1
|
Usui K, Kubota E, Kobayashi H, Fujita Y, Hatanaka K, Kamijo Y, Funayama M, Mimasaka S. Detection of major psychoactive compounds (safrole, myristicin, and elemicin) of nutmeg in human serum via GC-MS/MS using MonoSpin® extraction: Application in a nutmeg poisoning case. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2023; 234:115565. [PMID: 37453146 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2023.115565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Nutmeg is an inexpensive, readily available spice used in a variety of recipes. However, the use of nutmeg powder as a recreational drug for its hallucinogenic effects is resulting in an increase in overdose rates. We encountered a male patient being hospitalized after ingesting 75 g of commercially available nutmeg powder with the intent of committing suicide. There are no available reports documenting the toxic or comatose-fatal blood concentrations or time-course of drug action in cases of nutmeg poisoning. Therefore, to improve patient management, we endeavored to determine the blood serum levels and time-course of the major psychoactive compounds (safrole, myristicin, and elemicin) present in nutmeg. We designed a simple and reliable method using the MonoSpin® extraction kit and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to detect the presence of these psychoactive compounds in human serum. The method had detection and quantitation limits of 0.14-0.16 and 0.5 ng/mL (lowest calibration points), respectively. The calibration curves displayed excellent linearity (0.996-0.997) for all three compounds at 0.5-300 ng/mL blood concentrations. The intra- and inter-day precision values for quality assurance were in the ranges of 2.4-11 % and 2.5-11 %, respectively; bias ranged from - 2.6 % to 2.1 %. Blood serum levels of safrole, myristicin, and elemicin were measured at admission (approximately 8 h post-ingestion) and approximately 94 h after a post-admission fluid therapy to evaluate their biological half-lives. We developed this method to obtain information on the psychoactive constituents of nutmeg and, thereby, determine the toxicokinetic parameters of nutmeg in a case of nutmeg poisoning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kiyotaka Usui
- Division of Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan; Emergency Medical Center and Poison Center, Saitama Medical University Hospital, 38 Morohongo, Moroyama-cho, Iruma-gun, Saitama 350-0495, Japan.
| | - Eito Kubota
- Division of Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Haruka Kobayashi
- Division of Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Yuji Fujita
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Emergency, Disaster and General Medicine, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Idaidori, Yahaba-cho, Shiwa-gun Morioka, Iwate 028-3694, Japan
| | - Kengo Hatanaka
- Department of Traumatology and Critical Care Medicine Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kiyotakecho Kihara, Miyazaki-city, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan
| | - Yoshito Kamijo
- Emergency Medical Center and Poison Center, Saitama Medical University Hospital, 38 Morohongo, Moroyama-cho, Iruma-gun, Saitama 350-0495, Japan
| | - Masato Funayama
- Division of Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Sohtaro Mimasaka
- Division of Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gavroy B. Intoxication à la noix de muscade, une épice méconnue. ANNALES FRANCAISES DE MEDECINE D URGENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3166/afmu-2022-0380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
|
4
|
Manier SK, Wagmann L, Weber AA, Meyer MR. Abuse of nutmeg seeds: Detectable by means of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques? Drug Test Anal 2021; 13:1440-1444. [PMID: 33720530 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Numerous case reports of intoxications with nutmeg seeds (Myristica fragrans, Houtt.) can be found in literature often following their abuse, as psychotropic effects were described after ingestions of large doses. The successful detection of the main ingredients of the nutmeg seeds essential oil elemicin, myristicin, and safrole, as well as their metabolites in human urine by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was already described. The aim of this study was to investigate the detectability of the main ingredients of nutmeg seeds and their metabolites in human blood and urine samples using liquid chromatography coupled to linear ion trap mass spectrometry (LC-LIT-MSn ) and liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS) after nutmeg seed abuse. Sample material of three individuals was retrospectively investigated after a systematic screening approach indicated an intoxication with nutmeg seeds as a likely cause of symptoms. Metabolic patterns in plasma and urine using GC-MS were comparable with those described in earlier publications. Investigations using hyphenated liquid chromatography techniques lead to the detection of myristicin and safrole, as well as further metabolites not described using GC-MS and revealed sulfation as an additional Phase II metabolic pathway. These results might help to detect or confirm future intoxications with nutmeg seeds by using LC-MS techniques.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sascha K Manier
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Saarland University, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Homburg, Germany
| | - Lea Wagmann
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Saarland University, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Homburg, Germany
| | - Armin A Weber
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Saarland University, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Homburg, Germany
| | - Markus R Meyer
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Saarland University, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Homburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Johnson-Arbor K, Smolinske S. Stoned on spices: a mini-review of three commonly abused household spices. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2020; 59:101-105. [PMID: 33191804 DOI: 10.1080/15563650.2020.1840579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Although spices are widely used as food products and are generally regarded as safe, intentional abuse of household spices may occur and is likely underreported in the medical literature. Spices are inexpensive and widely available for purchase by individuals of all ages and may be perceived as being safer than traditional drugs of abuse. DISCUSSION Nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla are commonly abused spices. The major component of nutmeg is myristicin; myristicin has activity at serotonergic receptors and may result in psychomimetic symptoms after exposure. Cinnamon oils contain local irritants which may cause dermatitis or ulcerations after topical application. Ground cinnamon contains cellulose fibers; these are biopersistent and bioresistant, and inhalational exposure to cinnamon powder can result in chronic pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. Pure vanilla extract contains a minimum of 35% ethanol according to the United States Food and Drug Administration standards, and abuse of vanilla extract may occur among individuals seeking ethanol intoxication. CONCLUSIONS Overall, misuse or abuse of these spices frequently results in mild to moderate symptoms that do not require medical intervention, although more serious intoxications may require hospitalization. Clinicians should be aware of the potential dangers of household spice abuse and understand management strategies for these exposures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Johnson-Arbor
- MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.,National Capital Poison Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Susan Smolinske
- College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.,New Mexico Poison Drug and Information Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| |
Collapse
|