Analysis of toxic alkaloids in body samples
Jochen Beyer, Olaf H Drummer & Hans H Maurer
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abstract
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Many plants contain toxic alkaloids which may be dangerous to
humans. Despite the large number of poisonous plants, cases of fatal
plant poisonings are relatively rare. The frequencies of poisonings
and the plants involved are often regionally specific. Plant
poisonings can be aggregated into three categories: unintended
ingestions, intended ingestions, and poisoning due to abuse of plant
material. Unintended ingestions often occur in children or from a
mix-up of plants and mushrooms in adults. Intended ingestions are
common in homicides and suicides. Increasingly common is the abuse
of plants for hallucinogenic reasons. Toxicological analysis of such
alkaloids may help in diagnosis of poisoning or abuse cases. This
review describes the toxic alkaloids aconitine, atropine, coniine,
colchicine, cytisine, dimethyltryptamine, harmine, harmaline,
ibogaine, kawain, mescaline, scopolamine, and taxine, which are
often involved in fatal and non-fatal poisonings. The paper
summarizes the symptoms of the intoxications and reviews the methods
of detection of their toxic constituents in biological fluids.
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citation
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Beyer J, Drummer O H, Maurer H H. Analysis of toxic alkaloids in
body samples. Forensic Sci Int 2009; 185:1-9.
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type
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journal paper/review (English)
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date of publishing
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14-01-2009
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journal title
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Forensic Sci Int (185/1-3)
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ISSN electronic
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1872-6283
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pages
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1-9
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PubMed
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19147309
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DOI
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10.1016/j.forsciint.2008.12.006
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