Belladonna
What were the circumstances under which scopolamine was identified by chemistry?
Scopolamine is named after the naturalist Giovani Antonio Scopoli (1723-88), an Italian physician and naturalist. Scopoli spent his free time in the Alps, collecting plants and insects. The genus Scopolia, which includes four species of flowering plants of the Solanaceae familiy, is named after him. Scopolamine is a tropane alkaloid isolated from members of the Solanaceae family of plants, similar to atropine and hyoscyamine, all of which structurally mimic the natural neurotransmitter acetylcholine. It was first synthesized in 1959, but to date, synthesis remains less efficient than extracting scopolamine from plants.
The exact mechanism of action of scopolamine remains poorly understood. Scopolamine is an anticholinergic with various dose-dependent therapeutic and adverse effects. The chemistry of scopolamine involves the determination of its metabolites in rat urine by combining liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) At least 8 metabolites, including norscopine, scopine, tropic acid, aponorscopolamine, aposcopolamine, norscopolamine, hydroxyscopolamine, and hydroxyscopolamine N-oxide, and the parent drug exist in feces after administering scopolamine to healthy rats. A few useful definitions:
Scopolamine: A tropane alkaloid with anticholinergic effects, used for the treatment of nausea and vomiting associated with motion sickness;
Tropane alkaloids: A class of alkaloids that include scopolamine, atropine, and hyoscyamine, which structurally mimic the natural neurotransmitter acetylcholine;
Solanaceae family: A family of plants that include species from which scopolamine can be isolated, such as belladonna;
Acetylcholine: A natural neurotransmitter with which scopolamine and other tropane alkaloids chemically interact;
M1-M5 mAChRs: Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors that scopolamine acts as a non-selective competitive inhibitor of, albeit with weaker M5 inhibition;
LC-MS/MS: A method used to determine the metabolites of scopolamine in rat urine, which involves combining liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry;
...does it have potential for abuse or mis-use?
Scopolamine is in nightshade, related to Scopoliae, while the related variety hyoscine, or black henbane, is also known by colloqual names, including "Devil's Breath." The drug has been used, and misused, for various purposes, including as an antimuscarinic deliriant, antiemetic, and amnestic, and is available under several brand names, such as Transderm Scop, Scopace, and Maldemar. A few relevant varieties:
Scopolamine: A prescription drug used to prevent nausea and vomiting, with its name originating from the Scopolia nightshade plant[1].
Hyoscine: Another name for scopolamine, derived from the Hyoscyamus niger, or black henbane, nightshade plant[1].
Devil's Breath: A common name for scopolamine, due to its potent effects and history of use in spiritual rituals and as a recreational drug[2].
...is scopolamine the legendary truth serum?
Scopolamine, also known as hyoscine, or Devil's Breath, has a long history of being used as a truth serum. The concept of a truth serum originated in the early 20th century, with scopolamine being one of the first drugs used for this purpose In 1916, Texas obstetrician Robert House noticed that scopolamine could induce a state of "twilight sleep" in patients, making them more candid and prone to answering questions truthfully. However, subsequent experiments showed that while subjects did become more talkative under the influence of scopolamine, there was no evidence that they were more truthful.
The use of scopolamine as a truth serum gained popularity in the 1920s, with House touring America's jailhouses and police departments to demonstrate its effectiveness However, its use was later rejected in a court case in 1926, with Judge Robert Walker Franklin questioning its scientific origin and uncertain effect The CIA also experimented with scopolamine, along with other substances like LSD and marijuana, as part of their Project MKUltra Despite its potential, scopolamine's effectiveness as a truth serum is highly suspect, and its use has been widely criticized as a form of torture.
In terms of its effectiveness, scopolamine has been shown to depress the central nervous system and interfere with judgment and higher cognitive function, making subjects more prone to suggestion and fabrication The drug's ability to induce a state of "twilight sleep" can also lead to false confessions and inaccurate information As a result, the use of scopolamine and other truth serums has been largely discredited, and they are no longer accepted as a reliable means of obtaining truthful information.
Some notable examples of scopolamine's use as a truth serum include its administration to prisoners in the Dallas County jail in the 1920s, and its use by the CIA in their Project MKUltra experiments However, these experiments have been widely criticized for their lack of scientific rigor and their potential for abuse Today, scopolamine is primarily used as a medication to treat motion sickness and postoperative nausea and vomiting, and its use as a truth serum is largely seen as a relic of the past. Some relevant taxonomy:
Scopolamine: A natural or synthetically produced tropane alkaloid and anticholinergic drug used as a medication to treat motion sickness and postoperative nausea and vomiting, and formerly used as a truth serum[1][5].
Robert House: A Texas obstetrician who first noticed the potential of scopolamine as a truth serum in 1916[3][5].
Project MKUltra: A CIA experiment that involved the use of scopolamine, LSD, and other substances as truth serums[6][7].
LSD: A hallucinogenic drug that was also experimented with as a truth serum[6][7].
Marijuana: A substance that was used by the CIA in their Project MKUltra experiments as a potential truth serum[6].
...so, it is the stuff of fictional detective novels because any testimony under influence is suspect.
The concept of a truth serum is often romanticized in fiction, but in reality, any testimony obtained under the influence of a substance like scopolamine is highly suspect and unreliable[1]. The use of truth serums raises significant ethical concerns, as it can be used to coerce or manipulate individuals into providing false confessions or information[2]. In the context of law enforcement and criminal justice, the use of truth serums is generally not admissible as evidence in court, as it is considered to be a form of coercion and can lead to false confessions[3]. The Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution protects individuals from being forced to incriminate themselves, and the use of truth serums can be seen as a violation of this right[4]. Furthermore, the effects of scopolamine and other truth serums can be unpredictable and can vary greatly from person to person[5]. Some individuals may become more talkative and suggestive under the influence of the drug, while others may become more resistant to questioning or even experiencing adverse reactions[6]. In addition, the use of truth serums can also be used as a form of torture or psychological manipulation, which is a violation of human rights and international law[7]. The use of such methods can lead to false confessions, miscarriages of justice, and can undermine the integrity of the criminal justice system as a whole[8]. In reality, the most effective way to obtain reliable and truthful information is through thorough and professional investigative techniques, such as interviews, interrogations, and forensic analysis[9]. These methods are based on evidence-based practices and are designed to respect the rights and dignity of individuals, while also ensuring that justice is served[10]. A few terms bearing on the topic:
Truth serums: Substances like scopolamine that are used to attempt to extract truthful information from individuals, but are highly suspect and unreliable[1].
Coercion: The use of force, threats, or other forms of pressure to obtain information or confessions from individuals, which is a violation of human rights and international law[7].
Fifth Amendment: A provision of the US Constitution that protects individuals from being forced to incriminate themselves, and which prohibits the use of coercive methods to obtain confessions[4].
Investigative techniques: Methods used by law enforcement and criminal justice professionals to gather evidence and obtain truthful information, such as interviews, interrogations, and forensic analysis[9].
Evidence-based practices: Methods and techniques that are based on scientific research and evidence, and which are designed to respect the rights and dignity of individuals while ensuring that justice is served[10].
...is scopolamine a controlled substance?
Scopolamine is not a controlled substance, which means it is not listed on any of the controlled substance schedules. However, it can still cause legal problems if used improperly or without a prescription The drug is used to treat motion sickness and postoperative nausea and vomiting, and it is available in various forms, including transdermal patches While scopolamine is not a controlled substance, its use can lead to physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms, and high doses or improper use can cause severe side effects, including anticholinergic toxicity.
...it is relevant to my question because a recent news story reports a woman allegedly dosing a man's drink at a casino then robbing him in his room in his delirious state.
Scopolamine is a drug known to be used in drug-facilitated crimes, including robberies and sexual assaults The use of scopolamine in such crimes has been reported for many decades, with its effects including anterograde amnesia, hallucinations, and submissive behavior In one study, only 1 out of 292 cases of suspected drug-facilitated crimes involved scopolamine, with a concentration of 128 ng/mL found in the urine of a 34-year-old man. A few circumstances bearing on the point:
Scopolamine: A tropane alkaloid used in drug-facilitated crimes, causing anterograde amnesia, hallucinations, and submissive behavior;
Burundanga: A drink of Afro-American origin, composed chiefly of scopolamine extracted from Solanaceae-family plants, used in drug-facilitated crimes;
Drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA): A type of crime where the perpetrator uses drugs to impair the victim's behavior, decision-making, or mental or physical capabilities;
Toxicological analysis: A method used to detect and quantify the presence of drugs, including scopolamine, in biological samples such as blood, urine, and hair;
The detection of scopolamine in biological samples can be challenging due to its rapid metabolism and high potency. However, segmental hair analysis has been shown to be a useful method for detecting scopolamine in drug-facilitated crimes, with one case report finding a concentration of 0.37 pg/mg in a hair sample collected five weeks after the incident. In terms of statistics, the available data suggests that scopolamine is not commonly used in drug-facilitated crimes, with only a few reported cases However, the true extent of scopolamine use in such crimes may be under-reported due to the difficulties in detecting the drug in biological samples.