Determination of 5-OH-DMT (bufotenine) in the Asian toad Duttyphrynus melanostictus, Hoplobatrachus tigerinus and Haemopis sanguisiga in Madagascar by UHPLC-MS/MS.
Christina Ververi, Elisah Rasoanomenjanahary Nahavitatsara, Brigitte Annie Bezandry, Vonimanitra Juliana Rasoma Rahantavololona, Cristina Giacoma, Alberto Salomone
Environmental toxicology and pharmacology April 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2025.104672 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractBufotenine, a psychoactive compound, was detected in the skin of the invasive toad Duttaphrynus melanostictus in Toamasina, Madagascar, and in its predators, the tiger frog Hoplobatrachus tigerinus and the leech Haemopis sanguisiga. Concentrations increased with the toad's developmental stage; eggs contained no detectable bufotenine, while tadpoles and adult skin did. A simple liquid-liquid extraction and UHPLC-MS/MS method reliably quantified the compound across a 10–1000 ng/mL range.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Quantitative observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Duttaphrynus melanostictus (eggs, tadpoles, skin), Hoplobatrachus tigerinus, and Haemopis sanguisiga from Toamasina, Madagascar |
| Keywords | Toxicology Wildlife-biology Chemical-ecology Psychoactive-compounds 5-Oh-DMT |
| Key finding | Bufotenine was detected in all samples except Duttaphrynus melanostictus eggs, with concentrations increasing as the toad developed. |
Abstract
5-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-OH-DMT), known as bufotenine, is proven to have psychoactive effects in high concentrations. Duttyphrynus melanostictus, which produces bufotenine, has migrated to the city of Toamasina in Madagascar, thus, the determination bufotenine's levels in the species' samples is necessary. This study aimed to quantify bufotenine in eggs, tadpoles and toad's skin samples of the Duttyphrynus melanostictus as well as in its predator Hoplobatrachus tigerinus and Haemopis sanguisiga. Two extraction protocols were applied depending on the sample type both based on liquid liquid extraction. Spiked calibration samples were prepared at six concentration levels (10-1000 ng/mL), and performance parameters were evaluated: linearity, accuracy (bias%), precision (CV%) and limit of detection. The proposed protocol is simple and quick, and the UHPLC-MS/MS system used exhibited adequate sensitivity. The target analyte was detected in all samples except for the eggs of Duttyphrynus melanostictus, with concentrations increasing in line with the animal's development.