Date of Award
Spring 5-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department/Program
Forensic Science
Language
English
First Advisor or Mentor
Marta Concheiro-Guisan
Second Reader
Ana Pego
Third Advisor
Eduardo Geraldo de Campos
Abstract
Archaeo-toxicology is a new area of science that is gaining interest for its involvement in the analysis of archaeological materials by toxicological means. Research in this field has been predominantly conducted on skeletonized remains to investigate heavy metal exposure. However, limited studies have examined organic drugs, such as alkaloids, within bone. The goal of our study was to develop and validate an analytical method for the determination of morphine, codeine, thebaine, noscapine, papaverine, ephedrine, atropine, and scopolamine in bones by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). This procedure will be used on authentic human bones from an archeological site in Menorca, Spain, dating back to 1,000 BCE, where the use of Ephedra, Atropa belladonna, and Papaver somniferum was documented. Animal bones (chicken and rib bones) were smashed in a mortar and pestle before incubation in methanol for 72h at 50°C. The tubes were centrifuged, and the supernatant was collected before evaporation. The extracts were centrifuged, and the supernatant was placed into filter vials before being injected into the LC-MS/MS. The mass spectrometer was operated in electrospray positive mode, and data were acquired in multiple reaction monitoring mode. The linearity ranged from 1-100 ng/g with acceptable bias (±20%) and imprecision (< 20%). All alkaloids, except thebaine, experienced ion suppression (-52% to -66%) while thebaine experienced ion enhancement (56%). Morphine was qualitatively analyzed as it did not pass validation. This method will have to be adjusted to attain approvable results for morphine before it can be applied to the authentic bones.
Recommended Citation
Loomis, Geneva, "The Bones Never Rest: Determination of Alkaloids in Bones in an Archeo-Toxicological Context" (2025). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/jj_etds/339
