Abstract

Background: Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) are not a single drug. Instead, lots of different SC chemicals are manufactured and commercialized. Every year, new ones with unknown health concerns become accessible. This study was aimed at finding an effective extraction method for the SC, 4-fluoro MDMB-BUTINACA in herbal products, followed by validated gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis.
Methods: An experimental scientific approach was utilized to answer the study’s questions and attain its objectives. Liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) was used to extract 4-fluoro MDMB-BUTINACA from herbal powders. Using GC/ Early Intervention (EI)-MS-selected ion monitoring Mode, an analytical technique for sample analysis was developed and validated.
Results: Methanolic LLE method was used to extract the herbal products for the analysis of 4-fluoro MDMBBUTINACA in Augmented Vector Left (AVL) and Space Occupying Lesions (SOL). For both AVL and SOL powders, logarithm of the odds (LOD) and Letter of Qualification (LOQ) were 0.5 and 1 μg/g, respectively. The Intra-Day accuracy (Bias %) ranged between -3.48%-7.49% and -4.15%-8.33% in AVL and SOL, respectively. In AVL and SOL, the Intra-Day precision [relative standard deviation (RSD) %] ranged between 3.89%-10.21% and 5.86%- 11.47%. The Inter-Day accuracy (Bias %) within 3 days ranged between -4.53%-10.23% and -8.13%-14.73% in AVL and SOL, respectively. The Intra-Day precision (RSD%) within 3 days ranged between 3.87%-13.23% and 2.03%-14.25% in AVL and SOL, respectively.
Conclusion: This study recommends applying the analytical method for ease and credibility to be used. Further recommends efforts to include new psychotropic drugs in the ban schedules in Arab countries.

Key words: Detection, quantification, 4-fluoro MDMB-BUTINACA, herbal products, GC-MS.