Morphine and Codeine Urinalyses after Ingestion of Bean-Jam Bun.

Abstract

Morphine and codeine were analyzed in the human urine of volunteers after they had eaten one or two bean-jam buns, which are buns decorated with poppy seeds on top. Urine specimens were collected for 24 h after ingestion, and samples were hydrolyzed using enzymes and extracted with chloroform/1-butanol (9 : 1, v/v). The extracted alkaloids were converted to pentafluoropropionlyl (PFP) derivatives. The quantitation of morphine and codeine was carried out by GC/MS using deuterated analogs as internal standards. A significant amount of morphine was found in the urine of all volunteers after the intake of two buns, the highest concentration being found in specimens taken 2 or 4 h after consumption (13.6-123.6 ng/ml). In most volunteers, morphine was found in the urine as long as 24 h after the ingestion. The urinary codeine level was low in contrast to morphine ; it was also maximum at 2 or 4 h (2.6-5.2 ng/ml) in four volunteers and was negative (< 1 ng/ml) in two. When one bean-jam bun was eaten, the urinary morphine level was very low but was detectable for up to 6 h ; codeine was not observed in any urine sample. Forensic scientists should be careful in distinguishing urinary morphine and codeine levels caused by the illicit use of morphine or heroin from those due to the ingestion of foods with poppy seeds. These results should aid in developing a reasonable cut-off level in drug screening programs designed to detect street heroin or morphine use in Japan.