title: Direct analysis in real time high resolution mass spectrometry as a tool for rapid characterization of mind-altering plant materials and revelation of supplement adulteration--The case of Kanna.
abstract: We demonstrate the utility of direct analysis in real time ionization coupled with high resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry (DART-HRTOFMS) in revealing the adulteration of commercially available Sceletium tortuosum, a mind-altering plant-based drug commonly known as Kanna. Accurate masses consistent with alkaloids previously isolated from S. tortuosum plant material enabled identification of the products as Kanna, and in-source collision-induced dissociation (CID) confirmed the presence of one of these alkaloids, hordenine, while simultaneously revealing the presence of an adulterant. The stimulant ephedrine, which has been banned in herbal products and supplements, was confirmed to be present in a sample through the use of in-source CID. High-throughput DART-HRTOFMS was shown to be a powerful tool to not only screen plant-based drugs of abuse for psychotropic alkaloids, but also to reveal the presence of scheduled substances and adulterants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University at Albany-SUNY, 1400 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12222, United States.
authors.forename: Ashton D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Lesiak
authors.affiliation: JEOL USA, Inc., 11 Dearborn Rd., Peabody, MA 01960, United States.
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Cody
authors.affiliation: JEOL USA, Inc., 11 Dearborn Rd., Peabody, MA 01960, United States.
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ubukata
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University at Albany-SUNY, 1400 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12222, United States. Electronic address: rmusah@albany.edu.
authors.forename: Rabi A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Musah
mesh_terms: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000032:analysis*; D004340:Drug Contamination; D004809:Ephedrine / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000737:chemistry*; D014439:Tyramine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D004809:Ephedrine; C007964:hordenine; D014439:Tyramine
keywords: Adulterated supplements; DART-MS; Ephedrine; Kanna; Legal drug alternatives; Sceletium tortuosum