Citation

Kroner LU, Padosch SA, Lachenmeier DW, Madea B. Blutalkohol 2005; 42(4): 263-271.

Affiliation

Institut fur Rechtsmedizin, Klinikum der Universitat zu Koln, D-50823 Koln, Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, International Committee on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety and Bund gegen Alkohol und Drogen im Straßenverkehr, Publisher Steintor Verlag)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In 1991, the European Commission permitted the addition of thujone-containing plant extracts (wormwood, mugwort) as well as aroma extracts to alcoholic beverages and spirits. For bitter spirits, such as absinthe, which has enjoyed more and more popularity in recent years, a limit of 35 mg/l (alpha)-/(beta)-thujone was established by the European Commission. At present, no studies on (alpha)-/(beta)-thujone effects, in particular with regard to the central nervous system after absinthe consumption are available. However, case reports already exist, reporting potentially life-threatening effects of accidental thujone intoxications. Major effects of thujone are supposed to be predominantly of hallucinogenic kind, moreover, nephro-toxic effects have been observed. The porphyrogenic effects of thujone and other terpenes are assumed to be a result of the hepatic cytochrome P450 pathway-dependent metabolism. Medico-legal relevance of thujone arises from its potential impact on driving abilities due to its predominantly hallucinogenic properties. Given the marked lipophilic character of thujone, such spirits are characterized by a high alcohol content to keep the essential ingredients in solution. Addition of water subsequently causes the clouding of the solution (so called "louche"-effect), as a consequence of the precipitation of the essential oils. Here, we introduce a simple and timesaving validated gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for the detection of thujone in blood samples. Moreover, as a promising alternative to established methods, we report on head-space solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) of thujone. Using this method we examined 14 absinthe samples, which are commercially available in Germany for their thujone content. Three of the samples examined showed a surpassing of the EC-limit with regard to thujone content, whereas no thujone was detected in another three absinthe samples. Moreover, in a pilot study, thujone and ethanol blood concentrations were determined after absinthe consumption. In this study, blood alcohol concentrations > 1 g/l were determined, whereas no thujone could be detected in blood samples by using HS-SPME. For the time being, our results allow the conclusion, that the hallucinogenic properties and relevance, respectively of absinthe and other thujone containing spirits might be rather negligible with regard to forensic and traffic-medical aspects. However, it has to be taken into consideration, that such spirits are characterized by high ethanol contents (> 50 Vol.-%). It also has to be mentioned, that it can not be excluded here, that actually relevant thujone concentrations and clinical effects, respectively might be observed after consumption of illegally distributed absinthe from non-EU countries with thujone concentrations around 100 mg/l purchased via the internet.