Detection of atropine and scopolamine as contaminants of food

By Vincent Cirimele, ChemTox, France

Datura plants containing toxic alkaloids such as atropine and scopolamine, are potential contaminants of food and feedingstuffs when they grow near to crops.

Datura (datura inoxia) is a herbaceous plant with white flowers, very common as a weed and a robust invasive plant that spreads in all warm regions of the globe. It is found in urban parks, vacant lots and fields.

There is a risk of contamination by datura toxins during the harvest. The alkaloids can therefore be present in various raw and processed products such as cereals, buckwheat, wine, feedingstuffs, flour and bakery products.

Intoxication by such alkaloids causes psychotropic effects. Atropine and scopolamine also have the short term and long term toxic effects of being powerful sedatives, hallucinogenic, and provoking cardiac acceleration or relaxation of muscles, and reduction of secretions (salivary, lachrymal, bronchial, digestive). High doses can lead to possible fatal intoxication or deep coma.

As a result of this ChemTox, a member of the Eurofins Group, has developed an HPLC-MS/MS analysis which combines high sensitivity and high specificity for the detection and quantification of atropine and scopolamine in food products.

The analysis has a 10 day routine turnaround time (TAT). ChemTox also offers a 5 day TAT or 24 hour TAT in very urgent cases, or for suspected contaminated batches of food.

Contact: labochemtox@labochemtox.com