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Homicide involving Aconitum tuberous root: LC-MS-MS analysis of Aconitum alkaloids and their hydrolysates in formalin-fixed tissues

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Abstract

We describe a homicide case involving Aconitum tuberous roots, in which formalin-fixed solid tissues were analyzed for diester-type Aconitum alkaloids and their hydrolysates by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). The specimens were taken from a cadaver 12 days after death, and preserved in formalin solution for 5 years. Polymer-based solid-phase extraction was employed for sample cleanup. This procedure allowed detection of 0.10 ng/g for each of the spiked alkaloids from the formalin-fixed liver by quadrupole LC-MS-MS, and 10 pg/g for benzoylaconine and benzoylmesaconine by ion-trap LC-MS-MS. Sub-parts-per-billion levels of benzoylaconine and benzoylmesaconine could be detected from the formalin-fixed liver, kidney, and lung specimens.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Research Institute of Police Science, 6-3-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, 277-0882, Japan

    Hajime Miyaguchi

  2. Criminal Investigation Laboratory, Saitama Prefectural Police Headquarters, Saitama, Japan

    Hajime Miyaguchi & Hitoshi Sekine

Authors
  1. Hajime Miyaguchi
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  2. Hitoshi Sekine
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Correspondence to Hajime Miyaguchi.

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Miyaguchi, H., Sekine, H. Homicide involving Aconitum tuberous root: LC-MS-MS analysis of Aconitum alkaloids and their hydrolysates in formalin-fixed tissues. Forensic Toxicol 28, 47–51 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-009-0078-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-009-0078-x

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