GC/MS analysis of morning glory seeds freely in commerce: can they be considered “herbal highs”?

Abstract

Background: The so-called "herbal highs" are substances derived from natural plants with effects on the central nervous system. Lisergamide, ergine or LSA is the basis of different types of drugs, which are in seeds of Ipomoea violacea, also known as Morning Glory, and other seeds. In our study we analysed the presence of lysergic acid amide (LSA) in seeds of Ipomoea violacea seized by the Italian Police, in others purchased through the Internet, and in other varieties of Ipomoea sold for ornamental purposes, to assess whether the actual consumption of ornamental seeds could contain hallucinogenic doses of LSA. Methods: The analyses were conducted at the Laboratory of Forensic Toxicology of the Section of Legal Medicine of the University of Perugia, using GC/MSD system. For analysis, 300 mg of seeds (~8 seeds) from each specimen were chosen. Results: Analysis revealed that 300 mg of Ipomoea violacea seeds resulting from police seizures, equivalent to approximately 8 seeds, contained a percentage of LSA equal to 0.062%. This finding is in agreement with what was indicated in literature, as the ingestion of 250 seeds would lead to a dose of approximately 6 mg of LSA, capable of provoking hallucinogenic effects. The analysis of 300 mg of Ipomoea Rubrocerulea seeds bought on the commercial marketdetected an average concentration of LSA of 0.011%. The Ipomoea mix contained a concentration of LSA about 10 times lower than that of seized Morning Glory seeds. Conclusion: Seeds bought on the commercial market contained doses of LSA capable of provoking hallucinogenic effects. In the absence of data on the toxicity resulting from the ingestion of seeds for ornamental purposes, we believe that further research on the actual safety of ornamental seeds is necessary.

Development of a Pencil Drawn Paper‐based Analytical Device to Detect Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)*†

“…This substance occurs in the seeds of Morning Glory species and is commonly used in ritual ceremonies because it has almost the same hallucinogenic properties as LSD (see Fig. 5) (46,47).…”

“…This fact does not translate into the actual problem as they have different distribution channels, LSD is a synthetic drug that is produced in laboratory and can be found in blotters, microdots, and gels. LSA can be extracted from seeds, but the seeds are usually consumed without any kind of extraction (44,46,47). Thus, these two drugs are unlikely to be found together.…”

A descrição matemática da detecção eletroquímica da ergina, assistida pelos novos derivados triazólicos, dopados pelo íon amavadina

“…Para descrever o comportamento do sistema com a detecção eletroanalítica da ergina, assistida pela amavadina, analisamos, mediante a teoria de estabilidade linear e da análise de bifurcações o CEDB (4), havendo vista as relações algébricas (5)(6)(7). Os elementos estacionários da matriz funcional de Jacobi podem ser descritos conforme:…”

“…Outrossim, o seu uso pelos desportistas é banido por regulamento da federação desportiva correspondente e por lei (quando aplicável). Destarte, a elaboração de um método da detecção da ergina é, sem dúvida, atual [5][6][7][8], e o uso dos métodos eletroanalíticos poderia dar bom serviço [9,10].…”

Desenvolvimento de métodos voltamétricos e de um eletrodo de papel para análise da Dietilamida do Ácido Lisérgico (LSD)

“…Vale ressaltar que apesar do LSA possuir o mesmo perfil voltamétrico que o LSD, o meio de obtenção e utilização das duas drogas são completamente diferentes. O LSA é encontrado em sementes e consumido a partir da ingestão das mesmas118,122 , e o LSD é sintetizado e comercializado na forma de selos ou micropontos[14][15][16][17][18][19][20] . Por essa diferença no tipo das amostras, pode ser considerada uma raridade a mistura das duas substâncias, sendo desconsiderado o LSA como interferente do LSD.Outro tipo de interferência é aquela que pode ser causada pela mistura com outras drogas de abuso.…”