A way of handling Taxus baccata intoxications in forensic laboratories

Abstract

This study describes the possibility of handling Taxus baccata intoxications by the use of an LC–MS/MS method for the direct confirmation of taxine B. A simple and fast preparation procedure of a methanol yew leaves’ extract was applied. This extract made the LC–MS/MS taxine B/isotaxine B optimization possible by the use of its continuous infusion. The analyses were performed with an Agilent 1100 Series HPLC-API 2000™ LC–MS/MS system. The following mass-transitions were monitored in the positive MRM mode: 584.4/194.1 and 584.4/107.2. A Zorbax SB-C18, 4.6 × 50 mm, 5 micron column maintained at 45 ± 1 °C was used for the separation. 20 μL of a prepared sample was injected into the HPLC and eluted with a mobile phase consisting of A: CH3OH and B: 50 mL 0.1 M CH3COONH4 + 50 mL CH3CN + 900 mL H2O + 1 mL CH3COOH (A:B = 7:3, v/v). The flow rate was 0.3 mL/min and a single LC–MS/MS run was completed in 20 min. The biological material was extracted with Extrelut® NT 3 extraction tubes. In fatalities, where a T. baccata intoxication was indicated by the presence of 3,5-dimethoxyphenol in biological material, taxine B/isotaxine B was also identified in the appropriate post-mortem specimens.

Keywords

• Taxus
• Taxine B
• Isotaxine B
• 3,5-Dimethoxyphenol