[Source Apportionment of Morphine in Wastewater]

It is a new approach to identify legal or illegal use of morphine through information on municipal wastewater. However, the sources of morphine in wastewater are complex, and distinguishing the contribution of different sources has become a key issue. A total of 262 influent samples from 61 representative wastewater treatment plants in a typical city were collected from October 2022 to March 2023. The concentrations of morphine, codeine, thebaine, papaverine, noscapine, and monoacetylmorphine were analyzed in wastewater and poppy straws. Combined with the proportion of alkaloids in poppy straws, the source analysis of alkaloids in wastewater was analyzed using the ratio method and positive matrix factorization model (PMF). Only five alkaloids were detected in wastewater, and monoacetylmorphine, a metabolite of heroin, was not detected. The concentrations of morphine and codeine were significantly higher than those of noscapine, papaverine, and thebaine. By constructing the ratios of codeine/(morphine + codeine) and noscapine/(noscapine + codeine), the source of poppy straw could be qualitatively distinguished. The PMF results showed that three sources of morphine for medical use, poppy straw, and codeine contributed 44.9%, 43.7%, and 9.4%, respectively. The different sources varied in these months due to the COVID-19 and influenza A outbreaks, in which the use of drugs containing poppy straws and codeine was the main source, whereas the use of morphine analgesics remained relatively stable. Inventory analysis further demonstrated the reliability of the source contributions from the PMF model, and morphine was not abused in this city.

Chiral differentiation of the noscapine and hydrastine stereoisomers by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Energy-dependent collision-induced dissociation (CID) of the dimers [2 M + Cat](+) of the noscapine and hydrastine stereoisomers was studied where Cat stands for Li(+), Na(+), K(+) and Cs(+) ions. These dimers were generated 'in situ' from the electrosprayed solution. The survival yield (SY) method was used for distinguishing the noscapine and hydrastine dimers. Significant differences were found between the characteristic collision energies (CE50, i.e. the collision energy necessary to obtain 50% fragmentation) of the homo- (R,R; S,S) and heterochiral (R,S; S,R) stereoisomers. To distinguish the enantiomer pairs L-, D-tyrosine ([M + Tyr + Cat](+)) and L-, D-lysine ([M + Lys + Cat](+)) were used as chiral selectors. Furthermore, these heterodimers [M + amino acid + Cat](+) were also applied to determine the stereoisomeric composition. It was found that the characteristic collision energy (CE50) of the noscapine and hydrastine homodimers ([2 M + Cat](+)) was inversely proportional to the ionic radius of the cations. Furthermore, the structures of the dimers [2 M + Cat](+) were studied by high level quantum chemical calculations.

DETERMINATION OF NARCOTINE AND PAPAVERINE BY INFRA-RED SPECTROPHOTOMETRY AND NON-AQUEOUS TITRATION

An infra-red spectrophotometric method for the determination of narcotine in the presence of papaverine in carbon tetrachloride or chloroform solution is described. The carbonyl group of the lactone ring present in narcotine displays strong absorption at 1760 cm. −1 and the intensity of the band observed at this wavelength provides an index of the concentration of the narcotic. By conventional nonaqueous titration the amount of both alkaloids may be estimated quantitatively and the papaverine content of a mixture obtained readily by difference.

THE QUANTITATIVE SEPARATION OF PAPAVERINE FROM NARCOTINE IN MIXTURES

A method for the quantitative separation of papaverine from narcotine in mixtures by using ammonium reinckate is described, and also its application to the determination of these alkaloids in opium. The identity and purity of these alkaloids isolated from opium is shown by means of ultra-violet, visible and infra-red spectrophotometry. The complete extraction of these alkaloids from the triturate of opium by chloroform was demonstrated by paper chromatography. The regeneration of pure papaverine from the reineckate complex is also described.

Simultaneous chemiluminescence determination of thebaine and noscapine using support vector machine regression

In this work, a batch chemiluminescence (CL) method has been proposed for the simultaneous determination of two structurally similar alkaloids, noscapine and thebaine. The method is based on the kinetic distinction of the CL reactions of noscapine and thebaine with Ru(bipy)(3)(2+) and Ce(IV) system in a sulfuric acid medium. The least squared support vector machine (LS-SVM) regression was applied for relating the concentrations of both compounds to their CL profiles. The parameters of the model consisting of sigma(2) and gamma were optimized by constructing LS-SVM models with all possible combinations of these two parameters to select the model with the minimum root mean squared error of cross validation (RMSECV) as the best. The parameters of this model were then selected as optimized values. Under the optimized experimental conditions for both compounds, the detection limits obtained using the LS-SVM regression were 0.08 and 0.1 micromo lL(-1) for noscapine and thebaine, respectively. The proposed method was utilized for the simultaneous determination of the compounds in pharmaceutical formulations and plasma samples with satisfactory results.

A Simple and Rapid Flow-Injection Chemiluminescence Method for the Determination of Noscapine with Ru(phen)32+-Ce(IV) System

A new flow injection chemiluminescence (CL) system was used for the determination of noscapine. This technique is based on the reduction effect of noscapine on the Ru(phen)3(3+), which is produced by reaction between Ru(phen)3(2+) and acidic Ce(IV) solutions, and this rapid reduction produces strong CL. Calibration plots were linear over the range of 3.0 x 10(-7) - 2.0 x 10(-6) mol L(-1) and 2.0 x 10(-6) - 2.0 x 10(-4) mol L(-1). The CL intensity was so high, that it is able to produce a detection limit of 6.6 x 10(-8) M noscapine (3sigma). The relative standard deviation of 2.0 x 10(-6) M noscapine was 1.0% (n=10). The proposed method was successfully applied for the flow injection determination of noscapine in cough and Tonin syrup samples. The results of real sample analyses show good recovery percentages (97.3-102.4%). The minimum sampling rate was 100 samples per hour.

Thin-layer chromatography-densitometry and liquid chromatography analysis of alkaloids in leaves of Papaver somniferum under stress conditions

The effect of stress conditions on the concentrations of secondary metabolites were examined during various developmental stages of Papaver somniferum plants. P. somniferum plants were grown in laboratory conditions (Budakalász). The experiment consisted of 22 treatments. Significantly different alkaloid contents can be observed under different stress conditions. In general, the alkaloid contents of plants are very low; therefore, a highly sensitive and reliable method has to be developed for analysis. The amount of alkaloids was measured by 2 separation and detection techniques. Accuracy of the thin-layer chromatography method for quantitative analysis is limited. Without purification of samples the background is too noisy. Column liquid chromatography is a sensitive and relatively inexpensive method that allows precise quantitative determination of the alkaloid content.

[Analysis of two year heroin seizures in the Liege area]

The results of heroin analysis from seizures in the Liege area during the last two years are presented in this article. Between January 2003 and January 2005, 50 samples were analysed in the Laboratory of Clinical Toxicology and Forensic Toxicology of the University of Liege. Mean heroin concentration was 14,7%. Noscapine and papaverine, other opium alcaloïds, were simultaneously present with heroin. As diluents, we only identified caffein and acetaminophen.

Development and validation of a capillary electrophoresis method for the determination of codeine, diphenhydramine, ephedrine and noscapine in pharmaceuticals

The present work describes a simple, accurate and rapid method for the separation and simultaneous determination of codeine, diphenhydramine, ephedrine and noscapine present in cough-cold syrup formulations by capillary zone electrophoresis. Factors affecting the separation were the buffer pH and concentration, applied voltage, and presence of additives. Separations were carried out in less than 10 min with a 20 mM sodium tetraborate buffer, pH 8.50. The carrier electrolyte gave baseline separation with good resolution, great reproducibility and accuracy. Calibration plots were linear over at least three orders of magnitude of analyte concentrations, the lower limits of detection being within the range 0.42-1.33 microg ml(-1). Detection was performed by UV absorbance at wavelengths of 205 and 250 nm. Quantification of the components in actual syrup formulations was calculated against the responses of freshly prepared external standard solutions. The method was validated and met all analysis requirements of quality assurance and quality control. The procedure was fast and reliable and commercial pharmaceuticals could be analyzed without prior sample clean-up procedure.

HPLC determination of aminophylline, methoxyphenamine hydrochloride, noscapine and chlorphenamine maleate in compound dosage forms with an aqueous-organic mobile phase

A high-performance liquid chromatography procedure for the simultaneous determination of aminophylline, methoxyphenamine hydrochloride, noscapine and chlorphenamine maleate in commercially available compound capsule dosage forms has been developed and validated. The separation and quantification were achieved on an Ultrasphere C18 column using a mobile phase of dichloromethane-methanol-0.25% (v/v) diethylamine aqueous solution (20:60:20, v/v/v) at a flow rate of 1 ml min(-1) with detection of all analytes at 264 nm. The separation was achieved within 6 min for each drug mixture. The method showed good linearity for the aminophylline, noscapine, chlorphenamine maleate and methoxyphenamine hydrochloride mixture in the 125-750, 35-210, 10-60 and 62.5-375 microg ml(-1) ranges, respectively. The intra- and inter-day R.S.D.s ranged from 0.4 to 0.5%, 0.4-0.6%, 0.5-0.7% and 0.4-0.6% for aminophylline, noscapine, chlorphenamine maleate and methoxyphenamine hydrochloride, respectively. The recoveries (mean+/-S.D.) of low, middle and high concentrations were 99.9+/-0.9, 100.4+/-1.3 and 99.7+/-0.7% for aminophylline; 99.9+/-1.1, 100.4+/-0.7 and 100.1+/-0.8% for noscapine; 99.8+/-1.1, 99.7+/-1.0 and 100.7+/-0.8% for chlorphenamine maleate; and 99.8+/-0.9, 100.4+/-1.6 and 99.9+/-0.9% for methoxyphenamine hydrochloride, respectively.

[Influence of fertilizers on yield and yield components of opium from Papaver somniferum Linn]

The effect of fertilizer on the yield and yield components of opium from Papaver somniferum L.cv.Ikkanshu were investigated from 1993 to 1995. The weight of opium per one capsule was tendency to increase in the order of peat moss > pulverized charcoal > compound fertilizer, but the differences among the results were not significant. Furthermore, no difference in the capsule weight per 100 m2 and the yields of opium and alkaloids per 100 m2 were detected. The significant difference was only observed when the data were compared among the weights and yields of different years. The difference among the yield of opium was mainly due to the weight of opium per one capsule. The weight of opium per one capsule showed a high correlation with capsule husk weight. The alkaloids contents in opium obtained with a different fertilizer application showed no difference. Morphine content at the first lancing was about 11%, and the value decreased with the order of lancing. On the contrary, the codeine and the thebaine content did not change during lancing and the value were 6-7% and 3%, respectively. The papaverine and the noscapine content decreased in the order of lancing.

Noscapine as an adulterant in illicit heroin samples

In this short report the evidence is given (based on the analyses of 22 case samples) that noscapine can be used as an adulterant in illicit heroin samples. In this context, the appearance of illicit heroin samples characterised by a high noscapine content (up to 61%) and a high noscapine/whole morphine ratio (up to 3.5) is highlighted. All samples discussed in the paper (132) were seized in Slovenia, in the period from 1997 to 1999 and were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

[Determination of alkaloids in pericarpium papaveris by gas chromatography with wide bore capillary column]

A method for the simultaneous determination of codeine, morphine, thebaine, papaverine and narcotine in pericarpium papaveris by gas chromatography with wide bore capillary column is described. The major components in pericarpium papaveris were extracted with methanol and chloroform by supersonic extraction and evaporation. The residue was dissolved in methanol. The resulting solution was used for analysis. The conditions for determination were: FID detector, HP-1 capillary column, 5 m x 0.53 mm x 2.65 microns film, column temperature 260 degrees C, The method requires 10 minutes for the whole analysis. The average recoveries of codeine, morphine, thebaine, papaverine and narcotine in the sample were 94.0%, 96.5%, 93.8%, 91.0% and 91.4% respectively. The relative standard deviations were from 0.92% to 2.75%. The advantages of this method are simple, rapid, accurate and sensitive.

Development of a predictive model for batch membership of street samples of heroin

Street samples (n = 31) of heroin were analysed by gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection to determine opiate, noscapine and papaverine content. Using this data, the chromatograms obtained could be resolved into eight groups by visual examination of the data. The concentrations of opiates were significantly correlated (P < 0.05) with the exception of the pairs 6-O-monoacetylmorphine/noscapine and morphine/6-O-monoacetylmorphine. This precludes the use of simple cluster analysis for determining and predicting the relationship of different street samples. Application of Fisher's linear discriminant analysis to the data set indicated that 91.9% of the samples could be discriminated including pairs which could not be discriminated by eye. A blind trial (n = 2) resulted in the correct assignment to street sample. Application of such methods may provide, in the future, a powerful tool for the prediction of batch membership of drugs at the street level.

Gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric detection of narcotine, papaverine, and thebaine in seeds of Papaver somniferum

In addition to codeine and morphine, three more compounds: narcotine (noscapine), papaverine, and thebaine were found in Indian and Netherlands poppy seeds (Papaver somniferum L). The compounds were detected by a GC/MS technique and the identities were confirmed by comparing retention times and ion ratios with the known references. The concentrations of codeine, morphine, thebaine, papaverine, and narcotine were 44, 167, 41, 67, and 230 micrograms/g in Indian poppy seeds, and were 1.8, 39, 1.0, 0.17, 0.84 micrograms/g in Netherlands poppy seeds, respectively. Because these compounds may be urinary products after poppy seed consumption, the lowest detectable concentrations of codeine, morphine, thebaine, papaverine, and narcotine in urine are of interest and were found to be 4, 4, 5, 0.4, and 4 ng/ml, respectively. The detection of urinary narcotine, papaverine, or thebaine may be utilized to differentiate poppy seed consumption from illicit codeine, morphine, or heroin use.

Determination of noscapine, hexylresorcinol and anethole in cough lozenges by liquid chromatography

A liquid chromatographic method was developed for the simultaneous separation and determination of noscapine hydrochloride, hexylresorcinol and anethole in cough lozenges. Analysis was performed on a phenyl column with phosphate buffer- acetonitrile as mobile phase and the separated components were detected at 282 mm. Recoveries obtained for the analytes were of 94.6% for noscapine hydrochloride, 99.1% for hexylresorcinol and 96.3% for anethole. The values of the relative standard deviation were 0.8% for noscapine hydrochloride, 1.5% for hexylresorcinol and 1.1% for anethole. The analytical method was validated and a system suitability test was accomplished for the chromatographic method.

Large-volume sample stacking of selected drugs of forensic significance by capillary electrophoresis

Large-volume sample stacking capillary electrophoresis (LVSS-CE) and conventional capillary electrophoresis (CE) are compared for the separation of drugs of significance to forensic and clinical analyses. LVSS-CE for cations requires the use of an electroosmotic flow (EOF) modifier in conjunction with polarity switching to effect on-column concentration of an analyte and its subsequent migration in the capillary. The run buffer consists of 0.05 mol dm(-3) disodium tetraborate adjusted to pH 2.2 with orthophosphoric acid, and the EOF modifier is 0.002 mol dm(-3) cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. CE investigations used an identical run buffer minus the EOF modifier. LVSS-CE and CE investigations used injection times of 30 s and 3 s, respectively. Both modes of capillary electrophoresis are compared in terms of their limits of detection, efficiency, resolution and reproducibility. LVSS-CE is also applied to the analysis of a spiked urine sample.

Impurities, adulterants and diluents of illicit heroin. Changes during a 12-year period

Changes in the content of impurities, adulterants and diluents are described for 383 samples of illicit heroin seized in the western part of Denmark during the 12-year period 1981 through 1992. A wide range in purity was found within each year, whereas the average purity did not vary much from one year to another. The average purity of wholesale samples (45%) was only slightly higher than the purity of retail samples (36%). The SW Asian type of heroin, containing high concentrations of noscapine, predominated from the mid-eighties. Heroin base and heroin hydrochloride each accounted for approximately half of the samples during the eighties. However, in recent years the base form has become predominant. During the early eighties caffeine and procaine were the most frequent additives next to sugars. During the middle and late eighties an increasing number of heroin samples were cut with phenobarbital and methaqualone. During the early nineties the occurrence of phenobarbital and methaqualone has decreased, whereas paracetamol in combination with caffeine has become predominant. Re-analyses of samples which had been kept in storage for several years showed that most samples had not changed after being stored in the dark for a couple of years at room temperature. However, storage for more than 5 years often resulted in decomposition, particularly in samples consisting of the SW Asian type of heroin.

Effects of system peaks in a coupled column system for noscapine and its metabolites

System peaks created in a coupled column system, after transfer of the precolumn mobile phase to the analytical column have been investigated. Co-elution of an analyte with a system peak may affect the chromatographic performance of the analyte. The possibility of using the peak compression effect, in order to increase the detectability of the compounds noscapine, narcotoline and cotarnine, respectively, is studied. Three different mobile phases for the analytical column have been tested, the first contained a co-ion, the second a counter-ion and the last both a co-ion and a counter-ion. A compressed noscapine peak is obtained not only when it is eluted in a positive gradient of the co-ion in the first system, but also in a positive gradient of the counter-ion in the second system. Slightly compressed narcotoline and cotarnine peaks are obtained in the third system as long as they eluted before the deficiency peak of the counter-ion.

Effects of system peaks in ion-pair reversed-phase liquid chromatography for noscapine and metabolites

System peaks were generated in an ion-pair reversed-phase system by co-injection of an alkylsulphate with the analytes. The acidic mobile phase contained acetonitrile and an aliphatic tertiary amine as a co-ion. The retention time of the system peak was regulated by the concentration and hydrophobicity of the co-ion and the alkylsulphate. The peak performance of the analytes was affected by co-elution with a system peak. Both peak distortions and improvements appeared, and the principles for the latter could be applied in a dual-column system involving trace enrichment and column switching.

[Comparative gas chromatographic studies of heroin samples. Results of a pilot project in West Germany in 1982]

From 1.4. -30.10.1982 all heroin samples weighing more than 5 g seized in the States of Baden-Württemberg, Hesse and by the Bundeskriminalamt were analyzed by capillary gas chromatography during a pilot project. For comparison of samples ratios of concentrations of heroin (including its decomposition products 0(6)-acetylmorphine and morphine) and its natural by-products of synthesis acetylcodeine, papaverine, and narcotine (noscapine) were determined. The application of these parameters and further qualitative and quantitative criteria for heroin comparison for investigative and legal purposes are discussed.

High pressure liquid chromatographic determination of the five major alkaloids in Papaver somniferum L. and thebaine in Papaver bracteatum Lindl. capsular tissue

A high pressure liquid chromatographic isocratic procedure is described for determining and quantitating the 5 major alkaloids narcotine, papaverine, thebaine, codeine, and morphine in Papaver somniferum L. and thebaine in Papaver bracteatum Lindl. Other papaveraceous alkaloids, including salutaridine, oripavine, laudanosine, isothebaine, cryptopine, alpinigenine, narceine, protopine, and gnoscopine, were also quantitated. The values for morphine, codeine, and thebaine in P. somniferum were in agreement within 5--9% with values obtained by the United Nations Narcotics Laboratory by other methods. In contrast to previously reported procedures, the advantage of this method is that no precolumn or other purification other than solvent extraction of the capsular tissue is necessary. Isocratic chromatography alone on a single column resolved the 5 major alkaloids.

Liquid chromatography of dansyl derivatives of some alkaloids and the application to the analysis of pharmaceuticals

Derivatization of the alkaloids cephaeline, codeine, emetine, ephedrine, morphine, narcotine and others with dansyl chloride has been studied with the aim of developing a sensitive and specific liquid chromatographic method for these substances in complex pharmaceutical dosage forms. While codeine and narcotine do not react, the other compounds form completely substituted derivatives which possess maxima in their fluorescence emission spectra between 470 and 500 nm. The structure of the derivatives has been confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The dansylated compounds have been separated by thin-layer chromatography and high-pressure liquid chromatography. The improved selectivity and sensitivity have permitted an analysis of these substances present in low concentrations in 10- 100-fold excesses of other drugs. Direct derivatization of syrups and aqueous slurries of capsules having a complex excipient and drug composition is feasible and time saving and serves as a pre-clean-up step. Detection limits are in the 1-10-ng range or better, depending on the efficiency of the detection device. The reproducibility of the method is limited by the derivatization step, but a relative standard deviation of less than 2% can be obtained. The analysis time for these pharmaceuticals may be reduced by at least one fifth of that required by conventional techniques.

Ligand-exchange chromatography of alkaloids

Alkaloids are separated by liquid chromatography on resins having functional carboxyl groups combined with copper (II) ions. The eluent is aqueous alcohol containing ammonia. Some resins retain alkaloids much better than others. Alkaloids studied included morphine, codeine, strychnine, atropine, papaverine, narcotine, cocaine, quinine, cinchonine and methadone.