Abstract | AIM: A drug and alcohol withdrawal rehabilitation centre requested an analysis for " Krypton" in urine of a former opiate-addictive woman. She showed an altered clinical picture and behaviour with miosis, itchiness, agitation, and moderate euphoria after 3 months of until than successful treatment. Literature search revealed that " Krypton" is said to contain "Kratom" (leaves of Mitragyna speciosa), but could also contain O-desmethyltramadol (European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction thematic paper "Spice"). METHODS: Immunological drug screenings were done with test strips (nal von minden, Regensburg, Germany) and with cloned enzyme donor immunoassay (Microgenics, Passau, Germany). " Kratom" alkaloids and tramadol (metabolites) were analyzed by LC-MS/MS (ThermoFisher Scientific Quantum Ultra Triple Quadrupole mass spectrometer). RESULTS: Immunoassays were negative for amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, benzoylecgonine, buprenorphine, ethylglucuronide, methadone (metabolite), opiates, oxycodone, and THC-COOH, and test strips were negative for tramadol and its metabolites (cut-off 10 mg/L for O-desmethyltramadol). LC-MS/MS detected the " Kratom" alkaloids mitragynine, speciociliatine, speciogynine, mitraciliatine, and paynantheine and approximately 9mg/L O-desmethyltramadol, but no tramadol and N-desmethyltramadol. DISCUSSION: CONCLUSION: Analysis of "Kratom" abuse should not be restricted to M. speciosa alkaloids, but should also consider synthetic drugs which could be added to the herbal mixtures. Mass spectrometry based drug screenings will gain importance to keep pace with the dynamic drug market.
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Authors | Torsten Arndt, Ulrich Claussen, Brunhilde Güssregen, Stefanie Schröfel, Birgit Stürzer, Annika Werle, Gerald Wolf |
Journal | Forensic science international
(Forensic Sci Int)
Vol. 208
Issue 1-3
Pg. 47-52
(May 20 2011)
ISSN: 1872-6283 [Electronic] Ireland |
PMID | 21112167
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Copyright | Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. |
Chemical References |
- Alkaloids
- Plant Extracts
- Secologanin Tryptamine Alkaloids
- O-demethyltramadol
- Tramadol
- mitragynine
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Topics |
- Adult
- Alkaloids
(urine)
- Female
- Forensic Toxicology
- Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
- Humans
- Mitragyna
(chemistry)
- Plant Extracts
(urine)
- Plant Leaves
(chemistry)
- Secologanin Tryptamine Alkaloids
(urine)
- Substance Abuse Detection
- Substance-Related Disorders
(diagnosis)
- Tramadol
(analogs & derivatives, urine)
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