to illegal psychoactive drugs or in traditional context. Among many others like Sassafras officinalis, Salvia divinorum or Ephedra, Heimia salicifolia ("sinicuichi"), a species of the lythraceae family, is available via several online shops. Brewed up or fermented and consumed, the so-called sinicuichi tea may cause exhilarating feelings and an alteration of awareness accompanied by bradycardia, relaxation of the muscles and a pleasant faintness. Therefore Sinicuichi brew and heimia leaves are widely used for medication by the natives of Central and South America. After liquid extraction with acetone five different alkaloids were detected in the plant material by LC-MS/MS operated in the Q1 scan mode applying a TurboIonSpray source. Subsequently, Product Ion Spectra were recorded and after confirming the molecular formula by determining the accurate masses, possible structures of H. salicifolia alkaloids were assigned. The information of the Product Ion Spectra was then used to set up a sensitive multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) method. Applying the MRM method to the patient's serum sample after alkaline liquid-liquid extraction all of the five heimia alkaloids detected in the plant material were also detected qualitatively in the serum extract, confirming the ingestion.     

A case of beta-carboline alkaloid intoxication following ingestion of Peganum harmala seed extract

Beta-carboline alkaloids harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine can stimulate the central nervous system by inhibiting the metabolism of amine neurotransmitters, or by direct interaction with specific receptors; they are found in numerous plants, including Peganum harmala, Passiflora incarnata and Banisteriopsis caapi, and in the entheogen preparation Ayahuasca, which is traditionally brewed using B. caapi to enhance the activity of amine hallucinogenic drugs. The ingestion of plant preparations containing beta-carboline alkaloids may result in toxic effects, namely visual and auditory hallucinations, locomotor ataxia, nausea, vomiting, confusion and agitation. We report a case of intoxication following intentional ingestion of P. harmala seed infusion; P. harmala seeds were bought over the Internet. The harmala alkaloids were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the seed extract and the patient's urine. This is, to our knowledge, the first case of P. harmala intoxication corroborated by toxicological findings.     

乌头中剧毒生物碱的提取分离（Ⅱ）

目的从短距牛扁中提取分离含C14 茴香酰基剧毒二萜生物碱。方法采用 95 %乙醇提取 ,酸性水溶液溶解醇提物 ,脱脂并碱化后经硅胶柱层析及制备薄层分离 ,以UV、HPLC MS、13CNMR方法确证结构。结果利用该方法可对短距牛扁中黄草乌碱丙、粗茎乌碱甲、滇乌碱进行有效提取。结论本研究提示对乌头属植物中毒案件进行检验时仅以乌头碱类生物碱 (C14 苯甲酰基 )作为监测成分是不够的 ,还应注意检材中是否含有滇乌碱型生物碱成分。     

Apparent effects of glyphosate on alkaloid production in coca plants grown in Colombia

During the routine analysis of coca leaf material from South America, alkaloids in Erythroxylum coca var. ipadu (ECVI) leaf samples from fields suspected of being treated with glyphosate were compared with those from non-treated E. coca var. ipadu and Erythroxylum novogranatense var. novogranatense (ENVN) plants. Cocaine levels in leaf tissue from non-treated ECVI and ENVN were 0.53+/-0.08% and 0.64+/-0.08% (w/w), respectively, whereas leaves from treated plants were nearly devoid of cocaine. Further analysis demonstrated the presence of several previously undescribed N-nortropane alkaloids, several of which were tentatively identified. The results suggest that applications of glyphosate to coca plants can have dramatic effects on the quantity and quality of alkaloids produced by surviving or subsequent leaves. The analytical data presented will be of value to forensic chemists who encounter illicit cocaine preparations containing alkaloids produced from coca plants treated with glyphosate.     

Isolation of alkaloids and glycosides from tissue following enzymic digestion

Four enzymic digestion methods have been evaluated for their efficiency in releasing certain alkaloids and glycosides from spiked liver tissue. Enzymic digestion gives better recoveries of all the plant poisons studied than those obtained by conventional methods. A flow diagram for the enzymic methods of drug isolation and quantitation by HPLC is presented. Enzymic digestion for the release of glycosides is reported for the first time. It is concluded that papain digestion is the most suitable method for the analysis of broad spectrum of compounds of forensic and clinical importance.     

A case of fatal poisoning with the aconite plant: quantitative analysis in biological fluid.

In recent years recorded cases of plant poisoning have become rare, this may in part be due to the possibility of plant ingestion not being indicated at the beginning of an investigation. Aconitum napellus (aconite, Wolfsbane, Monkshood) is one of the most poisonous plants in the UK. It contains various potent alkaloids such as aconitine, isoaconitine, lycaconitine and napelline. Ingestion of Aconitum plant extracts can result in severe, potentially fatal toxic effects. This paper describes the analytical findings in a recent death in the UK. resulting from deliberate ingestion of Aconitum napellus extract. The concentrations of aconitine measured by HPLC-DAD in the post mortem femoral blood and urine were 10.8 micrograms/L and 264 micrograms/L, respectively. The aconitine concentration in the ante mortem urine was 334 micrograms/L and was estimated to be 6 micrograms/L in the ante mortem serum. Hence, accidental, suicidal or homicidal poisoning due to the ingestion of plant material remains a possibility and should be borne in mind when investigating sudden or unexplained death.     

Quantitative analysis of tropane alkaloids in biological materials by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A simple and rapid method for quantitation of tropane alkaloids in biological materials has been developed using an Extrelut column with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Biological materials (serum and urine) were mixed with a borate buffer and then applied to an Extrelut column. The adsorbed tropane alkaloids were eluted with dichloromethane before a GC-MS analysis. Atropine-d(3) was used as an internal standard. The extracted tropane alkaloids were converted to trimethylsilyl derivatives prior to GC analysis, to improve the instability of tropane alkaloids from heating and the property of them for a GC column. The recoveries of the compounds, which had been spiked to biological materials, were more than 80%. The GC separation of the derivatives from endogenous impurities was generally satisfactory with the use of a semi-polar capillary column. Tropane alkaloids showed excellent linearity in the range of 10-5000 ng/ml and the limit of detection was 5.0 ng/ml for biological materials. The present method is simple and more rapid than those previously reported, and was applied to a poisoning case. It is useful for the routine analysis of tropane alkaloids in cases of suspected tropane alkaloids poisoning.     

Changes in place of origin of heroin seized in Denmark from 1981 to 1986. "Chemical fingerprint" of 138 samples

Hundred thirty-eight samples of heroin weighing more than 0.1 g seized between 1981 and 1986 were characterized according to their contents of opium alkaloids, adulterants, and diluents together with their form and color. The "chemical fingerprint" was used to establish a change in the heroin during the period. As compared to the first few years covered by the survey, a predominant number of the samples at the end of the period were in the base form and contained the opium alkaloids papaverine and noscapine. In particular, the concentration of noscapine as related to the heroin content of each sample had increased considerably, indicating Pakistan or Iran as being the places of origin of most of the heroin seized in Denmark at the end of the period.     

Estimating the impact of state manpower policy: a case study of reducing medical school enrollments

Perceptions of an impending oversupply of physicians have prompted proposals to reduce medical school enrollments in a number of states. Most of these states are also concerned with improving the specialty and geographic distribution of their medical manpower. The present study provides estimates of the effects of reduced numbers of in-state medical school graduates upon the future supply of physicians in Texas, and examines the medical school origin, medical specialty, and practice location of selected groups of Texas physicians. The results suggest that in Texas enrollment reductions would have no significant impact on physician supply over the next 15 years, and might actually prove counterproductive in altering physician distribution. The analysis of Texas data illuminates the unintended consequences likely to accompany a policy option that has been widely embraced by state officials largely on the basis of its intuitive appeal.     

Aconitum alkaloid content and the high toxicity of aconite tincture

Although proprietary medicines and decoction of processed aconite roots are the most widely used, tincture accounts for the great majority of aconite poisoning cases in China, indicating that it is much more toxic than other formulations. Aconite tincture is often self-prepared at home and raw aconite plants or roots are often used. Even if processed aconite roots were used to make the tincture, the amount of Aconitum alkaloids is highly variable, depending on the adequacy of processing and quality control. Aconitum alkaloids dissolve efficiently in alcohol. For these reasons, tincture contains very high concentrations of Aconitum alkaloids. Despite its high intrinsic toxicity, overdose of aconite tincture by the users has been common. Severe aconite poisoning can be complicated by fatal ventricular tachyarrhythmias and asystole. The public should be repeatedly warned of the danger of taking aconite tincture by mouth.     

乌头类生物碱对心肌的毒性作用及分子毒理学研究进展

乌头属植物是被子植物亚门毛茛科中一类重要的有毒植物,也是我国最早有记载的药用有毒植物之一;其块根中多含有剧毒的二萜类双酯型生物碱?乌头碱,因个体差异、用法不当以及误服或投毒等原因而发生乌头中毒、甚至死亡的报道屡见不鲜。目前,对乌头碱的研究多局限在临床救治方面,缺乏对乌头碱毒性作用机制研究。本文参考国内外相关文献资料,对乌头碱的心肌细胞毒性作用机制进行了综述。     

犯罪概念形式与实质的理论建构

犯罪概念的形式与实质,是刑法理论犯罪界说的焦点,并且由此涉及到对于罪刑法定原则的贯彻。在刑法规范的框架内,犯罪的形式界定与实质界定并不是冲突的;大陆法系、英美法系犯罪成立条件的形式也贯穿着实质的判断。犯罪实质与形式的划分,既是立法实际的复写,也是理论分析的必要。行为的犯罪评价可以通过肯定判断与否定判断来具体实现。基于犯罪的“形式与实质双面统一”的理念,犯罪概念与罪刑法定原则具有形式与内容的统一。     

Final rule declaring dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids adulterated because they present an unreasonable risk. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, we, our) is issuing a final regulation declaring dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act) because they present an unreasonable risk of illness or injury under the conditions of use recommended or suggested in labeling, or if no conditions of use are suggested or recommended in labeling, under ordinary conditions of use. We are taking this action based upon the well-known pharmacology of ephedrine alkaloids, the peer-reviewed scientific literature on the effects of ephedrine alkaloids, and the adverse events reported to have occurred in individuals following consumption of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids.     

Postmortem pink teeth. Histochemical identification of the causative pigment

The phenomenon of postmortem pink teeth has been reported in subjects who have died suddenly and unnaturally, and whose bodies have been subsequently exposed to a wet or moist environment. Ground and EDTA-decalcified sections of teeth of 21 corpses exhibiting postmortem pink-stained teeth were investigated for the identification of the responsible pigment. With histochemical methods and ultraviolet microscopy, the causative pigment was identified as undegraded hemoglobin. Staining from hemosiderin, bile and bile-related pigments, and porphyrins was ruled out. However, histochemical techniques are unable to reveal the form in which the hemoglobin occurred. The cause of death or time of death had no observable effect on the staining reactions for hemoglobin in the teeth.     

Heroin profiling: Predicting the country of origin of seized heroin

This short report presents an attempt to assess the feasibility of predicting the country of origin of heroin based on the concentration of selected alkaloids and adulterants in seized material. The method used to classify the data was a multivariate statistical analysis, based on a linear discriminant function, which assigns the illicit samples to the country of origin using objective and repeatable criteria. Previously, this has been done using subjective criteria which are open to interpretation. When confined to samples claimed to have originated from Turkey, Pakistan, India and South East Asia in the period 1990 to 1993, the method achieved a successful classification in 83% of cases.     

The competitive effects of health maintenance organizations: another look at the evidence from Hawaii, Rochester, and Minneapolis/St. Paul

There has been much discussion about the potential cost-containing impact of HMOs upon the local medical care market. Three areas have been identified by various observers as experiencing such beneficial effects: Hawaii, after the development of Kaiser in the late 1950s; Rochester, New York, which experienced rapid HMO growth and declining Blue Cross hospital use in the late 1970s; and Minneapolis/St. Paul, which has been the focus of vigorous HMO competition in the last decade. While comprehensive data on health care expenditures are not available, bits of evidence can be pieced together to develop case studies of each area. Careful review of the available data often identifies internal inconsistencies and contradictions, but in none of the three sites is there a reduction in hospital use that is most plausibly attributed to HMO competition. Instead, the reported reductions are in each case attributable to other factors--including biases in data, long-term trends predating HMOs, indirect effects of other policy changes, and other forms of competition.     

Assessing the effectiveness of drug courts on recidivism: A meta-analytic review of traditional and non-traditional drug courts

Purpose

The objective of this research was to systematically review quasi-experimental and experimental evaluations of the effectiveness of drug courts in reducing offending.

Methods

Our search identified 154 independent evaluations: 92 evaluations of adult drug courts, 34 of juvenile drug courts, and 28 of DWI drug courts. The findings of these studies were synthesized using meta-analysis.

Results

The vast majority of adult drug court evaluations, even the most rigorous evaluations, find that participants have lower recidivism than non-participants. The average effect of participation is analogous to a drop in recidivism from 50% to 38%; and, these effects last up to three years. Evaluations of DWI drug courts find effects similar in magnitude to those of adult drug courts, but the most rigorous evaluations do not uniformly find reductions in recidivism. Juvenile drug courts have substantially smaller effects on recidivism. Larger reductions in recidivism were found in adult drug courts that had high graduation rates, and those that accepted only non-violent offenders.

Conclusions

These findings support the effectiveness of adult drug courts in reducing recidivism. The evidence assessing DWI courts' effectiveness is very promising but more experimental evaluations are needed. Juvenile drug courts typically produce small reductions in recidivism.     

Cloud point extraction coupled with back extraction: a green methodology in analytical chemistry

Recently, cloud point extraction (CPE) coupled with back extraction (BE) has been suggested as a promising alternative to liquid-liquid extraction. In CPE, non-ionic surfactants in aqueous solutions form micelles and the solution becomes turbid when heated to the cloud point temperature. Microwave- or ultrasonic-assisted BE can be performed after CPE and before injection of the sample for instrumental analysis by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. This article reviews selected published scientific research on the application of CPE-BE to the determination of alkaloids, drugs and organophosphorus compounds from several complex matrices. This method could be scaled-up for use in forensic science.     

利用DNA条形码技术鉴别植物

目的研究利用DNA条形码技术鉴定上海地区常见植物叶片种类,在物种鉴定水平的基础上,进一步讨论利用分子标记技术对该类物证进行同一认定可行性。方法随机选取上海地区常见的9种植物,在其非新鲜的状态下利用高盐法提取植物组织的DNA,PCR扩增叶绿体rbcL和matK基因片段并且回收测序,通过数据库比对确定植物的物种。结果利用双基因鉴定分析系统,在随机收集的9份样品中,均达到物种水平的鉴定。结论利用DNA条形码技术,可以在物种水平准确地鉴定植物叶片类物证。     

Assay of major and minor constituents of opium samples and studies of their origin

Samples of opium from different countries as well as from various regions of India were studied for their morphine and codeine content by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) as their silyl ethers in a single step. Non-phenolic alkaloids (thebaine, papaverine and narcotine) were extracted with dichloromethane for GLC after conversion of the meconic acid, morphine and codeine in opium into insoluble salts with lime water. The data on alkaloidal constituents have been utilised in a determination of the origin of seized opium samples in this preliminary study.