Forensic Science International
April 20, 2021
Mengxi Liu, Huan Yang, Jing Hu et al.
14 citations
A fast and reliable UPLC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for measuring dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in hair samples. The method, which pulverizes 20-milligram hair samples with methanol below 4 °C, achieved a lower limit of quantitation of 3 pg/mg and a calibration curve with R² = 0.992. Intraday and interday precision (RSD < 15%) and accuracy (92-113%) were acceptable, and dilution integrity was confirmed. Applied to 28 forensic cases, DMT concentrations ranged from 3 to 1109 pg/mg.
Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
September 20, 2023
Ziyi Li, Zehong Li, Wanting Xie et al.
13 citations
A method using ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was developed and validated to detect phencyclidine-type substances in human hair. The method showed good sensitivity, selectivity, and accuracy. It was applied to hair samples from 87 authentic forensic cases, identifying and quantifying nine analytes including ketamine, 2-F-2-oxo-PCE, 2-FDCK, 2-BrDCK, nor2-FDCK, tiletamine, O-PCE, DCK, and norDCK at various concentrations. This approach provides technical support for monitoring abuse of these substances, which are often synthesized as substitutes for controlled drugs.
Journal of Chromatography B
March 2, 2022
Shuo Yang, Yan Shi, Zhuonan Chen et al.
13 citations
A rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed to detect and measure mescaline in hair. The method showed good linearity from 10 to 1000 pg/mg, with a detection limit of 3 pg/mg and quantification limit of 10 pg/mg. Total analysis time was 5 minutes. The method was applied to 19 real forensic cases, finding mescaline concentrations in hair ranging from 10 to 784 pg/mg. Mescaline, a psychedelic alkaloid from the peyote cactus, is a class I psychotropic drug in China, and this method is suitable for large-scale surveillance of mescaline abuse in forensic toxicology.
Forensic Toxicology
February 2, 2021
Liying Zhou, Ping Xiang, Di Wen et al.
13 citations
A highly sensitive method for measuring psilocin and psilocybin in hair samples from magic mushroom users was developed using ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The technique achieved a detection limit of 1 pg/mg and a quantification limit of 5 pg/mg, with linear calibration from 5 to 500 pg/mg. In two authentic hair samples, psilocin concentrations were 161 and 150 pg/mg, while psilocybin was not detected. The method also analyzed psilocin and psilocybin distribution in seven hallucinogenic mushrooms. This represents the first measurement of psilocin in hair from hallucinogenic mushroom consumers and the most sensitive quantitative method for these compounds in hair.
Drug Testing and Analysis
March 21, 2022
Wenya Zhai, Le Li, Junbo Zhao et al.
5 citations
4-Acetoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (4-AcO-DMT, psilacetin) is a synthetic psychedelic that may act as a precursor to psilocin, but its metabolism was poorly understood. Incubating 4-AcO-DMT with pooled human liver microsomes produced 15 metabolites: 12 from phase I and 3 from phase II reactions. Transformations included hydrolysis, hydroxylation, N-demethylation, oxidation, and glucuronic acid conjugation. The hydrolysis product was the most abundant. For forensic detection of 4-AcO-DMT use, the beta-hydroxylation metabolite (M2-1) is recommended as a biomarker. These findings may help predict in vivo metabolism and assist drug testing.
Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
August 15, 2025
Zhen Zhang, Yan Shi, Meiting Lin et al.
A UHPLC-MS/MS method was developed to separate and measure the two mirror-image forms (enantiomers) of ketamine in human urine and hair. After a deceased person used esketamine before death, only S-ketamine appeared in blood and urine, indicating that ketamine does not switch between its enantiomeric forms in the body. In 45 hair samples from ketamine abusers, the ratio of R-ketamine to S-ketamine ranged from 0.809 to 1.43, showing that illegal-market ketamine is mostly racemic (equal parts both enantiomers). A significant difference in this ratio was found between samples from China and Myanmar, likely due to regional variations in synthetic routes.
Fa yi xue za zhi
June 25, 2024
Jin-Ting Liu, Li-Ying Zhou, Jia-Hong Xiang et al.
Piperazines are a class of new psychoactive substances that produce hallucinogenic effects by altering monoamine neurotransmitter levels in the central nervous system. Their abuse causes stimulating and hallucinogenic effects along with adverse reactions such as headache, dizziness, anxiety, insomnia, vomiting, chest pain, tachycardia, hypertension, and may lead to cardiovascular diseases, multiple organ failure, and death. This review covers the in vivo processes, sample treatment, and analytical methods for piperazines, aiming to aid forensic identification.