A monoclonal antibody to scopolamine and its use for competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

A hybridoma clone producing a monoclonal antibody (SC78.H81) against scopolamine was established. The monoclonal antibody was an IgG1 (k) antibody with high affinity (1.6 x 10(9) M-1 for methylscopolamine). The monoclonal antibody was cross-reactive with methylscopolamine and butylscopolamine, and showed weak cross-reactivity with 6 beta- and 7 beta-hydroxyhyoscyamine. The cross-reaction with L-hyoscyamine, atropine, scopine and DL-tropic acid was very weak. A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using SC78.H81 was established to quantify scopolamine. The sensitivity of the assay allowed detection of 20 pg assay-1 (0.2 ng ml-1) of scopolamine. The assay was applied to the estimation of scopolamine content in hairy root cultures of a Duboisia hybrid.