Journal of Chromatography B
October 11, 2002
Mercedes Yritia, Jordi Riba, Jordi Ortuño et al.
84 citations
A method to measure the four main alkaloids in ayahuasca (DMT, harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine) plus two major metabolites (harmol and harmalol) in human plasma is described. DMT is extracted with n-pentane and quantified by gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection, achieving 74% recovery, precision and accuracy better than 9.9%, and a limit of quantification of 1.6 ng/ml. The beta-carbolines and metabolites are measured by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection after solid-phase extraction, with recoveries above 87%, accuracy and precision better than 13.4%, and limits of quantification from 0.3 to 1.0 ng/ml. The methods allow adequate characterization of the pharmacokinetics of these compounds, including two major metabolites not previously described.
Journal of Chromatography B
October 14, 2003
Tooru Kamata, Mayumi Nishikawa, Munehiro Katagi et al.
65 citations
A sensitive analytical method for detecting psilocin in urine was developed by optimizing hydrolysis conditions. Enzymatic hydrolysis using Escherichia coli beta-glucuronidase (5000 units/ml urine) at pH 6 and 37°C for 2 hours completely converted psilocin glucuronide to psilocin, whereas enzymes from bovine liver, Helix pomatia, and Ampullaria gave incomplete conversion. Acid and alkaline hydrolysis were not applicable. In a magic mushroom user's urine, 3.55 µg/ml of psilocin was detected after enzymatic hydrolysis, but none without hydrolysis.
Journal of Chromatography B
December 7, 2020
Karolina E. Kolaczynska, Matthias E. Liechti, Urs Duthaler
55 citations
A rapid LC-MS/MS method was developed and validated to quantify psilocin, the active metabolite of psilocybin, and its metabolite 4-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (4-HIAA) in human plasma. Plasma samples were processed by protein precipitation with methanol. The method achieved inter-assay accuracy of 100-109% and precision ≤8.7%, with recovery ≥94.7% and consistent across concentration levels and plasma batches (CV% ≤4.1%). Plasma matrix caused negligible ion suppression, and endogenous interferences were separated. Samples could undergo three freeze-thaw cycles, remain at room temperature for 8 hours, or be stored at -20°C for 1 month without degradation (≤10%). The linear range (R ≥ 0.998) covered concentrations observed after a 25 mg oral dose of psilocybin, enabling pharmacokinetic assessment.
Journal of Chromatography B
June 8, 2019
Rita C. Z. Souza, Flávia Da Silva Zandonadi, Donizete P. Freitas et al.
42 citations
A fast, validated analytical method for quantifying the main active compounds in ayahuasca—N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), tetrahydroharmine (THH), harmine (HME), and harmaline (HML)—was developed and applied to 38 samples from São Paulo, Brazil. The method shows minimal matrix interference and high reproducibility, enabling the tracing of active compound concentrations for the first time. This tool supports studies linking compound levels to biological responses using multi-omic platforms.
Journal of Chromatography B
January 29, 2005
Sys Stybe Johansen, Jytte Lundsby Jensen
41 citations
A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed to measure LSD, iso-LSD, and the metabolite 2-oxo-3-hydroxy-LSD in forensic samples. The procedure extracts the compounds from whole blood or urine, then uses electrospray ionization and multiple reaction monitoring for detection and quantification. The method is linear over 0.01-50 µg/kg for LSD and iso-LSD, with a quantification limit of 0.01 µg/kg. Applied to a homicide investigation of a 26-year-old man, blood concentrations were 0.27 µg/kg for LSD and 0.44 µg/kg for iso-LSD; the metabolite was detected in urine, confirming LSD use. The case highlights the need to separate isomers before detection because they produce identical fragment ions.
Journal of Chromatography B
November 17, 2011
Alain Gaujac, Adriano Aquino, Sandro Navickiene et al.
30 citations
A simple, low-cost method using matrix solid-phase dispersion and gas chromatography with mass spectrometry was developed to measure N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in Mimosa tenuiflora inner bark. DMT is a potent hallucinogen found in ayahuasca, a beverage used in religious rituals by Santo Daime and União do Vegetal, which are practiced in several countries. The method showed good linearity and repeatability, with a detection limit of 0.12 mg/g. Analysis of 24 local samples found DMT concentrations ranging from 1.26 to 9.35 mg/g. The method may aid in monitoring DMT content in plant materials used in traditional and religious contexts.
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.