Detection of coca alkaloids in oral fluid from coca leaf (tea) consumers: using solid phase extraction to improve validation parameters and widen the detection window

Álvarez-Freire, I.; Cabarcos-Fernández, P.; Rubio, N. C.; Moreda-Piñeiro, A.; Tabernero-Duque, M. J.; Sánchez-Sellero, I.; Bermejo-Barrera, P.; Bermejo-Barrera, A. M.

doi:10.1039/d3ay01298k

Cited by 2 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…We found no information regarding other analytes such as TRO, t-CIN, EME, and CUS in oral fluid subjected to GC-MS analysis, and this was also true for when the samples were collected by drooling or the use of the Quantisal ® device. Our findings show improved LOD and LOQ values for COC, TRO, t-CIN, EME, and CUS pertaining to when oral fluid samples were collected by drooling, followed by SPE (Oasis ® HLB extraction cartridge) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis [22]. We can speculate that the poor results obtained with the use of the Quantisal ® device are due to the fact that EME and CUS are more polar alkaloids than TRO, COC, and t-CIN, and they were more likely to be retained on the Quantisal ® pad (moreover possible interferences from the Quantisal ® buffer).…”

Section: Experimental Part 3: Process Efficiency or Apparent Recovery...mentioning

confidence: 80%

“…The CUS and EME concentrations at 500 ng/mL showed recoveries of 90%. Concentrations at 500 ng/mL and higher are typically found in oral fluid contaminated with coca leaves or coca tea [ 4 , 21 , 22 ]. TRO, COC, and t-CIN showed recoveries from the pad close to 50% when the absolute areas were used, while recoveries higher than 90% were obtained using the IS approach (R(n) in Table 3 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The recovery results shown in Table 6 for EME and CUS are in good agreement with these findings. The use of more concentration levels between 100 and 500 ng/mL was not considered since the expected analyte concentration in oral fluid taken from people who chew coca leaf or drink coca tea is generally lower than 100 ng/mL [ 22 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluation of an Oral Fluid Collection Device and a Solid-Phase Extraction Method for the Determination of Coca Leaf Alkaloids by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

Cabarcos-Fernández,

Álvarez-Freire,

Rubio

et al. 2024

Molecules

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Some South American countries have ancient traditions that may pose legal problems, such as the consumption of coca leaves, as this can provide positive results for cocaine use after the analysis of biological samples. For this reason, it is necessary to find specific markers that help differentiate legal from illegal consumption, such as tropacocaine, cinnamoylcocaine, and especially hygrine and cuscohygrine. In this work, two techniques for collecting biological samples are compared: the Quantisal® Oral Fluid collection device and passive drooling. Once the samples were collected, they were subjected to solid-phase extraction for subsequent injection into GC-MS. Different validation parameters included in international guides have been studied to evaluate whether the proposed method is valid for the defined purpose, placing special emphasis on the study of the matrix effect and little value on GC-MS analyses. With respect to this parameter, an increase in the signal was found for CUS and t-CIN, but it was not significant for the rest of the substances studied. The recoveries have varied significantly depending on the way of working, being higher when working with standardized areas. After carrying out work with the oral fluid samples collected from laboratory volunteers, the method was applied to two real samples. The results obtained support the need for further research to overcome certain limitations presented by the device.

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Section: Experimental Part 3: Process Efficiency or Apparent Recovery...mentioning

confidence: 80%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluation of an Oral Fluid Collection Device and a Solid-Phase Extraction Method for the Determination of Coca Leaf Alkaloids by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

Cabarcos-Fernández,

Álvarez-Freire,

Rubio

et al. 2024

Molecules

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Antibacterial Activity and Antifungal Activity of Monomeric Alkaloids

Thawabteh,

Ghanem,

AbuMadi

et al. 2024

Toxins

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Scientists are becoming alarmed by the rise in drug-resistant bacterial and fungal strains, which makes it more costly, time-consuming, and difficult to create new antimicrobials from unique chemical entities. Chemicals with pharmacological qualities, such as antibacterial and antifungal elements, can be found in plants. Alkaloids are a class of chemical compounds found in nature that mostly consist of basic nitrogen atoms. Biomedical science relies heavily on alkaloid compounds. Based on 241 papers published in peer-reviewed scientific publications within the last ten years (2014–2024), we examined 248 natural or synthesized monomeric alkaloids that have antifungal and antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms. Based on their chemical structure, the chosen alkaloids were divided into four groups: polyamine alkaloids, alkaloids with nitrogen in the side chain, alkaloids with nitrogen heterocycles, and pseudoalkaloids. With MIC values of less than 1 µg/mL, compounds 91, 124, 125, 136–138, 163, 164, 191, 193, 195, 205 and 206 shown strong antibacterial activity. However, with MIC values of below 1 µg/mL, compounds 124, 125, 163, 164, 207, and 224 demonstrated strong antifungal activity. Given the rise in antibiotic resistance, these alkaloids are highly significant in regard to their potential to create novel antimicrobial drugs.

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Detection of coca alkaloids in oral fluid from coca leaf (tea) consumers: using solid phase extraction to improve validation parameters and widen the detection window

Abstract: Hygrine and Cuscohydrine, two coca leaf alkaloids, have been previously proposed as markers to differentiate legal and illegal cocaine consumption. This is a very common problem in some countries of...

Cited by 2 publications

References 19 publications

Evaluation of an Oral Fluid Collection Device and a Solid-Phase Extraction Method for the Determination of Coca Leaf Alkaloids by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

Evaluation of an Oral Fluid Collection Device and a Solid-Phase Extraction Method for the Determination of Coca Leaf Alkaloids by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

Antibacterial Activity and Antifungal Activity of Monomeric Alkaloids

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