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.
Journal of analytical toxicology
May 20, 2024
Linhao Xu, Hui Yan, Yiling Tang et al.
3 citations
Since the 2000s, more new psychoactive substances have appeared on the illicit drug market. β-Keto-arylcyclohexylamine compounds, which have pharmacological roles in anesthesia, are increasingly used recreationally, but detailed toxicity data are lacking. Analyzing their metabolites can help forensic personnel determine whether someone has taken these illicit substances. This study examined the in vitro and in vivo metabolism of three such compounds: deschloro-N-ethyl-ketamine, fluoro-N-ethyl-ketamine, and bromoketamine. Using zebrafish and human liver microsomes, 49 metabolites were identified via liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry. Hydroxy-deschloro-N-ethyl-ketamine, hydroxy-fluoro-N-ethyl-ketamine, and hydroxy-bromoketamine are recommended as biomarkers for documenting intake in clinical and forensic cases.
Archives of toxicology
March 10, 2025
Yiling Tang, Linhao Xu, Zhenshuo Guo et al.
1 citation
Proscaline and methallylescaline are two phenylethylamine derivatives of the classic hallucinogen mescaline, classified as new psychoactive substances (NPS) not controlled by international drug conventions. Limited toxicity information has hindered their identification. Using high-resolution mass spectrometry with three complementary models—computational prediction, zebrafish (in vivo), and human liver microsomes (in vitro)—the study identified 7 proscaline metabolites and 11 methallylescaline metabolites for the first time. Hydroxylated and N-acetylated products were the major metabolites, enabling their selection as biomarkers for detecting intake of these two NPS over a relatively wide detection window.
Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
February 1, 2025
Zixuan Song, Zhenshuo Guo, Yiling Tang et al.
1 citation
A new high-throughput screening method using gas chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) identifies 30 phencyclidine analogs in human blood and urine. After a simple extraction with ethyl ether and buffer, analytes are identified using a self-built library and reference spectra; isomers are differentiated by exact molecular mass and retention time. The method shows no interferences, recovery ranges from 30% to 123%, and detection limits from 0.05 to 5 ng/mL. Applied to 800 authentic forensic cases, it detected four analogs—2-F-2-oxo-PCE, 3-MeO-PCE, O-PCE, and 2-FDCK—demonstrating suitability for sensitive, fast high-throughput drug screening.