Simultaneous determination of
oleandrin and its three related compounds, desacetyloleandrin,
oleandrigenin, and
gitoxigenin in blood by using liquid chromatography-three-dimensional quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-3DQMS) system equipped with sonic spray ionization (SSI) interface was conducted. This analyzing method was suitable for all of these compounds except
gitoxigenin. The limits of detection of
oleandrigenin and desacetyloleandrin from blood were 2 ng/mL and that of
oleandrin was 3 ng/mL. The calibration curves for
oleandrin, desacetyloleandrin, and
oleandrigenin were linear in the range of 5-100 ng/mL. The coefficients of variation of
oleandrin, desacetyloleandrin, and
oleandrigenin in the blood were satisfactory ranging from 1.6% to 4.1%. This analysis method was applied to a fatal case of oleander
poisoning. As a result of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis,
oleandrin was detected in heart blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Desacetyloleandrin,
oleandrigenin, and
gitoxigenin were not detected. In order to make identification of
oleandrin reliable, LC-MS-MS analysis was performed. The concentrations of
oleandrin found in the heart blood and cerebrospinal fluid were 9.8 and 10.1 ng/mL, respectively.