Frison Giampietro, Favretto Donata, Zancanaro Flavio, Fazzin Giorgio, Ferrara Santo Davide
Forensic Toxicology and Antidoping Unit, University Hospital of Padova, Via Falloppio 50, I-35121 Padova, Italy.
Forensic Sci Int. 2008 Aug 6;179(2-3):e37-43. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2008.05.003. Epub 2008 Jul 7.
Beta-carboline alkaloids harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine can stimulate the central nervous system by inhibiting the metabolism of amine neurotransmitters, or by direct interaction with specific receptors; they are found in numerous plants, including Peganum harmala, Passiflora incarnata and Banisteriopsis caapi, and in the entheogen preparation Ayahuasca, which is traditionally brewed using B. caapi to enhance the activity of amine hallucinogenic drugs. The ingestion of plant preparations containing beta-carboline alkaloids may result in toxic effects, namely visual and auditory hallucinations, locomotor ataxia, nausea, vomiting, confusion and agitation. We report a case of intoxication following intentional ingestion of P. harmala seed infusion; P. harmala seeds were bought over the Internet. The harmala alkaloids were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the seed extract and the patient's urine. This is, to our knowledge, the first case of P. harmala intoxication corroborated by toxicological findings.
β-咔啉生物碱哈尔明、哈尔马灵和四氢哈尔明可通过抑制胺类神经递质的代谢或与特定受体直接相互作用来刺激中枢神经系统；它们存在于许多植物中，包括骆驼蓬、西番莲和卡皮藤，以及在宗教致幻剂制剂死藤水中，传统上使用卡皮藤来增强胺类致幻药物的活性。摄入含有β-咔啉生物碱的植物制剂可能会导致毒性作用，即视觉和听觉幻觉、运动性共济失调、恶心、呕吐、意识模糊和躁动。我们报告一例故意摄入骆驼蓬种子浸液后的中毒病例；骆驼蓬种子是通过互联网购买的。通过气相色谱-质谱法在种子提取物和患者尿液中鉴定出哈尔马灵生物碱。据我们所知，这是第一例经毒理学结果证实的骆驼蓬中毒病例。
