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Malaca S, Lo Faro AF, Tamborra A, Pichini S, Busardò FP, Huestis MA. Toxicology and Analysis of Psychoactive Tryptamines. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E9279. [PMID: 33291798 PMCID: PMC7730282 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21239279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Our understanding of tryptamines is poor due to the lack of data globally. Tryptamines currently are not part of typical toxicology testing regimens and their contribution to drug overdoses may be underestimated. Although their prevalence was low, it is increasing. There are few published data on the many new compounds, their mechanisms of action, onset and duration of action, toxicity, signs and symptoms of intoxication and analytical methods to identify tryptamines and their metabolites. We review the published literature and worldwide databases to describe the newest tryptamines, their toxicology, chemical structures and reported overdose cases. Tryptamines are 5-HT2A receptor agonists that produce altered perceptions of reality. Currently, the most prevalent tryptamines are 5-methoxy-N,N-diisopropyltryptamine (5-MeO-DiPT), 5-methoxy-N,N- diallyltryptamine (5-MeO-DALT) and dimethyltryptamine (DMT). From 2015 to 2020, 22 new analytical methods were developed to identify/quantify tryptamines and metabolites in biological samples, primarily by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The morbidity accompanying tryptamine intake is considerable and it is critical for clinicians and laboratorians to be informed of the latest data on this public health threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Malaca
- Department of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, University “Politecnica delle Marche” of Ancona, Via Tronto 10, 60126 Ancona, Italy; (S.M.); (A.F.L.F.); (A.T.)
| | - Alfredo Fabrizio Lo Faro
- Department of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, University “Politecnica delle Marche” of Ancona, Via Tronto 10, 60126 Ancona, Italy; (S.M.); (A.F.L.F.); (A.T.)
| | - Alice Tamborra
- Department of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, University “Politecnica delle Marche” of Ancona, Via Tronto 10, 60126 Ancona, Italy; (S.M.); (A.F.L.F.); (A.T.)
| | - Simona Pichini
- National Centre on Addiction and Doping, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, V.Le Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Francesco Paolo Busardò
- Department of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, University “Politecnica delle Marche” of Ancona, Via Tronto 10, 60126 Ancona, Italy; (S.M.); (A.F.L.F.); (A.T.)
| | - Marilyn A. Huestis
- Institute of Emerging Health Professions, Thomas Jefferson University, 1020 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19144, USA;
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Jones NS, Comparin JH. Interpol review of controlled substances 2016-2019. Forensic Sci Int Synerg 2020; 2:608-669. [PMID: 33385148 PMCID: PMC7770462 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsisyn.2020.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
This review paper covers the forensic-relevant literature in controlled substances from 2016 to 2019 as a part of the 19th Interpol International Forensic Science Managers Symposium. The review papers are also available at the Interpol website at: https://www.interpol.int/content/download/14458/file/Interpol%20Review%20Papers%202019.pdf.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole S. Jones
- RTI International, Applied Justice Research Division, Center for Forensic Sciences, 3040 E. Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC, 22709-2194, USA
| | - Jeffrey H. Comparin
- United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Special Testing and Research Laboratory, USA
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Shirley Lee HZ, Koh HB, Tan S, Goh BJ, Lim R, Lim JLW, Angeline Yap TW. Identification of closely related new psychoactive substances (NPS) using solid deposition gas-chromatography infra-red detection (GC–IRD) spectroscopy. Forensic Sci Int 2019; 299:21-33. [PMID: 30954004 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Revised: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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Study of the in vitro and in vivo metabolism of 4-HO-MET. Forensic Sci Int 2018; 290:103-110. [PMID: 30015274 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.06.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Revised: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
4-Hydroxy-N-methyl-N-ethyltryptamine (4-HO-MET) is a new psychoactive substance (NPS) of the chemical class of tryptamines. It shows structural similarities to the endogenous neurotransmitter serotonin, and is a serotonergic hallucinogen, affecting emotional, motoric, and cognitive functions. The knowledge about its biotransformation is mandatory to confirm the abuse of the substance by urine analysis in forensic cases. Therefore, phase I metabolites were generated by the use of the pooled human liver microsomes (pHLM) in vitro model and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry with information-dependent acquisition (HPLC-IDA-HR-MS/MS). Furthermore, three authentic urine samples was analyzed and results were compared: 12 different in vitro and 4 in vivo metabolites were found. The predominant biotransformation steps observed in vitro were mono- or dihydroxylation of 4-HO-MET, besides demethylation, demethylation in combination with monohydroxylation, formation of a carboxylic acid, deethylation, and oxidative deamination. In vivo, monohydroxylation, and glucuronidation were detected. A metabolic pathway based on these results was proposed. For the analysis of urine samples in forensic cases, the N-oxide metabolite and the HO-alkyl metabolite are recommended as target compounds, besides the glucuronides of 4-HO-MET and the parent compound 4-HO-MET itself.
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Receptor binding profiles and behavioral pharmacology of ring-substituted N,N-diallyltryptamine analogs. Neuropharmacology 2018; 142:231-239. [PMID: 29499272 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.02.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Revised: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Substantial effort has been devoted toward understanding the psychopharmacological effects of tryptamine hallucinogens, which are thought to be mediated by activation of 5-HT2A and 5-HT1A receptors. Recently, several psychoactive tryptamines based on the N,N-diallyltryptamine (DALT) scaffold have been encountered as recreational drugs. Despite the apparent widespread use of DALT derivatives in humans, little is known about their pharmacological properties. We compared the binding affinities of DALT and its 2-phenyl-, 4-acetoxy-, 4-hydroxy-, 5-methoxy-, 5-methoxy-2-methyl-, 5-fluoro-, 5-fluoro-2-methyl-, 5-bromo-, and 7-ethyl-derivatives at 45 receptor and transporter binding sites. Additionally, studies in C57BL/6 J mice examined whether these substances induce the head twitch response (HTR), a 5-HT2A receptor-mediated response that is widely used as a behavioral proxy for hallucinogen effects in humans. Most of the test drugs bound to serotonin receptors, σ sites, α2-adrenoceptors, dopaminergic D3 receptors, histaminergic H1 receptors, and the serotonin transporter. DALT and several of the ring-substituted derivatives were active in the HTR assay with the following rank order of potency: 4-acetoxy-DALT > 5-fluoro-DALT > 5-methoxy-DALT > 4-hydroxy-DALT > DALT > 5-bromo-DALT. 2-Phenyl-DALT, 5-methoxy-2-methyl-DALT, 5-fluoro-2-methyl-DALT, and 7-ethyl-DALT did not induce the HTR. HTR potency was not correlated with either 5-HT1A or 5-HT2A receptor binding affinity, but a multiple regression analysis indicated that 5-HT2A and 5-HT1A receptors make positive and negative contributions, respectively, to HTR potency (R2 = 0.8729). In addition to supporting the established role of 5-HT2A receptors in the HTR, these findings are consistent with evidence that 5-HT1A activation by tryptamine hallucinogens buffers their effects on HTR. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Psychedelics: New Doors, Altered Perceptions'.
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Caspar AT, Gaab JB, Michely JA, Brandt SD, Meyer MR, Maurer HH. Metabolism of the tryptamine-derived new psychoactive substances 5-MeO-2-Me-DALT, 5-MeO-2-Me-ALCHT, and 5-MeO-2-Me-DIPT and their detectability in urine studied by GC-MS, LC-MS n , and LC-HR-MS/MS. Drug Test Anal 2017; 10:184-195. [PMID: 28342193 DOI: 10.1002/dta.2197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Revised: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Many N,N-dialkylated tryptamines show psychoactive properties and were encountered as new psychoactive substances. The aims of the presented work were to study the phase I and II metabolism and the detectability in standard urine screening approaches (SUSA) of 5-methoxy-2-methyl-N,N-diallyltryptamine (5-MeO-2-Me-DALT), 5-methoxy-2-methyl-N-allyl-N-cyclohexyltryptamine (5-MeO-2-Me-ALCHT), and 5-methoxy-2-methyl-N,N-diisopropyltryptamine (5-MeO-2-Me-DIPT) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatography coupled with multistage accurate mass spectrometry (LC-MSn ), and liquid chromatography-high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HR-MS/MS). For metabolism studies, urine was collected over a 24 h period after administration of the compounds to male Wistar rats at 20 mg/kg body weight (BW). Phase I and II metabolites were identified after urine precipitation with acetonitrile by LC-HR-MS/MS. 5-MeO-2-Me-DALT (24 phase I and 12 phase II metabolites), 5-MeO-2-Me-ALCHT (24 phase I and 14 phase II metabolites), and 5-MeO-2-Me-DIPT (20 phase I and 11 phase II metabolites) were mainly metabolized by O-demethylation, hydroxylation, N-dealkylation, and combinations of them as well as by glucuronidation and sulfation of phase I metabolites. Incubations with mixtures of pooled human liver microsomes and cytosols (pHLM and pHLC) confirmed that the main metabolic reactions in humans and rats might be identical. Furthermore, initial CYP activity screenings revealed that CYP1A2, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4 were involved in hydroxylation, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 in O-demethylation, and CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4 in N-dealkylation. For SUSAs, GC-MS, LC-MSn , and LC-HR-MS/MS were applied to rat urine samples after 1 or 0.1 mg/kg BW doses, respectively. In contrast to the GC-MS SUSA, both LC-MS SUSAs were able to detect an intake of 5-MeO-2-Me-ALCHT and 5-MeO-2-Me-DIPT via their metabolites following 1 mg/kg BW administrations and 5-MeO-2-Me-DALT following 0.1 mg/kg BW dosage. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Achim T Caspar
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Saarland University, Kirrberger Str. 100, Building 46, D-66421, Homburg (Saar), Germany
| | - Jonas B Gaab
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Saarland University, Kirrberger Str. 100, Building 46, D-66421, Homburg (Saar), Germany
| | - Julian A Michely
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Saarland University, Kirrberger Str. 100, Building 46, D-66421, Homburg (Saar), Germany
| | - Simon D Brandt
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, James, Parsons Building, Byrom Street, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK.,The Alexander Shulgin Research Institute, 1483 Shulgin Road, Lafayette, CA, 94549, USA
| | - Markus R Meyer
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Saarland University, Kirrberger Str. 100, Building 46, D-66421, Homburg (Saar), Germany
| | - Hans H Maurer
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Saarland University, Kirrberger Str. 100, Building 46, D-66421, Homburg (Saar), Germany
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Michely JA, Brandt SD, Meyer MR, Maurer HH. Biotransformation and detectability of the new psychoactive substances N,N-diallyltryptamine (DALT) derivatives 5-fluoro-DALT, 7-methyl-DALT, and 5,6-methylenedioxy-DALT in urine using GC-MS, LC-MSn, and LC-HR-MS/MS. Anal Bioanal Chem 2016; 409:1681-1695. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-016-0117-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2016] [Revised: 11/17/2016] [Accepted: 11/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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