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Colchicine Extract Suicidal Lethal Poisoning Confirmation Using High-Resolution Accurate Mass Spectrometry: A Case
Ludovit Schreiber1, Martin Morovič2, Katarína Špacayová3
1Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Mlynská dolina, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovakia.
Journal of Forensic Sciences
|December 12, 2018
Summary
A case of suspected lethal colchicine poisoning was confirmed using a novel UHPLC-QTOF MS method. This analysis identified significant colchicine levels in a blood sample from a patient with suspected suicidal poisoning.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Toxicology
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Colchicine, a potent alkaloid from *Colchicum autumnale*, is known for its toxicity.
- Acute colchicine intoxication can be lethal, necessitating rapid and accurate diagnostic methods.
Observation:
- A case of suspected suicidal poisoning involving *Colchicum autumnale* ingestion was reported.
- The patient presented with symptoms indicative of severe intoxication.
Findings:
- A novel ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) method coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QTOF-MS) was developed and validated.
- The method utilized a sub-2-micron superficial porous particle reversed-phase stationary phase for enhanced separation.
- Blood sample analysis confirmed colchicine poisoning with a concentration of approximately 41 ng/mL, alongside over 200 μg/mL of plant extract.
Implications:
- This study highlights the successful application of advanced UHPLC-QTOF MS for the definitive diagnosis of colchicine poisoning.
- The developed method offers high sensitivity and specificity for both qualitative and quantitative analysis in forensic toxicology.
- This analytical approach can aid in clinical management and medico-legal investigations of plant-based poisonings.
Keywords:
colchicineforensic scienceliquid chromatographymass spectrometrypoisoningquadrupole time of flightsuicideMore Related Videos
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