Open AccessThe Analysis and Distribution of Mescaline in Postmortem Tissues
Author(s) -
Joni L Henry,
Jahna Epley,
Timothy P. Rohrig
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of analytical toxicology.
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.161
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1945-2403
pISSN - 0146-4760
DOI - 10.1093/jat/27.6.381
Subject(s) - mescaline , chemistry , chromatography , distribution (mathematics) , alkaloid , mass spectrometry , gas chromatography , gas chromatography–mass spectrometry , hallucinogen , pharmacology , stereochemistry , medicine , mathematical analysis , mathematics
Mescaline (3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylamine) is a hallucinogenic alkaloid found in the peyote cactus. This report documents mescaline distribution in a death caused by multiple gunshot wounds. Mescaline was extracted with a butyl chloride liquid-liquid method and identified by mass spectrometry. Quantitative analysis was performed by gas chromatography using a nitrogen-phosphorus detector. Concentrations of the drug were 2.95 mg/L, 2.36 mg/L, 8.2 mg/kg, and 2.2 mg/kg in blood, vitreous, liver, and brain, respectively.