Analysis of AM‐2201 and metabolites in a drugs and driving case

Abstract

This case report describes the analysis of AM-2201 in plant material and its metabolites in human urine obtained from an operator of a motor vehicle in the United States. The samples were taken from the driver because of his illegal driving activities and, his subsequent erratic behaviour. The AM-2201 was extracted from a sample of plant material by sonicating it in methanol, after which an aliquot was taken and diluted with aqueous phosphate buffer (pH 6) and extracted by solid-phase extraction using a C8/aminopropyl SPE cartridge. The cartridges were washed, dried, and eluted with ethyl acetate- methanol solvent system. The urine sample was hydrolyzed with β-glucuronidase at pH 6.8 before being diluted with aqueous phosphate buffer (pH 6) and extracted with the same type of SPE cartridge. After evaporation of the eluates, the samples were dissolved in mobile phase for analysis by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Analysis of the plant material determined the concentration to be 0.05% (AM2201) by mass of dry material. The concentration of AM-2201 (AM2201-N-(4-hydroxypentyl ) metabolite in the urine was found to be 3.1 ng/ml. The urine also contained 109 ng/ml of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid but no other drugs including JWH-018 metabolites.