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Pharmacokinetics of Mephedrone Enantiomers in Whole Blood after a Controlled Intranasal Administration to Healthy Human Volunteers. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2020; 14:ph14010005. [PMID: 33374623 PMCID: PMC7822411 DOI: 10.3390/ph14010005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Mephedrone, which is one of the most popular synthetic cathinones, has one chiral centre and thus exists as two enantiomers: R-(+)-mephedrone and S-(−)-mephedrone. There are some preliminary data suggesting that the enantiomers of mephedrone may display enantioselective pharmacokinetics and exhibit different neurological effects. In this study, enantiomers of mephedrone were resolved via chromatographic chiral recognition and the absolute configuration was unambiguously determined by a combination of elution order and chiroptical analysis (i.e., circular dichroism). A chiral liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method was fully validated and was applied to the analysis of whole blood samples collected from a controlled intranasal administration of racemic mephedrone hydrochloride to healthy male volunteers. Both enantiomers showed similar kinetics, however, R-(+)-mephedrone had a greater mean Cmax of 48.5 ± 11.9 ng/mL and a longer mean half-life of 1.92 ± 0.27 h compared with 44.6 ± 11.8 ng/mL and 1.63 ± 0.23 h for S-(−)-mephedrone, respectively. Moreover, R-(+)-mephedrone had a lower mean clearance and roughly 1.3 times greater mean area under the curve than S-(−)-mephedrone. Significant changes in the enantiomeric ratio over time were observed, which suggest that the analytes exhibit enantioselective pharmacokinetics. Even though the clinical significance of this finding is not yet fully understood, the study confirms that the chiral nature, and consequently the enantiomeric purity of mephedrone, can be a crucial consideration when interpreting toxicological results.
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Lin HR, Kuo FW. Determination of the R- and S-enantiomers of methylone and ethylone in seized drugs by enantioselective liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis. Forensic Sci Int 2020; 317:110528. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 09/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Meetani MA, Alremeithi RH, Mousa MK. Enantioseparation of Synthetic Cathinones Enantiomers with Tertiary Amine Structure in Urine and Plasma. J Chromatogr Sci 2019; 57:361-368. [DOI: 10.1093/chromsci/bmz008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2018] [Revised: 12/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed A Meetani
- Chemistry Department, College of science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, UAE
| | - Rashed H Alremeithi
- Chemistry Department, College of science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, UAE
| | - Muath K Mousa
- Chemistry Department, College of science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, UAE
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Hutsell BA, Baumann MH, Partilla JS, Banks ML, Vekariya R, Glennon RA, Negus SS. Abuse-related neurochemical and behavioral effects of cathinone and 4-methylcathinone stereoisomers in rats. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2016; 26:288-297. [PMID: 26738428 PMCID: PMC5331761 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2015.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2015] [Revised: 11/13/2015] [Accepted: 12/01/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Cathinone and many of its analogs produce behavioral effects by promoting transporter-mediated release of the monoamine neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine and/or serotonin. Stereoselectivity is one determinant of neurochemical and behavioral effects of cathinone analogs. This study compared effectiveness of the S(-) and R(+) enantiomers of cathinone and 4-methylcathinone to produce in vitro monoamine release and in vivo abuse-related behavioral effects in rats. For neurochemical studies, drug effects were evaluated on monoamine release through dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin transporters (DAT, NET and SERT, respectively) in rat brain synaptosomes. For behavioral studies, drug effects were evaluated on responding for electrical brain stimulation in an intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) procedure. The cathinone enantiomers differed in potency [S(-)>R(+)], but both enantiomers were >50-fold selective at promoting monoamine release through DAT vs. SERT, and both enantiomers produced ICSS facilitation. The 4-methylcathinone enantiomers also differed in potency [S(-)>R(+)]; however, in neurochemical studies, the decrease in potency from S(-) to R(+)4-methylcathinone was less for DAT than for SERT, and as a result, DAT vs. SERT selectivity was greater for R(+) than for S(-)4-methylcathinone (4.1- vs. 1.2-fold). Moreover, in behavioral studies, S(-)4-methylcathinone produced only ICSS depression, whereas R(+)4-methylcathinone produced ICSS facilitation. This study provides further evidence for stereoselectivity in neurochemical and behavioral actions of cathinone analogs. More importantly, stereoselective 4-methylcathinone effects on ICSS illustrate the potential for diametrically opposite effects of enantiomers in a preclinical behavioral assay of abuse potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blake A Hutsell
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 410 N. 12th St., PO Box 980613, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Michael H Baumann
- Designer Drug Research Unit, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - John S Partilla
- Designer Drug Research Unit, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Matthew L Banks
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 410 N. 12th St., PO Box 980613, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA
| | - Rakesh Vekariya
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Richard A Glennon
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - S Stevens Negus
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 410 N. 12th St., PO Box 980613, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA.
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Linhart I, Himl M, Židková M, Balíková M, Lhotková E, Páleníček T. Metabolic profile of mephedrone: Identification of nor-mephedrone conjugates with dicarboxylic acids as a new type of xenobiotic phase II metabolites. Toxicol Lett 2015; 240:114-21. [PMID: 26541208 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2015.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2015] [Revised: 10/26/2015] [Accepted: 10/28/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Metabolic profile of mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone, 4-MMC), a frequently abused recreational drug, was determined in rats in vivo. The urine of rats dosed with a subcutaneous bolus dose of 20mg 4-MMC/kg was analysed by LC/MS. Ten phase I and five phase II metabolites were identified by comparison of their retention times and MS(2) spectra with those of authentic reference standards and/or with the MS(2) spectra of previously identified metabolites. The main metabolic pathway was N-demethylation leading to normephedrone (4-methylcathinone, 4-MC) which was further conjugated with succinic, glutaric and adipic acid. Other phase I metabolic pathways included oxidation of the 4-methyl group, carbonyl reduction leading to dihydro-metabolites and ω-oxidation at the position 3'. Five of the metabolites detected, namely, 4-carboxynormephedrone (4-carboxycathinone, 4-CC), 4-carboxydihydronormephedrone (4-carboxynorephedrine, 4-CNE), hydroxytolyldihydro-normephedrone (4-hydroxymethylnorephedrine, 4-OH-MNE) and conjugates of 4-MC with glutaric and adipic acid, have not been reported as yet. The last two conjugates represent a novel, hitherto unexploited, type of phase II metabolites in mammals together with an analogous succinic acid conjugate of 4-MC identified by Pozo et al. (2015). These conjugates might be potentially of great importance in the metabolism of other psychoactive amines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Linhart
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Michal Himl
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Monika Židková
- Institute of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Marie Balíková
- Institute of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Lhotková
- National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Páleníček
- National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
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Maheux CR, Alarcon IQ, Copeland CR, Cameron TS, Linden A, Grossert JS. Identification of polymorphism in ethylone hydrochloride: synthesis and characterization. Drug Test Anal 2015; 8:847-57. [PMID: 26344849 PMCID: PMC5049635 DOI: 10.1002/dta.1859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2015] [Revised: 07/14/2015] [Accepted: 07/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Ethylone, a synthetic cathinone with psychoactive properties, is a designer drug which has appeared on the recreational drug market in recent years. Since 2012, illicit shipments of ethylone hydrochloride have been intercepted with increasing frequency at the Canadian border. Analysis has revealed that ethylone hydrochloride exists as two distinct polymorphs. In addition, several minor impurities were detected in some seized exhibits. In this study, the two conformational polymorphs of ethylone hydrochloride have been synthesized and fully characterized by FTIR, FT-Raman, powder XRD, GC-MS, ESI-MS/MS and NMR ((13) C CPMAS, (1) H, (13) C). The two polymorphs can be distinguished by vibrational spectroscopy, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The FTIR data are applied to the identification of both polymorphs of ethylone hydrochloride (mixed with methylone hydrochloride) in a laboratory submission labelled as 'Ocean Snow Ultra'. The data presented in this study will assist forensic scientists in the differentiation of the two ethylone hydrochloride polymorphs. This report, alongside our recent article on the single crystal X-ray structure of a second polymorph of this synthetic cathinone, is the first to confirm polymorphism in ethylone hydrochloride. © 2015 Canada Border Services Agency. Drug Testing and Analysis published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. © 2015 Canada Border Services Agency. Drug Testing and Analysis published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad R Maheux
- Science and Engineering Directorate, Canada Border Services Agency, 79 Bentley Avenue, Ottawa, K2E 6T7, Ontario, Canada
| | - Idralyn Q Alarcon
- Science and Engineering Directorate, Canada Border Services Agency, 79 Bentley Avenue, Ottawa, K2E 6T7, Ontario, Canada
| | - Catherine R Copeland
- Science and Engineering Directorate, Canada Border Services Agency, 79 Bentley Avenue, Ottawa, K2E 6T7, Ontario, Canada
| | - T Stanley Cameron
- Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, PO Box 15000, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Anthony Linden
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - J Stuart Grossert
- Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, PO Box 15000, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
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Zancajo VMR, Brito J, Carrasco MP, Bronze MR, Moreira R, Lopes A. Analytical profiles of "legal highs" containing cathinones available in the area of Lisbon, Portugal. Forensic Sci Int 2014; 244:102-10. [PMID: 25240621 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2014] [Revised: 08/03/2014] [Accepted: 08/11/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Thirteen "legal highs" were purchased in different "smart shops" in the area of Lisbon, Portugal, during the month of February 2013. The samples were analyzed by a battery of analytical methods including Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR), gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), proton nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR) and wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WD-XRF). Active ingredients were found either as single component or in mixtures in the different products. The cathinone derivative methedrone was present in three products; it is suspected to have a particular high toxicity and narrow therapeutic window linked with the methoxy group. A total of seven compounds were identified: 4-fluoromethcathinone, ethcathinone, buphedrone, methedrone, pentedrone, 3,4-dimethylmethcathinone and 4-methylethcathinone. Analytical profiles of all the samples were obtained and compared. Elemental composition of the products was obtained by XRF analysis. The inorganic profiles obtained contain useful information and can be used to distinguish and classify samples according to their origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor M R Zancajo
- Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde Egas Moniz, Quinta da Granja, Monte de Caparica, 2829-511 Caparica, Portugal.
| | - J Brito
- WDXRFLab - Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde Egas Moniz, Quinta da Granja, Monte de Caparica, 2829-511 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Marta P Carrasco
- Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - M R Bronze
- Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; ITQB, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República, Estação Agronómica Nacional, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Rui Moreira
- Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Alvaro Lopes
- Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde Egas Moniz, Quinta da Granja, Monte de Caparica, 2829-511 Caparica, Portugal; Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
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9
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Merola G, Fu H, Tagliaro F, Macchia T, McCord BR. Chiral separation of 12 cathinone analogs by cyclodextrin-assisted capillary electrophoresis with UV and mass spectrometry detection. Electrophoresis 2014; 35:3231-41. [DOI: 10.1002/elps.201400077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2014] [Revised: 03/20/2014] [Accepted: 03/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Merola
- Department of Chemistry; Florida International University; Miami FL USA
- Department of Public Health and Community Medicine; Unit of Forensic Medicine, University of Verona; Verona Italy
- Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation; Istituto Superiore di Sanità Rome Italy
| | - Hanzhuo Fu
- Department of Chemistry; Florida International University; Miami FL USA
| | - Franco Tagliaro
- Department of Public Health and Community Medicine; Unit of Forensic Medicine, University of Verona; Verona Italy
| | - Teodora Macchia
- Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation; Istituto Superiore di Sanità Rome Italy
| | - Bruce R. McCord
- Department of Chemistry; Florida International University; Miami FL USA
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Appendino G, Minassi A, Taglialatela-Scafati O. Recreational drug discovery: natural products as lead structures for the synthesis of smart drugs. Nat Prod Rep 2014; 31:880-904. [PMID: 24823967 DOI: 10.1039/c4np00010b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Covering: up to December 2013. Over the past decade, there has been a growing transition in recreational drugs from natural materials (marijuana, hashish, opium), natural products (morphine, cocaine), or their simple derivatives (heroin), to synthetic agents more potent than their natural prototypes, which are sometimes less harmful in the short term, or that combine properties from different classes of recreational prototypes. These agents have been named smart drugs, and have become popular both for personal consumption and for collective intoxication at rave parties. The reasons for this transition are varied, but are mainly regulatory and commercial. New analogues of known illegal intoxicants are invisible to most forensic detection techniques, while the alleged natural status and the lack of avert acute toxicity make them appealing to a wide range of users. On the other hand, the advent of the internet has made possible the quick dispersal of information among users and the on-line purchase of these agents and/or the precursors for their synthesis. Unlike their natural products chemotypes (ephedrine, mescaline, cathinone, psilocybin, THC), most new drugs of abuse are largely unfamiliar to the organic chemistry community as well as to health care providers. To raise awareness of the growing plague of smart drugs we have surveyed, in a medicinal chemistry fashion, their development from natural products leads, their current methods of production, and the role that clandestine home laboratories and underground chemists have played in the surge of popularity of these drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Appendino
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Largo Donegani 2, 28100 Novara, Italy.
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Mohr S, Weiß JA, Spreitz J, Schmid MG. Chiral separation of new cathinone- and amphetamine-related designer drugs by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry using trifluoroacetyl-l-prolyl chloride as chiral derivatization reagent. J Chromatogr A 2012; 1269:352-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2012.09.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2012] [Revised: 09/20/2012] [Accepted: 09/21/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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12
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Mohr S, Pilaj S, Schmid MG. Chiral separation of cathinone derivatives used as recreational drugs by cyclodextrin-modified capillary electrophoresis. Electrophoresis 2012; 33:1624-30. [DOI: 10.1002/elps.201100570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Stefan Pilaj
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry; Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Karl-Franzens-University Graz; Graz; Austria
| | - Martin G. Schmid
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry; Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Karl-Franzens-University Graz; Graz; Austria
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Mohr S, Taschwer M, Schmid MG. Chiral separation of cathinone derivatives used as recreational drugs by HPLC-UV using a CHIRALPAK® AS-H column as stationary phase. Chirality 2012; 24:486-92. [DOI: 10.1002/chir.22048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2011] [Accepted: 03/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Magdalena Taschwer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Karl-Franzens-University Graz; A-8010; Graz; Austria
| | - Martin G. Schmid
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Karl-Franzens-University Graz; A-8010; Graz; Austria
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Social, policy, and public health perspectives on new psychoactive substances. Drug Test Anal 2011; 3:515-23. [DOI: 10.1002/dta.310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2011] [Revised: 05/19/2011] [Accepted: 05/19/2011] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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Schifano F, Albanese A, Fergus S, Stair JL, Deluca P, Corazza O, Davey Z, Corkery J, Siemann H, Scherbaum N, Farre' M, Torrens M, Demetrovics Z, Ghodse AH. Mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone; 'meow meow'): chemical, pharmacological and clinical issues. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2011; 214:593-602. [PMID: 21072502 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-010-2070-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 252] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2010] [Accepted: 10/23/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recently, those substances deriving from the active ingredient of the Khat plant, cathinone, have been rising in popularity. Indeed, 4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone; 'meow meow' and others) has been seen by some as a cheaper alternative to other classified recreational drugs. AIMS We aimed here at providing a state-of-the-art review on mephedrone history and prevalence of misuse, chemistry, pharmacology, legal status, product market appearance, clinical/management and related fatalities. METHODS Because of the limited evidence, some of the information here presented has been obtained from user reports/drug user-orientated web sites. The most common routes for mephedrone recreational use include insufflation and oral ingestion. It elicits stimulant and empathogenic effects similar to amphetamine, methylamphetamine, cocaine and MDMA. Due to its sympathomimetic actions, mephedrone may be associated with a number of both physical and psychopathological side effects. Recent preliminary analysis of recent UK data carried out in 48 related cases have provided positive results for the presence of mephedrone at postmortem. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Within the UK, diffusion of mephedrone may have been associated with an unprecedented combination of a particularly aggressive online marketing policy and a decreasing availability/purity of both ecstasy and cocaine. Mephedrone has been recently classified in both the UK and in a number of other countries as a measure to control its availability. Following this, a few other research psychoactives have recently entered the online market as yet unregulated substances that may substitute for mephedrone. Only international collaborative efforts may be able to tackle the phenomenon of the regular offer of novel psychoactive drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Schifano
- School of Pharmacy, College Lane Campus, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, Herftordshire, AL10 9AB, UK.
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Fluoromethcathinone, a new substance of abuse. Forensic Sci Int 2009; 185:10-20. [PMID: 19195800 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2008.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2008] [Revised: 11/12/2008] [Accepted: 11/26/2008] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
We have identified a new compound in capsules marketed as plant feeders available from internet suppliers. It is apparent from internet forums that these so-called plant feeders are being used as recreational drugs. The material is identified as being 3'-fluoromethcathinone. The compound in the capsule was identified by GC-MS, 1H, (13)C and (19)F NMR as well as FTIR. Other materials identified in the tablet were caffeine and a methylamine salt. The exact position of the fluorine in the fluoromethcathinone was determined by comparison with materials synthesised in our laboratory. Internet-based companies are known to sell 4'-fluoromethcathinone (flephedrone). We present GC-MS data for the three isomers of fluoromethcathinone and their N-acetyl derivatives and provide a rapid method for determining the positional isomers of fluoromethcathinone using FTIR or (19)F NMR.
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Fierro A, Osorio-Olivares M, Cassels BK, Edmondson DE, Sepúlveda-Boza S, Reyes-Parada M. Human and rat monoamine oxidase-A are differentially inhibited by (S)-4-alkylthioamphetamine derivatives: insights from molecular modeling studies. Bioorg Med Chem 2007; 15:5198-206. [PMID: 17521909 PMCID: PMC1949415 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2007.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2007] [Accepted: 05/08/2007] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Four enantiomerically pure (S)-4-alkylthioamphetamine derivatives were evaluated as monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors using the human and rat isoforms of the enzyme. Molecular dockings were performed in order to gain insights regarding the binding mode of these inhibitors. All compounds were potent and selective MAO-A inhibitors although different rank orders of potencies were observed against the enzymes from different species. This behavior can be rationalized on the basis of different binding modes to each enzyme, as determined in silico. These findings further support the concept that MAO inhibitory activity of novel compounds, determined with enzymes from diverse mammalian species, should be considered with caution if human MAO is the final target to be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angélica Fierro
- Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, University of Santiago de Chile, Alameda 3363, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mauricio Osorio-Olivares
- Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, University of Santiago de Chile, Alameda 3363, Santiago, Chile
| | - Bruce K. Cassels
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Chile, Casilla 653, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute for Cell Dynamics and Biotechnology, Beauchef 861, Santiago, Chile
| | - Dale E. Edmondson
- Departments of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322 USA
| | - Silvia Sepúlveda-Boza
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Santiago de Chile, Alameda 3363, Santiago, Chile
| | - Miguel Reyes-Parada
- Millennium Institute for Cell Dynamics and Biotechnology, Beauchef 861, Santiago, Chile
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Santiago de Chile, Alameda 3363, Santiago, Chile
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