Search for hypnotic metabolites for forensic toxicological analysis

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K09221
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Legal medicine
• Research Institution: Nippon Medical School
• Principal Investigator: Yamaguchi Koji 日本医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (90465344)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 睡眠薬 / ゾルピデム / LC-MS/MS / 代謝

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study is to investigate metabolites of zolpidem (ZOL) in urines obtained from autopsies. The search for ZOL metabolites using LC-MS/MS revealed the presence of novel metabolites, 7-hydroxy ZOL (7-OH), 8-hydroxy ZOL (8-OH), ZOL dihydrodiol, and cysteine conjugates of ZOL, in urine.
ZOL metabolites, M1-4, 7-OH and 8-OH were synthesized. These products were used as authentic standards. And a method for simultaneous analysis of ZOL, M1-4, 7-OH, and 8-OH in urine was developed.
Quantitative analysis of ZOL and its metabolites in human urines revealed that concentrations of M1 was the highest, followed by those of M2, 7-OH, M4.

Free Research Field

法医中毒学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ヒトの資料を用い、日本で最も販売されているゾルピデムの代謝について研究した。得られた知見により、今後ゾルピデムが犯罪に悪用され、ゾルピデムが使用されたことを証明する時に、より証拠力の高い鑑定が可能になった。今後、ゾルピデムの排泄の経時変化が明らかになれば、服用時間のおおよその推定が可能になったり、事件から長時間経過していても尿からゾルピデム代謝物を検出できるようになる可能性がある。