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Dirk W. Lachenmeier - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Open Access Absinthe, Absinthism and Thujone – New Insight into the Spirit's Impact on Public Health
2016Co-Authors: Dirk W. Lachenmeier, Theodore A. Breaux, David Nathan-maister, J P Luaute, Joachim EmmertAbstract:Abstract: Absinthe, a strong alcoholic aperitif, is notorious for containing the compound ‘thujone’, which has been commonly regarded as its ‘active ingredient’. It has been widely theorized that the thujone content of vintage Absinthe made it harmful to public health, and caused the distinct syndrome absinthism, which was extensively described in the literature prior to the spirit’s ban in 1915. The interdisciplinary research presented in this paper shows that 1) absinthism cannot be distinguished from common alcoholism in the medical research literature of the time, and that 2) due to the physical chemistry of the distillation process, the thujone content of vintage Absinthe was considerably lower than previously estimated and corresponds to levels generally recognized as safe, as proven by analyses of Absinthes from the pre-ban era. Due to the re-legalization of Absinthe in the European Union and more recently in the United States, potential public health concerns have re-emerged, not expressly based on worries about thujone content or absinthism, but on alcohol-related harm and youth protection issues, exacerbated by marketing strategies promoting Absinthe using false and discredited claims pertaining to thujone and stubbornly persistant myths
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Estimation of thujone levels in pre-ban Absinthe
2015Co-Authors: Dirk W. LachenmeierAbstract:Objectives: The media coverage about Absinthe, a bitter spirit containing wormwood (Ar-temisia absinthium L.), continues to repeat unsubstantiated myths and legends and the public is systematically misinformed. Especially, the theory about a significant thujone content in Absinthe must be put into perspective as there are a number of different wormwood chemotypes with a large variance in thujone content (0-70.6 % in essential oil). However, a relatively high thujone amount of 260 mg/l derived from out-of-date calculations is generally presented as “historical content ” in addition with reports about unsubstantiated psychoactive or aphrodisiac properties. With the end of Absinthe’s prohibition and rising public interest in the product, the misinformation in scientific studies was transferred to the popular press. The 260 mg/l is presented as common knowledge, and it is given as fact that the thujone content in the mid-nineteenth century was sig-nificantly greater than it is today. Methods: The thujone concentrations in pre-ban Absinthe were calculated using authentic 19th century French recipes under regard of the composition of wormwood oil derived by a litera-ture review. Results: A typical Absinthe Suisse de Pontarlier was calculated to have contained 23±21 mg/l of thujone. It was, therefore, proven that the previous calculations overestimated the thujone content. Discussion: The following point about the thujone content of pre-ban Absinthe should be stressed: there are no analyses from the 19th century because neither knowledge about thujone nor the required analytical methodologies were in existence. Therefore, so-called “historical thujone contents ” are either speculative or derived from calculations using historic recipe books, experi-mental production of Absinthes using such recipes, or analyses of vintage Absinthes. The most conclusive evidence is provided by a number of studies about the experimental production of Absinthes, and the analyses of vintage Absinthes, which consistently showed that they contained only relatively low concentrations of thujone (< 10 mg/l). 1
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rapid determination of total thujone in Absinthe using 1h nmr spectroscopy
International Journal of Spectroscopy, 2011Co-Authors: Yulia B. Monakhova, Thomas Kuballa, Dirk W. LachenmeierAbstract:1H NMR spectroscopy is utilized to quantify total thujone (sum of - and -isomers) in Absinthe. For sample preparation, a simple dilution with buffer is required. Thujone produces a distinct peak of the CH2 group in the cyclopentanone moiety in the 2.13–2.11 ppm range. No overlap with other typical constituents such as anethole or fenchone occurs. The detection limit of 0.3 mg/L is adequate to control the EU maximum limit. The relative standard deviation was 6%, and linearity was observed from 1 to 100 mg/L. Applicability was proven by analysis of 69 authentic Absinthes. The correlation between NMR and our previous method consisting of liquid-liquid extraction followed by GC/MS was significant (). The simple and cheap NMR method can be used for rapid screening of Absinthes for total thujone content while chromatographic techniques are recommended for more specific (- and -thujone isomers) analysis if required.
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Rapid Determination of Total Thujone in Absinthe Using 1H NMR Spectroscopy
Hindawi Limited, 2011Co-Authors: Yulia B. Monakhova, Thomas Kuballa, Dirk W. LachenmeierAbstract:1H NMR spectroscopy is utilized to quantify total thujone (sum of α- and β-isomers) in Absinthe. For sample preparation, a simple dilution with buffer is required. Thujone produces a distinct peak of the CH2 group in the cyclopentanone moiety in the 2.13–2.11 ppm range. No overlap with other typical constituents such as anethole or fenchone occurs. The detection limit of 0.3 mg/L is adequate to control the EU maximum limit. The relative standard deviation was 6%, and linearity was observed from 1 to 100 mg/L. Applicability was proven by analysis of 69 authentic Absinthes. The correlation between NMR and our previous method consisting of liquid-liquid extraction followed by GC/MS was significant (P
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wormwood artemisia absinthium l a curious plant with both neurotoxic and neuroprotective properties
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2010Co-Authors: Dirk W. LachenmeierAbstract:The medical use of the wormwood plant Artemisia absinthium L. dates back to at least Roman times, while during the last century this tradition was seemingly on the decline due to fears of absinthism, a syndrome allegedly caused by the wormwood-flavoured spirit Absinthe and more specifically as a result of thujone, a monoterpene ketone often present in the essential oil of wormwood. If threshold concentrations are exceeded, thujone does in fact exhibit neurotoxic properties leading to dose-dependent tonic-clonic seizures in animals, likely caused by GABA type A receptor modulation. Research has shown that the concentrations of thujone present in Absinthe were not sufficient to exceed these thresholds, and the marketing of wormwood-flavoured alcoholic beverages has ultimately been reinstated. The declining fears of absinthism may have led to a revival of the medical uses of wormwood, evidenced by several experimental reports, e.g. on the treatment of Crohn's disease. Most recently in this journal, neuroprotective properties of wormwood were detected in rats, and the plant was suggested to be possibly beneficial in the treatment of strokes. While these results sound promising and worthwhile for further investigation, the well-defined profile of adverse properties of wormwood demands a more cautious interpretation of these results. It remained unclear in the studies, for example, if the threshold dose for thujone (e.g. as set by the European Medicines Agency) would be exceeded during therapeutic usage. Due to the colourful history of wormwood, its application in humans should be preceded by a thorough and careful risk-benefit analysis.
Thomas Kuballa - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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rapid determination of total thujone in Absinthe using 1h nmr spectroscopy
International Journal of Spectroscopy, 2011Co-Authors: Yulia B. Monakhova, Thomas Kuballa, Dirk W. LachenmeierAbstract:1H NMR spectroscopy is utilized to quantify total thujone (sum of - and -isomers) in Absinthe. For sample preparation, a simple dilution with buffer is required. Thujone produces a distinct peak of the CH2 group in the cyclopentanone moiety in the 2.13–2.11 ppm range. No overlap with other typical constituents such as anethole or fenchone occurs. The detection limit of 0.3 mg/L is adequate to control the EU maximum limit. The relative standard deviation was 6%, and linearity was observed from 1 to 100 mg/L. Applicability was proven by analysis of 69 authentic Absinthes. The correlation between NMR and our previous method consisting of liquid-liquid extraction followed by GC/MS was significant (). The simple and cheap NMR method can be used for rapid screening of Absinthes for total thujone content while chromatographic techniques are recommended for more specific (- and -thujone isomers) analysis if required.
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Rapid Determination of Total Thujone in Absinthe Using 1H NMR Spectroscopy
Hindawi Limited, 2011Co-Authors: Yulia B. Monakhova, Thomas Kuballa, Dirk W. LachenmeierAbstract:1H NMR spectroscopy is utilized to quantify total thujone (sum of α- and β-isomers) in Absinthe. For sample preparation, a simple dilution with buffer is required. Thujone produces a distinct peak of the CH2 group in the cyclopentanone moiety in the 2.13–2.11 ppm range. No overlap with other typical constituents such as anethole or fenchone occurs. The detection limit of 0.3 mg/L is adequate to control the EU maximum limit. The relative standard deviation was 6%, and linearity was observed from 1 to 100 mg/L. Applicability was proven by analysis of 69 authentic Absinthes. The correlation between NMR and our previous method consisting of liquid-liquid extraction followed by GC/MS was significant (P
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long term stability of thujone fenchone and pinocamphone in vintage preban Absinthe
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2009Co-Authors: Dirk W. Lachenmeier, Theodore A. Breaux, David Nathanmaister, Thomas KuballaAbstract:Research was conducted to ascertain whether analyses of vintage Absinthe samples represent their original composition in the early 1900s. Absinthe stored in traditional green glass bottles and irradiated with ultraviolet light for up to 200 h exhibited unchanged composition. Samples stored in clear glass exhibited an 18% reduction in β-thujone content and a concurrent decoloration. These experiments indicate the stability of thujone in vintage Absinthes, as these were stored in green glass bottles. The preserved color of the preban Absinthes subjected to analysis indicates that no significant light exposure occurred throughout the duration of storage, and therefore provides indirect proof that no loss of terpenes occurred. The stability of Absinthe was further demonstrated through the reanalysis of samples from 2001−2005, which exhibited no changes in thujone content as of 2008. A previous evaluation of preban Absinthe was therefore valid and not confounded by significant thujone deterioration over time.
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chemical composition of vintage preban Absinthe with special reference to thujone fenchone pinocamphone methanol copper and antimony concentrations
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2008Co-Authors: Dirk W. Lachenmeier, Theodore A. Breaux, David Nathanmaister, Evamaria Sohnius, Kerstin Schoeberl, Thomas KuballaAbstract:Thirteen samples of authentic Absinthe dating from the preban era (i.e., prior to 1915) were analyzed for parameters that were hypothesized as contributing to the toxicity of the spirit, including naturally occurring herbal essences (thujone, pinocamphone, fenchone), methanol, higher alcohols, copper, and antimony. The total thujone content of preban Absinthe was found to range between 0.5 and 48.3 mg/L, with an average concentration of 25.4 ± 20.3 mg/L and a median concentration of 33.3 mg/L. The authors conclude that the thujone concentration of preban Absinthe was generally overestimated in the past. The analysis of postban (1915–1988) and modern commercial Absinthes (2003–2006) showed that the encompassed thujone ranges of all Absinthes are quite similar, disproving the supposition that a fundamental difference exists between preban and modern Absinthes manufactured according to historical recipes. Analyses of pinocamphone, fenchone, base spirits, copper, and antimony were inconspicuous. All things co...
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behaviour of thujone during distillation and possible concentration ranges in pre ban Absinthe
Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 2007Co-Authors: Dirk W. Lachenmeier, Thomas KuballaAbstract:A discrepancy in the magnitude of thujone concentrations in distilled pre-ban Absinthe has existed until now. Concentrations of 260 mg L−1 were derived at by theoretical calculations. Tests of authentic pre-ban Absinthes and studies concerning Absinthes produced according to historic recipes found concentrations below 10 mg L−1. In this study, the behaviour of thujone during distillation was studied and a significant discrimination was determined (80% yield in water-cum-steam distillation). The thujone concentrations in distilled pre-ban Absinthe were then calculated with regard to the composition of wormwood derived from a literature review. Due to the large deviations of oil content and thujone concentration of wormwood, a typical Absinthe Suisse de Pontarlier from Duplais' 1855 recipe might have contained between zero and a maximum of 76 mg L−1 of thujone, the average was calculated as 23 mg L−1 with a standard deviation of 21 mg L−1. It was proven that the previous calculations overestimated the thujone content of distilled Absinthe and the discrepancy was resolved as our new calculations are in good accord with the experimental findings. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Theodore A. Breaux - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Open Access Absinthe, Absinthism and Thujone – New Insight into the Spirit's Impact on Public Health
2016Co-Authors: Dirk W. Lachenmeier, Theodore A. Breaux, David Nathan-maister, J P Luaute, Joachim EmmertAbstract:Abstract: Absinthe, a strong alcoholic aperitif, is notorious for containing the compound ‘thujone’, which has been commonly regarded as its ‘active ingredient’. It has been widely theorized that the thujone content of vintage Absinthe made it harmful to public health, and caused the distinct syndrome absinthism, which was extensively described in the literature prior to the spirit’s ban in 1915. The interdisciplinary research presented in this paper shows that 1) absinthism cannot be distinguished from common alcoholism in the medical research literature of the time, and that 2) due to the physical chemistry of the distillation process, the thujone content of vintage Absinthe was considerably lower than previously estimated and corresponds to levels generally recognized as safe, as proven by analyses of Absinthes from the pre-ban era. Due to the re-legalization of Absinthe in the European Union and more recently in the United States, potential public health concerns have re-emerged, not expressly based on worries about thujone content or absinthism, but on alcohol-related harm and youth protection issues, exacerbated by marketing strategies promoting Absinthe using false and discredited claims pertaining to thujone and stubbornly persistant myths
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Absinthe, Absinthism and Thujone - New Insight into the Spirit's Impact on Public Health
The Open Addiction Journal, 2010Co-Authors: Dirk W. Lachenmeier, Theodore A. Breaux, David Nathan-maister, J P Luaute, Joachim EmmertAbstract:Absinthe, a strong alcoholic aperitif, is notorious for containing the compound 'thujone', which has been commonly regarded as its 'active ingredient'. It has been widely theorized that the thujone content of vintage Absinthe made it harmful to public health, and caused the distinct syndrome absinthism, which was extensively described in the literature prior to the spirit's ban in 1915. The interdisciplinary research presented in this paper shows that 1) absinthism cannot be distinguished from common alcoholism in the medical research literature of the time, and that 2) due to the physical chemistry of the distillation process, the thujone content of vintage Absinthe was considerably lower than previously estimated and corresponds to levels generally recognized as safe, as proven by analyses of Absinthes from the pre-ban era. Due to the re-legalization of Absinthe in the European Union and more recently in the United States, potential public health concerns have re-emerged, not expressly based on worries about thujone content or absinthism, but on alcohol-related harm and youth protection issues, exacerbated by marketing strategies promoting Absinthe using false and discredited claims pertaining to thujone and stubbornly persistant myths.
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long term stability of thujone fenchone and pinocamphone in vintage preban Absinthe
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2009Co-Authors: Dirk W. Lachenmeier, Theodore A. Breaux, David Nathanmaister, Thomas KuballaAbstract:Research was conducted to ascertain whether analyses of vintage Absinthe samples represent their original composition in the early 1900s. Absinthe stored in traditional green glass bottles and irradiated with ultraviolet light for up to 200 h exhibited unchanged composition. Samples stored in clear glass exhibited an 18% reduction in β-thujone content and a concurrent decoloration. These experiments indicate the stability of thujone in vintage Absinthes, as these were stored in green glass bottles. The preserved color of the preban Absinthes subjected to analysis indicates that no significant light exposure occurred throughout the duration of storage, and therefore provides indirect proof that no loss of terpenes occurred. The stability of Absinthe was further demonstrated through the reanalysis of samples from 2001−2005, which exhibited no changes in thujone content as of 2008. A previous evaluation of preban Absinthe was therefore valid and not confounded by significant thujone deterioration over time.
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chemical composition of vintage preban Absinthe with special reference to thujone fenchone pinocamphone methanol copper and antimony concentrations
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2008Co-Authors: Dirk W. Lachenmeier, Theodore A. Breaux, David Nathanmaister, Evamaria Sohnius, Kerstin Schoeberl, Thomas KuballaAbstract:Thirteen samples of authentic Absinthe dating from the preban era (i.e., prior to 1915) were analyzed for parameters that were hypothesized as contributing to the toxicity of the spirit, including naturally occurring herbal essences (thujone, pinocamphone, fenchone), methanol, higher alcohols, copper, and antimony. The total thujone content of preban Absinthe was found to range between 0.5 and 48.3 mg/L, with an average concentration of 25.4 ± 20.3 mg/L and a median concentration of 33.3 mg/L. The authors conclude that the thujone concentration of preban Absinthe was generally overestimated in the past. The analysis of postban (1915–1988) and modern commercial Absinthes (2003–2006) showed that the encompassed thujone ranges of all Absinthes are quite similar, disproving the supposition that a fundamental difference exists between preban and modern Absinthes manufactured according to historical recipes. Analyses of pinocamphone, fenchone, base spirits, copper, and antimony were inconspicuous. All things co...
Joachim Emmert - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Open Access Absinthe, Absinthism and Thujone – New Insight into the Spirit's Impact on Public Health
2016Co-Authors: Dirk W. Lachenmeier, Theodore A. Breaux, David Nathan-maister, J P Luaute, Joachim EmmertAbstract:Abstract: Absinthe, a strong alcoholic aperitif, is notorious for containing the compound ‘thujone’, which has been commonly regarded as its ‘active ingredient’. It has been widely theorized that the thujone content of vintage Absinthe made it harmful to public health, and caused the distinct syndrome absinthism, which was extensively described in the literature prior to the spirit’s ban in 1915. The interdisciplinary research presented in this paper shows that 1) absinthism cannot be distinguished from common alcoholism in the medical research literature of the time, and that 2) due to the physical chemistry of the distillation process, the thujone content of vintage Absinthe was considerably lower than previously estimated and corresponds to levels generally recognized as safe, as proven by analyses of Absinthes from the pre-ban era. Due to the re-legalization of Absinthe in the European Union and more recently in the United States, potential public health concerns have re-emerged, not expressly based on worries about thujone content or absinthism, but on alcohol-related harm and youth protection issues, exacerbated by marketing strategies promoting Absinthe using false and discredited claims pertaining to thujone and stubbornly persistant myths
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Absinthe, Absinthism and Thujone - New Insight into the Spirit's Impact on Public Health
The Open Addiction Journal, 2010Co-Authors: Dirk W. Lachenmeier, Theodore A. Breaux, David Nathan-maister, J P Luaute, Joachim EmmertAbstract:Absinthe, a strong alcoholic aperitif, is notorious for containing the compound 'thujone', which has been commonly regarded as its 'active ingredient'. It has been widely theorized that the thujone content of vintage Absinthe made it harmful to public health, and caused the distinct syndrome absinthism, which was extensively described in the literature prior to the spirit's ban in 1915. The interdisciplinary research presented in this paper shows that 1) absinthism cannot be distinguished from common alcoholism in the medical research literature of the time, and that 2) due to the physical chemistry of the distillation process, the thujone content of vintage Absinthe was considerably lower than previously estimated and corresponds to levels generally recognized as safe, as proven by analyses of Absinthes from the pre-ban era. Due to the re-legalization of Absinthe in the European Union and more recently in the United States, potential public health concerns have re-emerged, not expressly based on worries about thujone content or absinthism, but on alcohol-related harm and youth protection issues, exacerbated by marketing strategies promoting Absinthe using false and discredited claims pertaining to thujone and stubbornly persistant myths.
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Thujone¿Cause of absinthism?
Forensic Science International, 2006Co-Authors: Dirk W. Lachenmeier, Joachim Emmert, Thomas Kuballa, Gunter SartorAbstract:Habitual abuse of the wormwood spirit Absinthe was described in the 19th and 20th centuries as a cause for the mental disorder ‘‘absinthism’’ including the symptoms hallucinations, sleeplessness and convulsions. A controversial discussion is going on if thujone, a characteristic component of the essential oil of the wormwood plant Artemisia absinthium L., is responsible for absinthism, or if it was merely caused by chronic alcohol intoxication or by other reasons such as food adulterations. To ascertain if thujone may have caused absinthism, Absinthes were produced according to historic recipes of the 19th century. Commercial wormwood herbs of two different manufacturers, as well as self-cultivated ones, were used in a concentration of 6 kg/100 l spirit. In addition, an authentic vintage Pernod Absinthe from Tarragona (1930), and two Absinthes from traditional small distilleries of the Swiss Val-de-Travers were evaluated. A GC–MS procedure was applied for the analysis of a- and b-thujone with cyclodecanone as internal standard. The method was shown to be sensitive with a LOD of 0.08 mg/l. The precision was between 1.6 and 2.3%, linearity was obtained from 0.1 to 40 mg/l (r = 1.000). After the recent annulment of the Absinthe prohibition all analysed products showed a thujone concentration below the maximum limit of 35 mg/l, including the Absinthes produced according to historic recipes, which did not contain any detectable or only relatively low concentrations of thujone (mean: 1.3 1.6 mg/l, range: 0–4.3 mg/l). Interestingly, the vintage Absinthe also showed a relatively low thujone concentration of 1.8 mg/l. The Val-de-Travers Absinthes contained 9.4 and 1.7 mg/l of thujone. In conclusion, thujone concentrations as high as 260 mg/l, reported in the 19th century, cannot be confirmed by our study. With regard to their thujone concentrations, the hallucinogenic potential of vintage Absinthes can be assessed being rather low because the historic products also comply with today’s maximum limits derived to exclude such effects. It may be deduced that thujone plays none, or only a minor role in the clinical picture of absinthism. # 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
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thujone cause of absinthism
Forensic Science International, 2006Co-Authors: Dirk W. Lachenmeier, Joachim Emmert, Thomas Kuballa, Gunter SartorAbstract:Habitual abuse of the wormwood spirit Absinthe was described in the 19th and 20th centuries as a cause for the mental disorder ‘‘absinthism’’ including the symptoms hallucinations, sleeplessness and convulsions. A controversial discussion is going on if thujone, a characteristic component of the essential oil of the wormwood plant Artemisia absinthium L., is responsible for absinthism, or if it was merely caused by chronic alcohol intoxication or by other reasons such as food adulterations. To ascertain if thujone may have caused absinthism, Absinthes were produced according to historic recipes of the 19th century. Commercial wormwood herbs of two different manufacturers, as well as self-cultivated ones, were used in a concentration of 6 kg/100 l spirit. In addition, an authentic vintage Pernod Absinthe from Tarragona (1930), and two Absinthes from traditional small distilleries of the Swiss Val-de-Travers were evaluated. A GC–MS procedure was applied for the analysis of a- and b-thujone with cyclodecanone as internal standard. The method was shown to be sensitive with a LOD of 0.08 mg/l. The precision was between 1.6 and 2.3%, linearity was obtained from 0.1 to 40 mg/l (r = 1.000). After the recent annulment of the Absinthe prohibition all analysed products showed a thujone concentration below the maximum limit of 35 mg/l, including the Absinthes produced according to historic recipes, which did not contain any detectable or only relatively low concentrations of thujone (mean: 1.3 1.6 mg/l, range: 0–4.3 mg/l). Interestingly, the vintage Absinthe also showed a relatively low thujone concentration of 1.8 mg/l. The Val-de-Travers Absinthes contained 9.4 and 1.7 mg/l of thujone. In conclusion, thujone concentrations as high as 260 mg/l, reported in the 19th century, cannot be confirmed by our study. With regard to their thujone concentrations, the hallucinogenic potential of vintage Absinthes can be assessed being rather low because the historic products also comply with today’s maximum limits derived to exclude such effects. It may be deduced that thujone plays none, or only a minor role in the clinical picture of absinthism. # 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
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determination of α β thujone and related terpenes in Absinthe using solid phase extraction and gas chromatography
Deutsche Lebensmittel-rundschau, 2004Co-Authors: Joachim Emmert, Gunter Sartor, Frank Sporer, Joachim GummersbachAbstract:Summary A solid-phase extraction method (SPE) is proposed as a novel sample preparation method for the simultaneous determination of α-, β-thujone, and anethole in Absinthe. It is followed by capillary gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionisation detection (FID) or mass spectrometry (MS) for final quantitation of the terpenes. Anethole was quantitated with external standard calibration, whereas α-thujone was evaluated by standard addition and finally confirmed by MS. In many samples a terpene with almost identical retention time in GC interfered with α-thujone, which was revealed in MS as linalool (M = 154.2). This compound was also found in extract of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.) and is very likely responsible for formerly reported high values of thujone in Absinthe. The use of MS for quantitation or at least for identification of the compounds is therefore highly recommended. Zusammenfassung Eine Festphasen-Extraktion wird als neue Probenvorbereitungs-Methode zur simultanen Bestimmung von α-, β-Thujon, und Anethol in Absinth vorgeschlagen. Zur quantitativen Bestimmung der Terpene wird danach eine gaschromatographische Trennung (GC) durchgefuhrt mit anschliessender Detektion entweder mit Flammenionisationsdetektor (FID) oder Massenspektrometer (MS). Die Quantifizierung des Anethols erfolgt uber Externe Standard Kalibrierung, die von α-Thujon mittels Standard-Addition. In vielen Proben wurde ein Terpen beobachtet, das nahezu die gleiche Retentionszeit wie α-Thujon hatte und dessen Bestimmung storte. Es wurde im MS schlieslich als Linalool identifiziert (M = 154,2). Dieses Terpen wurde auch im Extrakt von Wermutkraut (Artemisia absinthium L.) gefunden und ist sehr wahrscheinlich die Ursache fur die fruher berichteten hohen Thujonwerte in Absinth. Es wird daher empfohlen zur Quantifizierung oder zumindest Identifizierung der Inhaltsstoffe unbedingt ein MS einzusetzen.
Gunter Sartor - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Thujone¿Cause of absinthism?
Forensic Science International, 2006Co-Authors: Dirk W. Lachenmeier, Joachim Emmert, Thomas Kuballa, Gunter SartorAbstract:Habitual abuse of the wormwood spirit Absinthe was described in the 19th and 20th centuries as a cause for the mental disorder ‘‘absinthism’’ including the symptoms hallucinations, sleeplessness and convulsions. A controversial discussion is going on if thujone, a characteristic component of the essential oil of the wormwood plant Artemisia absinthium L., is responsible for absinthism, or if it was merely caused by chronic alcohol intoxication or by other reasons such as food adulterations. To ascertain if thujone may have caused absinthism, Absinthes were produced according to historic recipes of the 19th century. Commercial wormwood herbs of two different manufacturers, as well as self-cultivated ones, were used in a concentration of 6 kg/100 l spirit. In addition, an authentic vintage Pernod Absinthe from Tarragona (1930), and two Absinthes from traditional small distilleries of the Swiss Val-de-Travers were evaluated. A GC–MS procedure was applied for the analysis of a- and b-thujone with cyclodecanone as internal standard. The method was shown to be sensitive with a LOD of 0.08 mg/l. The precision was between 1.6 and 2.3%, linearity was obtained from 0.1 to 40 mg/l (r = 1.000). After the recent annulment of the Absinthe prohibition all analysed products showed a thujone concentration below the maximum limit of 35 mg/l, including the Absinthes produced according to historic recipes, which did not contain any detectable or only relatively low concentrations of thujone (mean: 1.3 1.6 mg/l, range: 0–4.3 mg/l). Interestingly, the vintage Absinthe also showed a relatively low thujone concentration of 1.8 mg/l. The Val-de-Travers Absinthes contained 9.4 and 1.7 mg/l of thujone. In conclusion, thujone concentrations as high as 260 mg/l, reported in the 19th century, cannot be confirmed by our study. With regard to their thujone concentrations, the hallucinogenic potential of vintage Absinthes can be assessed being rather low because the historic products also comply with today’s maximum limits derived to exclude such effects. It may be deduced that thujone plays none, or only a minor role in the clinical picture of absinthism. # 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
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thujone cause of absinthism
Forensic Science International, 2006Co-Authors: Dirk W. Lachenmeier, Joachim Emmert, Thomas Kuballa, Gunter SartorAbstract:Habitual abuse of the wormwood spirit Absinthe was described in the 19th and 20th centuries as a cause for the mental disorder ‘‘absinthism’’ including the symptoms hallucinations, sleeplessness and convulsions. A controversial discussion is going on if thujone, a characteristic component of the essential oil of the wormwood plant Artemisia absinthium L., is responsible for absinthism, or if it was merely caused by chronic alcohol intoxication or by other reasons such as food adulterations. To ascertain if thujone may have caused absinthism, Absinthes were produced according to historic recipes of the 19th century. Commercial wormwood herbs of two different manufacturers, as well as self-cultivated ones, were used in a concentration of 6 kg/100 l spirit. In addition, an authentic vintage Pernod Absinthe from Tarragona (1930), and two Absinthes from traditional small distilleries of the Swiss Val-de-Travers were evaluated. A GC–MS procedure was applied for the analysis of a- and b-thujone with cyclodecanone as internal standard. The method was shown to be sensitive with a LOD of 0.08 mg/l. The precision was between 1.6 and 2.3%, linearity was obtained from 0.1 to 40 mg/l (r = 1.000). After the recent annulment of the Absinthe prohibition all analysed products showed a thujone concentration below the maximum limit of 35 mg/l, including the Absinthes produced according to historic recipes, which did not contain any detectable or only relatively low concentrations of thujone (mean: 1.3 1.6 mg/l, range: 0–4.3 mg/l). Interestingly, the vintage Absinthe also showed a relatively low thujone concentration of 1.8 mg/l. The Val-de-Travers Absinthes contained 9.4 and 1.7 mg/l of thujone. In conclusion, thujone concentrations as high as 260 mg/l, reported in the 19th century, cannot be confirmed by our study. With regard to their thujone concentrations, the hallucinogenic potential of vintage Absinthes can be assessed being rather low because the historic products also comply with today’s maximum limits derived to exclude such effects. It may be deduced that thujone plays none, or only a minor role in the clinical picture of absinthism. # 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
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determination of α β thujone and related terpenes in Absinthe using solid phase extraction and gas chromatography
Deutsche Lebensmittel-rundschau, 2004Co-Authors: Joachim Emmert, Gunter Sartor, Frank Sporer, Joachim GummersbachAbstract:Summary A solid-phase extraction method (SPE) is proposed as a novel sample preparation method for the simultaneous determination of α-, β-thujone, and anethole in Absinthe. It is followed by capillary gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionisation detection (FID) or mass spectrometry (MS) for final quantitation of the terpenes. Anethole was quantitated with external standard calibration, whereas α-thujone was evaluated by standard addition and finally confirmed by MS. In many samples a terpene with almost identical retention time in GC interfered with α-thujone, which was revealed in MS as linalool (M = 154.2). This compound was also found in extract of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.) and is very likely responsible for formerly reported high values of thujone in Absinthe. The use of MS for quantitation or at least for identification of the compounds is therefore highly recommended. Zusammenfassung Eine Festphasen-Extraktion wird als neue Probenvorbereitungs-Methode zur simultanen Bestimmung von α-, β-Thujon, und Anethol in Absinth vorgeschlagen. Zur quantitativen Bestimmung der Terpene wird danach eine gaschromatographische Trennung (GC) durchgefuhrt mit anschliessender Detektion entweder mit Flammenionisationsdetektor (FID) oder Massenspektrometer (MS). Die Quantifizierung des Anethols erfolgt uber Externe Standard Kalibrierung, die von α-Thujon mittels Standard-Addition. In vielen Proben wurde ein Terpen beobachtet, das nahezu die gleiche Retentionszeit wie α-Thujon hatte und dessen Bestimmung storte. Es wurde im MS schlieslich als Linalool identifiziert (M = 154,2). Dieses Terpen wurde auch im Extrakt von Wermutkraut (Artemisia absinthium L.) gefunden und ist sehr wahrscheinlich die Ursache fur die fruher berichteten hohen Thujonwerte in Absinth. Es wird daher empfohlen zur Quantifizierung oder zumindest Identifizierung der Inhaltsstoffe unbedingt ein MS einzusetzen.