SOFT 2004 Meeting Abstracts - Society of Forensic Toxicologists

B9
ABSINTHE ANALYSIS: A STUDY OF TOXIC COMPONENTS OF THE NOTORIOUS
BEVERAGE
Smith AC 1 *, Vena J, Wu AH, McLane G; Departments ofPathology and Laboratory Medicine and Medical
Toxicology, Hartford HospitallUniverity of Connecticut, and Absolute Standards, Inc.
Introduction: Popular in the 1800's, absinthe is liquor made from the extract of the wormwood plant
(Artemesia absinthium). The extract had a green hue, which led the drink to be known as the "green fairy".
Historically color was enhanced with additives such as antimony and copper, which may have influenced
toxic effects. The drink was popular among artists and writers because its inherent hallucinogenic
properties known as the absinthe effect. The absinthe effect was known to stimulate creativity and sexual
desire. Popularity and excess led to a public health problem, and it was banned in the early 1900's in many
countries. There has been a recent resurgence as this ban has been lifted in Europe under new regulations ..
In countries were absinthe is still banned, orders can be placed over the internet. The major active
ingredients are bicyclic terpenes, o.-thujone and /3-thujone, which .are found as diastereoisomers in nature.
Thujone is a neurotoxic and porphyrogenic compound. The more potent form is o.-thujone, which is
believed to block the y-aminobutyric (GABA) gated chloride channel. The fractional content of a. and /3­
thujone is dependent upon plant source. CUrrent European guidelines limit thujone content to 10 ppm in
alcoholic beverages. Analysis was conducted on 5 separate samples to determine thujone and other terpene
content, as well as analysis of heavy metal and ethanol content.
Materials and Methods: Five different commercially available absinthe bottles produced in France and
Germany were analyzed, each claiming to have an infusion of wormwood plant. Extraction was performed
using chloroform as the organic solvent. GCIMS analysis was performed on the extracts using total ion
chromatography and selected ion monitoring. A 10 ppm 0.- thujone standard was used to quantifY results
(Fluka >96%). Samples were treated with nitric acid, and assayed using ICPIMS to determine the metal
content. Ethanol content was assayed on a Roche Integra chemistry analyzer using the alcohol
dehydrogenase
Results:
0.- thujone (ppm)
~- thujone (ppm)
Total thujone (ppm)
EtOH (label) v/v
EtOH (measured) v/v
Copper (ppb)
Antimony (ppb)
sample 1 sample 2 sample 3 sample 4 sample 5
4.0 1.5 3.4 1.3 0.2
2.1 1.2 3.2 0.0
6.1 12.7 6.6 ]If 0.2
55% !55% 60% 45% 55%
53% 55% 56% 46% 53%
15.3 71.3 25.8 19.5 19.6
0 0 6.8 0 0
A number of other related compounds appeared in the samples, which in addition to thujone, are extracts
from plant sources used to make absinthe. These were identified with a library spectra match (> 90%).
Compounds include camphor, menthol, fenchone, methone, and anisaldehyde.
Conclusion: Modern absinthe does conform to current guidelines in regards to thujone content by our
analysis. However, much variation was seen between each manufacturer. One sample did have high levels
of antimony, and all had copper in varied concentration. The clinical toxicity of absinthe with high terpene
and metal content in the presence of ethanol intoxication needs further research. Although absinthe is still
officially banned in the U.S., this product is available on the Internet and popularity is rising. In July 2003,
an article appeared in Maxim magazine describing this recent trend and Internet popularity in the U.S. The
history of absinthe has shown it to be a public health concern. The high alcohol content combined with the
effects of thujone may increase the risk of critical intoxication with consumption of modern absinthe.
Keywords: Absinthe, Analysis, GC/MS
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