GC MS COMPARISON OF THE WEST-INDIAN APHRODISIAC LOVE STONE TO THE CHINESE MEDICATION CHAN-SU - BUFOTENINE AND RELATED BUFADIENOLIDES/

The death of a 23-year-old man resulting from digoxin-like toxicity an d heart failure was attributed to ingestion of a West Indian aphrodisi ac known as ''Love Stone.'' GC/MS analyses identified bufotenine, a co ntrolled substance under both US and New York State statutes. In addit ion, a series of bufadienolides, namely resibufogenin, bufalin, and ci nobufagin, were also identified. Bufadienolides, which are derived fro m toad venom or secretions, are cardiotonic steroids that cause sympto ms similar to digoxin. GC/MS analyses of the Chinese medication ''Chan Su,'' a product derived from toads, produced a highly similar elution profile and contained the same compounds as ''Love Stone.'' The data demonstrate that the aphrodisiac was also derived from toads.