Systematic Toxicological Analysis Approaches Available for Cardiotoxic Plant Poisons and their Metabolites in Forensic Toxicology

Abstract In forensic science, cases of plant toxicity are not contemporary. Studies of plant toxins and various aspects of their analysis have been performed since ancient times. Different analytical techniques are established and evaluated with time. Nowadays, an easy and accurate technique is necessary for toxicological analysis. In this study, various toxicological analysis procedures available for cardiac plant poisons are reviewed. The extraction and determination procedures concerning cardiac plant poisons and their metabolites are considered. Six plant species were selected based on cases occurring in forensic science. According to references, various immunoassay, chromatographic, and spectrometric techniques were used to detect cardiac plant toxins and their metabolites. Liquid chromatography, hyphenated with other techniques, is more familiar and broadly used, according to the reviewed studies. The study of metabolites was not performed separately, but here, we attempt to differentiate techniques for an individual metabolite of every cardiac plant poison. Some metabolites are indicated that are likely to be found in forensic studies but still not reported by any author.