Simultaneous determination of three aconitum alkaloids in urine by LC-MS-MS

J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2007 Sep 21;45(1):145-148. doi: 10.1016/j.jpba.2007.04.016. Epub 2007 Apr 20.

Abstract

A sensitive method has been developed for the identification and quantification of the toxic alkaloids yunaconitine, crassicauline A, and foresaconitine in urine specimens. After solid-phase extraction using Oasis MCX cartridges, the extracts were analyzed by LC-MS-MS. The limit of detection is 0.03 ng/mL urine for yunaconitine and 0.05 ng/mL urine for crassicauline A and foresaconitine; the limit of quantitation is 0.15 ng/mL urine for yunaconitine and 0.20 ng/mL urine for crassicauline A and foresaconitine. The method was employed in the analysis of the urine of a 55-year-old male who died after ingestion of herbal medicine powder made from the roots of aconite. Yunaconitine, crassicauline A and foresaconitine were identified in the urine. Crassicauline A and foresaconitine were thus identified in a biological specimen for the first time.

MeSH terms

  • Aconitum / chemistry*
  • Aconitum / poisoning
  • Adult
  • Alkaloids / urine*
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Plant Poisoning / urine*
  • Reference Standards
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Substances

  • Alkaloids