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Forensic Metabolomics: Enhancing PMI Estimation through Porcine Bone Tissue Profiling.
Maria Elena Chiappetta1,2, Elisa Roggia3, Eugenio Alladio3
1School of Law and Policing, Research Centre for Field Archaeology and Forensic Taphonomy, University of Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE, United Kingdom.
Journal of Proteome Research
|October 15, 2025
Summary
Forensic metabolomics offers a new way to estimate the post-mortem interval (PMI) in skeletal remains. This study shows bone metabolite analysis can accurately determine PMI, even for buried remains.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Science
- Biochemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Estimating post-mortem interval (PMI) in skeletal remains is challenging due to decomposition affecting traditional methods.
- Current morphological techniques lack accuracy as decomposition progresses, necessitating novel approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore metabolomics for understanding bone biochemical changes during decomposition.
- To identify potential bone metabolomic biomarkers for PMI estimation.
- To assess the influence of burial depth on bone metabolic signatures.
Main Methods:
- Pig mandibles were buried at various depths (0-50 cm) and collected monthly for 6 months.
- Bone metabolites were extracted using a methanol-water protocol.
- Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were employed for analysis.
Main Results:
- Metabolomic analysis revealed specific metabolic shifts correlating with increasing post-mortem intervals.
- Regression models using LC-MS/MS data estimated PMI with 14-day accuracy over 6 months.
- Burial depth did not significantly impact the bone metabolomic signature.
Conclusions:
- Metabolomics provides a promising tool for estimating PMI from buried skeletal remains.
- This approach enhances the accuracy of post-mortem interval assessments in forensic investigations.
- The study advances forensic metabolomics by detailing post-mortem biochemical processes in bone.
