IngentaConnect Formation of Scopolamine from N-Butyl-Scopolammonium Bromide in C...

Authors: Frascht, Martine¹; Schneider, Serge¹; Schuman, Marc²; Wennig, Robert³

Source: Journal of Analytical Toxicology, Volume 31, Number 4, May 2007 , pp. 220-223(4)

Abstract:

Scopolamine (hyoscine) is a naturally occurring alkaloid found in solonacea, the so-called “night shade” plants. Therapeutic applications of scopolamine are in ophthalmology to cause mydriasis and for the prevention of motion sickness, among others. It is known to induce hallucinogenic effects at a high dose. The N-butyl bromide derivative of scopolamine, available commercially as Buscopan^®, is commonly used as an antispasmotic. The possibility of forming scopolamine from N-butyl-scopolammonium bromide when burning cigarettes fortified with Buscopan was investigated based on a record of a prison inmate who claimed to experience hallucinations after smoking Buscopan. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in electrospray ionization mode was used to monitor the formation of scopolamine. Various series of eight cigarettes spiked with 10 mg of N-butyl-scopolammonium bromide with and without filters and in different smoking modes were investigated. The smoke of the burning cigarettes, the ashes, and the filter were analyzed for the presence of scopolamine. Scopolamine was detected in all cases.

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: National Health Laboratory, Toxicology Division, Luxembourg 2: CRP-Santé, Toxicology Laboratory, Luxembourg 3: National Health Laboratory, Toxicology Division, Luxembourg; and CRP-Santé, Toxicology Laboratory, Luxembourg

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Formation of Scopolamine from N-Butyl-Scopolammonium Bromide in Cigarettes