Source discrimination of colchicine based on carbon stable isotope analysis
Hanyang Zheng MSc
School of Investigation, People's Public Security University of China, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Jun Zhu PhD
School of Investigation, People's Public Security University of China, Beijing, China
Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security, Beijing, China
Correspondence
Jun Zhu and Hongcheng Mei, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security of China, No. 17 Muxidi nanli, Xicheng District, Beijing, China.
Email: [email protected] and [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorZhuotong Cai MSc
School of Investigation, People's Public Security University of China, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorZhaowei Jie PhD
School of Investigation, People's Public Security University of China, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorWei Wang PhD
School of Investigation, People's Public Security University of China, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorHanyu Zhang MSc
School of Investigation, People's Public Security University of China, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorCan Hu PhD
Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorHongling Guo PhD
Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Hongcheng Mei PhD
Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security, Beijing, China
Correspondence
Jun Zhu and Hongcheng Mei, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security of China, No. 17 Muxidi nanli, Xicheng District, Beijing, China.
Email: [email protected] and [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorHanyang Zheng MSc
School of Investigation, People's Public Security University of China, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Jun Zhu PhD
School of Investigation, People's Public Security University of China, Beijing, China
Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security, Beijing, China
Correspondence
Jun Zhu and Hongcheng Mei, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security of China, No. 17 Muxidi nanli, Xicheng District, Beijing, China.
Email: [email protected] and [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorZhuotong Cai MSc
School of Investigation, People's Public Security University of China, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorZhaowei Jie PhD
School of Investigation, People's Public Security University of China, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorWei Wang PhD
School of Investigation, People's Public Security University of China, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorHanyu Zhang MSc
School of Investigation, People's Public Security University of China, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorCan Hu PhD
Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorHongling Guo PhD
Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Hongcheng Mei PhD
Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security, Beijing, China
Correspondence
Jun Zhu and Hongcheng Mei, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security of China, No. 17 Muxidi nanli, Xicheng District, Beijing, China.
Email: [email protected] and [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Colchicine, a highly toxic alkaloid, has been frequently employed as a poisoning agent in criminal cases. Toxicant source tracing represents a critical research direction in forensic science, where the discrimination of colchicine origins holds particular significance for chemical fingerprint identification in poisoning incidents. The stable isotopic signature of colchicine serves as a crucial indicator for source comparison and traceability. However, its complexity of structure and high molecular weight present substantial challenges for precise stable isotope analysis. To enhance traceability capabilities, a method for the analysis of carbon stable isotope of colchicine was established using gas chromatography–combustion–isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-C-IRMS). Through systematic optimization of experimental conditions, we resolved incomplete oxidation issues in the combustion reactor caused by inherent chemical properties of colchicine, achieving precise measurements with a standard deviation below 0.3‰. Method validation confirmed that storage conditions and matrix effects exerted no significant impact on carbon stable isotope ratio determinations. Applied to colchicine from three distinct sources, this method demonstrated effective source discrimination through δ13C values. The established analytical protocol proves reliable and robust for colchicine stable carbon isotope analysis, thereby significantly increasing its traceability potential in forensic science.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT
All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.
Open Research
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
Research data are not shared.
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