ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 5 January 2005
Page Count: 5

Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometric and Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometric Determination of Hallucinogenic Indoles Psilocin and Psilocybin in “Magic Mushroom” Samples
Tsuchihashi, H
Forensic Science Laboratory, Osaka Prefectural Police H.Q.,

Katagi, M
Forensic Science Laboratory, Osaka Prefectural Police H.Q.,

Nishikawa, M
Forensic Science Laboratory, Osaka Prefectural Police H.Q.,

Kamata, T
Forensic Science Laboratory, Osaka Prefectural Police H.Q.,

(Received 3 July 2004; accepted 2 October 2004)

Abstract

Accurate and sensitive analytical methods for psilocin (PC) and psilocybin (PB), tryptamine-type hallucinogens contained in “magic mushrooms,” were investigated using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). The chromatographic separation on an ODS column and mass spectral information gave complete discrimination between PC and PB without derivatization. The mass spectrometric detection had a high sensitivity, and the tandem mass spectrometric detection provided more specificity and accuracy, as well as high sensitivity. The detection limits ranged from 1 to 25 pg by LC-MS in the selected ion monitoring mode, and the intra- and inter-day coefficients of variation were estimated to be 4.21–5.93% by LC-MS-MS in the selected reaction monitoring mode. By applying the present LC-MS-MS technique to four real samples, the contents of PC and PB were found to vary over a wide range (0.60–1.4 and 0.18–3.8 mg/g dry wt. for PC and PB, respectively) between samples.

Keywords:
forensic science, psilocin, psilocybin, magic mushrooms, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Paper ID: JFS2004276
DOI: 10.1520/JFS2004276
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