RESUMO
Numerous case reports of intoxications with nutmeg seeds (Myristica fragrans, Houtt.) can be found in literature often following their abuse, as psychotropic effects were described after ingestions of large doses. The successful detection of the main ingredients of the nutmeg seeds essential oil elemicin, myristicin, and safrole, as well as their metabolites in human urine by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was already described. The aim of this study was to investigate the detectability of the main ingredients of nutmeg seeds and their metabolites in human blood and urine samples using liquid chromatography coupled to linear ion trap mass spectrometry (LC-LIT-MSn ) and liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS) after nutmeg seed abuse. Sample material of three individuals was retrospectively investigated after a systematic screening approach indicated an intoxication with nutmeg seeds as a likely cause of symptoms. Metabolic patterns in plasma and urine using GC-MS were comparable with those described in earlier publications. Investigations using hyphenated liquid chromatography techniques lead to the detection of myristicin and safrole, as well as further metabolites not described using GC-MS and revealed sulfation as an additional Phase II metabolic pathway. These results might help to detect or confirm future intoxications with nutmeg seeds by using LC-MS techniques.
Assuntos
Myristica/intoxicação , Psicotrópicos/intoxicação , Detecção do Abuso de Substâncias/métodos , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias/diagnóstico , Derivados de Alilbenzenos/análise , Cromatografia Líquida/métodos , Dioxolanos/análise , Cromatografia Gasosa-Espectrometria de Massas , Humanos , Espectrometria de Massas/métodos , Myristica/química , Óleos Voláteis/análise , Psicotrópicos/química , Pirogalol/análogos & derivados , Pirogalol/análise , Estudos Retrospectivos , Safrol/análise , SementesRESUMO
The aim of this work was to evaluate the potential of the essential oil (EO) from Ocotea pulchella leaves as an alternative in the control of schistosomiasis. It was tested O. pulchella EO nanoformulation to assess its activity against adult Biomphalaria glabrata, their spawning and Schistossoma mansoni cercariae. Additionally, the EO chemical composition was investigated by gas-chromatography. Nanoemulsion were elaborated by the low energy method. The adult mollusks, their spawning and cercariae were placed in contact with nanoemulsion to calculate lethal concentrations. Myristicin, bicyclogermacrene and α-Pinene were the main substances in the EO. Nanoemulsion caused mortality of adult B. glabrata, its egg embryos and S. mansoni. These results suggest the use of this nanoemulsion as an alternative in the control of the schistosomiasis cycle.
El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el potencial de los aceites esenciales (AE) de las hojas de Ocotea pulchellacomo una alternativa en el control de esquistosomiasis. Se probó una nanoformulación de AE de O. pulchellapara evaluar su actividad ante adultos de Biomphalaria glabrata, sus huevos y cercarías de Schistossoma mansoni. La nanoemulsión fue elaborada por el método de baja energía. Los moluscos adultos, sus huevos y cercarías se colocaron en contacto con la nanoemulsión para calcular concentraciones letales. Los compuestos mayoritarios en el AE fueron miristicina, biciclogermacreno y α-pineno. La nanoemulsión causó mortalidad en adultos de B. glabrata, sus huevos y a S. mansoni. Los resultados sugieren el uso de esta nanoemulsión como una alternativa en el control del ciclo de esquistosomiasis.
