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Xiang J, Wen D, Zhai W, Zhao J, Xiang P, Ma C, Shi Y. Metabolic characterization of 25X-NBOH and 25X-NBOMe phenethylamines based on UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS in human liver microsomes. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2024; 242:116020. [PMID: 38359493 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2024.116020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
The types and quantities of new psychoactive substances synthesized based on structural modifications have increased rapidly in recent years and pose a great challenge to clinical and forensic laboratories. N-benzyl derivatives of phenethylamines, 25B-NBOH, 25E-NBOH, 25H-NBOH, and 25iP-NBOMe have begun to flow into the black market and have caused several poisoning cases and even fatal cases. The aim of this study was to avoid false negative results by detecting the parent drug and its metabolites to extend the detection window in biological matrices and provide basic data for the simultaneous determination of illegal drugs and metabolites in forensic and emergency cases. To facilitate the comparison of metabolic characteristics, we divided the four compounds into two groups of types, 25X-NBOH and 25X-NBOMe. The in vitro phase I and phase II metabolism of these four compounds was investigated by incubating 10 mg mL-1 pooled human liver microsomes with co-substrates for 180 min at 37 ℃, and then analyzing the reaction mixture using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/electrostatic field orbitrap mass spectrometry. In total, 70 metabolites were obtained for the four compounds. The major biotransformations were O-demethylation, hydroxylation, dehydrogenation, N-dehydroxybenzyl, N-demethoxybenzyl, oxidate transformation to ketone and carboxylate, glucuronidation, and their combination reactions. We recommended the major metabolites with high peak area ratio as biomarkers, B2-1 (56.61%), B2-2 (17.43%) and B6 (17.78%) for 25B-NBOH, E2-1 (42.81%), E2-2 (34.90%) and E8-2 (10.18%) for 25E-NBOH, H5 (49.28%), H2-1 (21.54%), and H1 (18.37%) for 25H-NBOH, P3-1 (10.94%), P3-2 (33.18%), P3-3 (14.85%) and P12-2 (23.00%) for 25iP-NBOMe. This is a study to evaluate their metabolic characteristics in detail. Comparative analysis of the N-benzyl derivatives of phenethylamines provided basic data for elucidating their pharmacology and toxicity. Timely analysis of the metabolic profiles of compounds with abuse potential will facilitate the early development of regulatory measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahong Xiang
- Department of Forensic Toxicology, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai Forensic Science Platform, Key Laboratory of Forensic Sciences, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai 200063, PR China; College of Forensic Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Forensic Medical Molecular Identification, Research Unit of Digestive Tract Microecosystem Pharmacology and Toxicology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei Province, PR China
| | - Di Wen
- College of Forensic Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Forensic Medical Molecular Identification, Research Unit of Digestive Tract Microecosystem Pharmacology and Toxicology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei Province, PR China
| | - Wenya Zhai
- Department of Forensic Toxicology, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai Forensic Science Platform, Key Laboratory of Forensic Sciences, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai 200063, PR China
| | - Junbo Zhao
- Department of Forensic Toxicology, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai Forensic Science Platform, Key Laboratory of Forensic Sciences, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai 200063, PR China
| | - Ping Xiang
- Department of Forensic Toxicology, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai Forensic Science Platform, Key Laboratory of Forensic Sciences, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai 200063, PR China
| | - Chunling Ma
- College of Forensic Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Forensic Medical Molecular Identification, Research Unit of Digestive Tract Microecosystem Pharmacology and Toxicology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei Province, PR China
| | - Yan Shi
- Department of Forensic Toxicology, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai Forensic Science Platform, Key Laboratory of Forensic Sciences, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai 200063, PR China.
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De Abreu IR, Barkdull A, Munoz JR, Smith RP, Craddock TJA. A molecular analysis of substituted phenylethylamines as potential microtubule targeting agents through in silico methods and in vitro microtubule-polymerization activity. Sci Rep 2023; 13:14406. [PMID: 37658096 PMCID: PMC10474033 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41600-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural phenethylamines are trace amine neurotransmitters associated with dopamine transmission and related illnesses such Parkinson's disease, and addiction. Synthetic phenethylamines can have psychoactive and hallucinogenic effects due to their high affinity with the 5-HT2A receptor. Evidence indicates phenethylamines can directly alter the microtubule cytoskeleton being structurally similar to the microtubule destabilizing agent colchicine, however little work has been done on this interaction. As microtubules provide neuron structure, intracellular transport, and influence synaptic plasticity the interaction of phenethylamines with microtubules is important for understanding the potential harms, or potential pharmaceutical use of phenethylamines. We investigated 110 phenethylamines and their interaction with microtubules. Here we performed molecular docking of these compounds at the colchicine binding site and ranked them via binding energy. The top 10% of phenethylamines were further screened based on pharmacokinetic and physicochemical properties derived from SwissADME and LightBBB. Based on these properties 25B-NBF, 25C-NBF, and DMBMPP were tested in in vitro microtubule polymerization assays showing that they alter microtubule polymerization dynamics in a dose dependent manner. As these compounds can rapidly cross the blood brain barrier and directly affect cytoskeletal dynamics, they have the potential to modulate cytoskeletal based neural plasticity. Further investigations into these mechanisms are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isadora Rocha De Abreu
- Clinical Systems Biology Group, Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
| | - Allison Barkdull
- Clinical Systems Biology Group, Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - James R Munoz
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
| | - Robert P Smith
- Cell Therapy Institute, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
| | - Travis J A Craddock
- Clinical Systems Biology Group, Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
- Departments of Computer Science, and Clinical Immunology, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
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Kupriyanova OV, Shevyrin VA, Shafran YM. Potential of chromatography and mass spectrometry for the differentiation of three series of positional isomers of 2-(dimethoxyphenyl)-N-(2-halogenobenzyl)ethanamines. Drug Test Anal 2022; 14:1102-1115. [PMID: 35106940 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
N-(2-Substituted benzyl)-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamines often cause severe poisonings which has led to their legal prohibition in many countries. At the same time, their positional isomers can be studied as potential therapeutic drugs. In this regard, the search for various approaches to differentiate these isomers is an important practical task, the solution of which would guarantee from identification errors during laboratory analysis. In this paper, the possibilities of differentiation of isomers varying in the position of two methoxy groups in the phenylethyl part of the molecule are considered on the example of compounds of NBF, NBCl and NBBr series by chromatography-mass spectrometry methods. Gas or liquid reverse-phase chromatography in the proposed chromatographic separation modes has demonstrated their ability to resolve this problem reliably. Data on retention indices of isomeric compounds and their derivatives can serve as an additional identification criterion for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Differentiation of NBF and NBCl isomers using electron ionization (EI) mass spectra is feasible only if both the spectrum of the compound and its N-trifluoroacetyl derivative are registered; differentiation of NBBr positional isomers under these conditions does not require obtaining the derivatives. Using electrospray ion source, the compounds can easily be differentiated based on the distinctive features of their collision induced dissociation (CID) spectra recorded at low energy values, which also does not require the synthesis of derivatives. The data presented in current paper will be useful for analysis in laboratories providing the determination of narcotic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga V Kupriyanova
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Kazan, Russian Federation.,Kazan State Medical University, Kazan, Russian Federation
| | - Vadim A Shevyrin
- Ural Federal University, Institute of Chemistry and Technology, Ekaterinburg, Russian Federation
| | - Yuri M Shafran
- Ural Federal University, Institute of Chemistry and Technology, Ekaterinburg, Russian Federation
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Pottie E, Kupriyanova OV, Shevyrin VA, Stove CP. Synthesis and Functional Characterization of 2-(2,5-Dimethoxyphenyl)- N-(2-fluorobenzyl)ethanamine (25H-NBF) Positional Isomers. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:1667-1673. [PMID: 33906351 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Serotonergic psychedelics, substances exerting their pharmacological action through activation of the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR), have continuously comprised a substantial fraction of the over 1000 reported New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) so far. Within this category, N-benzyl derived phenethylamines, such as NBOMes and NBFs, have shown to be of particular relevance. As these substances remain incompletely characterized, this study aimed at synthesizing positional isomers of 25H-NBF, with two methoxy groups placed on different positions of the phenyl group of the phenethylamine moiety. These isomers were then functionally characterized in an in vitro bioassay monitoring the recruitment of β-arrestin 2 to the 5-HT2AR through luminescent readout via the NanoBiT technology. The obtained results provide insight into the optimal substitution pattern of the phenyl group of the phenethylamine moiety of N-benzyl derived substances, a feature so far mostly explored in the phenethylamines underived at the N-position. In the employed bioassay, the most potent substances were 24H-NBF (EC50 value of 158 nM), 26H-NBF (397 nM), and 25H-NBF (448 nM), with 23H-NBF, 35H-NBF, and 34H-NBF yielding μM EC50 values. A similar ranking was obtained for the compounds' efficacy: taking as a reference LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), 24H-, 26H-, and 25H-NBF had an efficacy of 106-107%, followed by 23H-NBF (96.1%), 34H-NBF (75.2%), and 35H-NBF (58.9%). The stronger activity of 24H-, 25H-, and 26H-NBF emphasizes the important role of the methoxy group at position 2 of the phenethylamine moiety for the in vitro functionality of NBF substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eline Pottie
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Bioanalysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Campus Heymans, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Olga V. Kupriyanova
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, 18 Kremlyovskaya Str., 420008 Kazan, Russian Federation
- Kazan State Medical University, 49 Butlerova Str., 420012 Kazan, Russian Federation
| | - Vadim A. Shevyrin
- Institute of Chemistry and Technology, Ural Federal University, 19 Mira Str., 620002 Ekaterinburg, Russian Federation
| | - Christophe P. Stove
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Bioanalysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Campus Heymans, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
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