| Abstract: | Objective To explore the emergency inspection of Gelsemium poisoning events.Methods Samples causing poisoning incident in Puning city, Guangdong province in March, 2022 were selected as the research objects, and the identification of toxic Chinese herbal medicines were performed by characteristics, microscopic, thin layer chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry identification methods.Results With deep longitudinal grooves and transverse fissures in outer skin, the samples had radial textures in the cross section, and contained stone cells as well as calcium oxalate clusters, indicating that it may be Gelsemium elegans. The samples showed the same spots as the reference medicinal material G. elegans and authentic standards, koumine and gelsemine, at the corresponding positions in thin layer chromatography. Furthermore, the above Gelsemium alkaloids (koumine and gelsemine) were also detected in the samples by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Conclusion This poisoning incident was caused by mis-eating of toxic Chinese herbal medicine G. elegans. Our group has been engaged in the emergency inspection of toxic Chinese herbal medicines for a long time and accumulated rich experience. This paper summarizes the common methods for emergency test of herbal poisoning, and presents reflections and methodological proposals for regulatory and emergency inspection of poisonous Chinese herbal medicines, strengthening research on methods for accurate recognition and rapid screening. Our work intends to provide references for emergency inspection of poisoning by misusing of toxic Chinese herbal medicines and avoid such events to the greatest extent. |
