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Determination of aconitine in body fluids by LC-MS-MS

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Abstract

A very sensitive and specific method was developed for the determination of aconitine, the main toxic alkaloid from plants of the genus Aconitum L., in biological samples. The method comprised solid-phase extraction using mixed-mode C8 cation exchange columns followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). Chromatographic separation was achieved with a RP8 column. Detection of aconitine was achieved using electrospray in the positive ionisation mode and quantification was performed using multiple reaction monitoring with m/z 646.4 as precursor ion, i.e. [M+H]+ of aconitine and m/z 586.5, m/z 526.4 and m/z 368.4 as product ions after collision-induced dissociation. The method was fully validated for the analysis of blood samples: the limit of detection and the limit of quantitation were 0.1 ng/g and 0.5 ng/g, respectively. Within the linear calibration range of 0.5–25 ng/g, analytical recovery was 79.9%. In two fatal cases with suspected aconite intoxication, aconitine could be detected in blood samples at concentrations of 10.0 and 12.1 ng/g. In one case, aconitine could also be detected in the stomach content (3 ng/g) and in the other in the urine (180 ng/ml).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Münster, Röntgenstrasse 23, 48149, Münster, Germany

    J. Beike, L. Frommherz, B. Brinkmann & H. Köhler

  2. Waters Corporation, MS Technologies Centre, Atlas Park, Manchester, United Kingdom

    M. Wood

Authors
  1. J. Beike
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  2. L. Frommherz
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  3. M. Wood
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  4. B. Brinkmann
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  5. H. Köhler
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Correspondence to J. Beike.

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Beike, J., Frommherz, L., Wood, M. et al. Determination of aconitine in body fluids by LC-MS-MS. Int J Legal Med 118, 289–293 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-004-0463-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-004-0463-2

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