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Forensic Sci Int. 2022 Dec;341:111500. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2022.111500. Epub 2022 Oct 17.
Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum L.) is a weed that grows rampant in many areas of North America. Forensic toxicology laboratories rarely receive requests to analyze biological specimens for the presence of poison hemlock. This report discusses two postmortem cases that were encountered over a decade apart and describes different analytical approaches that may be used to quantify coniine, a primary poison hemlock alkaloid, in biological specimens. The first case is from 2004 and involves a 27-year-old female that was found deceased in a relatively isolated area of California. Based on the presence of plant material at the scene and signs of its ingestion at autopsy, the possibility of hemlock poisoning was considered. Toxicological testing of the blood and gastric content by quantitative selected-ion monitoring Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (SIM-GC/MS) revealed the presence of coniine at concentrations of 410 ng/mL and 9300 ng/mL, respectively. The second case is from Pennsylvania and was sent for analysis in the spring of 2019. In this case, a male in his forties was found deceased in the kitchen area of a camper. Green substances, in liquid and residue forms, were observed in the sink. Mixtures of leaf-like material were also found in several bowls and pans. Subclavian blood screened positive for coniine by full-scan Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). Semi-quantitative confirmation testing was performed by Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and showed the presence of coniine at a concentration of 35 ng/mL. These analytical approaches can be used to substantiate or exclude poison hemlock exposure as a cause of death.
毒芹（Conium maculatum L.）是一种杂草，在北美的许多地区都大量生长。法医毒理学实验室很少收到要求分析生物样本中是否存在毒芹的请求。本报告讨论了两个相隔十多年的尸检案例，并描述了可能用于定量生物样本中coniine（一种主要的毒芹生物碱）的不同分析方法。第一个案例发生在 2004 年，涉及一名 27 岁的女性，她被发现死在加利福尼亚一个相对偏远的地区。根据现场存在植物材料和尸检时摄入的迹象，考虑了毒芹中毒的可能性。通过定量选择离子监测气相色谱/质谱法（SIM-GC/MS）对血液和胃内容物进行毒理学检测，发现 coniine 的浓度分别为 410 ng/mL 和 9300 ng/mL。第二个案例来自宾夕法尼亚州，于 2019 年春季送检进行分析。在这个案例中，一名四十多岁的男性被发现死在露营车的厨房区域。在水槽中观察到液体和残留形式的绿色物质。还在几个碗和锅中发现了混合的叶状物质。锁骨下血液通过全扫描气相色谱/质谱法（GC/MS）检测coniine 呈阳性。通过液相色谱串联质谱法（LC-MS/MS）进行半定量确认测试，显示 coniine 的浓度为 35 ng/mL。这些分析方法可用于证实或排除毒芹暴露作为死亡原因。
