Journal of Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology

  Phenol or carbolic acid has been used in households since time immemorial. It has also been used extensively for medicinal purposes since Lister first published his paper titled ‘On the Antiseptic Principle in the Practice of Surgery’. With time, the side effects of using phenol have also been noticed, resulting in decreased medicinal use of phenol. However, continued household use of phenol and its derivatives makes it one of the most common cause of medico- legal presentation in casualty. This paper has been written with the aim of highlighting the presentation and management with focus on analytical aspects of phenol poisoning. 

Keywords: Phenol; Poisoning; Analysis; Management.

  Antidepressants are class of drugs that reduce symptoms of depressive disorders by correctly chemical imbalances of neurotransmitters in the brain. These imbalances may be responsible for changes in mood and behaviour of an individual. In forensic autopsy case, the forensic pathologist may require a complete toxicological investigation for different poisons including Anti-depressents. In India, Forensic Science Laboratories run by Government under the Home ministry usually carry out this The samples have to be analyzed by the forensic Toxicologist/Chemists/ Scientist. This article deals with the screening/spot test for antidepressants in a step-wise manner, which can be of handy reference for the forensic toxicologist.This article is in continuation of toxicology manual series-XVIII, screening/spot test of aphrodisiacs (sex drugs), International Journal of Medical Toxicology & Legal Medicine,Vol.14, No.3 Jan-March 2012.

Keywords: Antidepressants; Screening; Colour; Spot Test etc.

Detection and identification of diluents in common drugs samples is frequent and challenging task for forensic chemists. Appearance of new drugs or combination of new drugs and misuse/ abuse of drugs, used for medical purposes, not only has substantial and detrimental effect on the health and welfare of the people and also generates several serious sociological problems. The present work describes the detection and identification of uncommon diluent’s Chlorophenraminemaleate in narcotic materials by chemical colour tests, thin layer chromatographic and U. V. spectroscopy.

Keywords: Chlorophenraminemaleate; CPM; TLC; U.V.

  Pesticides are frequently encountered in forensic toxicology division of FSLs. Due to pendency of medico-legal cases; biological samples are often stored for some time from the time of collection before analyses. The role of temperature and putrefaction that may inevitably interfere with analyses results is often ignored in such cases. In our preliminary study, we have tried to produce evidence for difference in thin layer chromatography results of two insecticides- carbofuran and carbaryl as a direct consequence of changes in preservation methods of samples. This subject must further be explored taking into consideration factors like temperature, humidity, time duration, etc. so as to support research on better preservation methodology of forensic samples.

 Keywords: Carbofuran; Carbaryl; Chromatography; Putrefaction; Forensic Science Laboratories (FSLs).

 Triazophos is considered as Organophosphorous poison. Although several instrumental methods like UV-VIS, GC, and HPLC are available for separation and identification of Triazophos, but cost of analysis is very high. Therefore a simple, cheap, rapid and reliable Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) method for separation of Triazophos has been presented. Triazophos was first extracted from blood and then identified on TLC plates by using various solvent systems. The detection of spots on the developed TLC plates was performed by using Bromophenol Blue followed by 4% Acetic acid as the spraying reagents. There were 9 different solvent systems with different volumetric ratios used in separation and identification of Triazophos.

Keywords: Triazophos; Organophosphorous; Solvent Systems; TLC; Rf ; Spraying Reagents.

  Law always need the help of medical expert in one way or other for justice as it has no such expertise. Sometimes, the doctor is the only material witness available. So, the court calls a doctor for help whenever it feels necessary. To attend a court is not less than a great ordeal for a doctor, as he is not well verse with the functioning of the court. This article is to introduce doctors to the court procedure so that he does not feel estrange whenever he had to face it.

Keyword: Summons; Medical Expert; Legal System; Court; Evidence; Witness; Conduct Money; Hostile Witness.

  Jatropha curcas is a multipurpose plant with many attributes and considerable potential. It is a tropical plant that can be grown in low or high rainfall areas and can be used to reclaim land, as a hedge or as a commercial crop. Now days the cases of Jatropha poisoning are rare, but due to its high toxic value in the presence of toxins like phorbol esters, the case studies in homicidal, suicidal or accidental cases become significant. For identification of Jatropha curcas constituents, an attempt has been made in the present study to identify phytochemicals, amino acid, saponins, phyto sterols, glycosides, anthraquinones, flavonoids and tanins. These were examined by various chemical colour tests and phorbol ester was examined by thin layer chromatography.
The extracted oil from the leaves and seed part was studied along with standard oil using two different solvents and their Rf values were also studied. For visualization of the spots, the plates were sprayed with sulphuric acid to develop coloured spots, which were then studied by UV in the range of 254-365 nm. 

Keywords: Forensic; Pharmacognostic Study; Phyto-Chemicals; TLC; Phorbol Ester.