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Shoda T, Tsuji G, Kawamura M, Kurohara T, Misawa T, Kikura-Hanajiri R, Demizu Y. Structural analysis of an lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) analogue N-methyl-N-isopropyllysergamide (MiPLA): Insights from Rotamers in NMR spectra. Drug Test Anal 2024; 16:588-594. [PMID: 37830386 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3586] [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: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a hallucinogenic compound that binds to and activates the serotonin 2A receptor and is classified as a controlled narcotic in Japan. Recently, MiPLA, an N-methyl-N-isopropyl derivative of LSD, has been detected in paper-sheet products in several countries. This study focuses on the synthesis of MiPLA and includes a comprehensive analysis involving structural and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Particularly, MiPLA was synthesized in three-steps starting from ergometrine maleate, which resulted in the formation of (8S)-isomer, iso-MiPLA, as a by-product. The LC-MS results showed that LSD, MiPLA, and iso-MiPLA exhibited different retention times. Their chemical structures were determined using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, which revealed the presence of rotamers involving the N-methyl-N-isopropyl groups of tertiary amides in MiPLA and iso-MiPLA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuji Shoda
- Division of Organic Chemistry, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Genichiro Tsuji
- Division of Organic Chemistry, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Maiko Kawamura
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry and Narcotics, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Takashi Kurohara
- Division of Organic Chemistry, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Takashi Misawa
- Division of Organic Chemistry, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Ruri Kikura-Hanajiri
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry and Narcotics, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Yosuke Demizu
- Division of Organic Chemistry, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Japan
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Tanaka R, Kawamura M, Mizutani S, Kikura-Hanajiri R. Characterization of the lysergic acid diethylamide analog, 1-(thiophene-2-carbonyl)-N,N-diethyllysergamide (1T-LSD) from a blotter product. Drug Test Anal 2024; 16:482-488. [PMID: 37605503 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3565] [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: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Recently, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) analogs have appeared worldwide as designer drugs. In this study, we identified a distributed LSD analog from a paper-sheet product. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatography-photodiode array-mass spectrometry (LC-PDA-MS), and liquid chromatography with hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS) were used to analyze the sheet product. The sheet product claimed to contain 1-(1,2-dimethylcyclobutanoyl)-N,N-diethyllysergamide (1D-LSD). However, an unknown compound was detected in the product together with tryptamine and L-tryptophan methyl ester. This compound was isolated from the sheets and identified as 1-(thiophene-2-carbonyl)-N,N-diethyl-6-methyl-9,10-didehydroergoline-8β-carboxamide (1-thiophenoyl LSD; 1-(2-thienoyl)-LSD, 1T-LSD), using 1H, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and various two-dimensional NMR techniques. 1T-LSD was shown to have the thiophene-2-carbonyl group at the N1 position instead of the 1,2-dimethylcyclobutane-carbonyl group as claimed. The amount of 1T-LSD (free base) in three individual unit from one sheet was determined to be 87-100 μg per unit using a proton-specific quantitative NMR (1H-qNMR) method. Deacylation of 1T-LSD to LSD was also observed to occur in methanol-d4 during NMR analysis. The UV spectrum of 1T-LSD differed from that of other LSD analogs, and the fluorescence sensitivity was much lower. Because of concerns about the future distribution of products containing new LSD analogs, continued monitoring of newly detected compounds in sheet products is encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rie Tanaka
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry and Narcotics, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Maiko Kawamura
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry and Narcotics, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Sakumi Mizutani
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry and Narcotics, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Ruri Kikura-Hanajiri
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry and Narcotics, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
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Brandt SD, Kavanagh PV, Westphal F, Pulver B, Schwelm HM, Stratford A, Auwärter V, Halberstadt AL. Analytical and behavioral characterization of N-ethyl-N-isopropyllysergamide (EIPLA), an isomer of N 6 -ethylnorlysergic acid N,N-diethylamide (ETH-LAD). Drug Test Anal 2024; 16:187-198. [PMID: 37321559 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3530] [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: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Preclinical investigations have shown that N-ethyl-N-isopropyllysergamide (EIPLA) exhibits lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)-like properties, which suggests that it might show psychoactive effects in humans. EIPLA is also an isomer of N6 -ethylnorlysergic acid N,N-diethylamide (ETH-LAD), a lysergamide known to produce psychedelic effects in humans that emerged as a research chemical. EIPLA was subjected to analysis by various forms of mass spectrometry, chromatography (GC, LC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and GC condensed-phase infrared spectroscopy. The most straightforward differentiation between EIPLA and ETH-LAD included the evaluation of mass spectral features that reflected the structural differences (EIPLA: N6 -methyl and N-ethyl-N-isopropylamide group; ETH-LAD: N6 -ethyl and N,N-diethylamide group). Proton NMR analysis of blotter extracts suggested that EIPLA was detected as the base instead of a salt, and two blotter extracts suspected to contain EIPLA revealed the detection of 96.9 ± 0.5 μg (RSD: 0.6%) and 85.8 ± 2.8 μg base equivalents based on LC-MS analysis. The in vivo activity of EIPLA was evaluated using the mouse head-twitch response (HTR) assay. Similar to LSD and other serotonergic psychedelics, EIPLA induced the HTR (ED50 = 234.6 nmol/kg), which was about half the potency of LSD (ED50 = 132.8 nmol/kg). These findings are consistent with the results of previous studies demonstrating that EIPLA can mimic the effects of known psychedelic drugs in rodent behavioral models. The dissemination of analytical data for EIPLA was deemed justifiable to aid future forensic and clinical investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon D Brandt
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Pierce V Kavanagh
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St. James Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland
| | - Folker Westphal
- State Bureau of Criminal Investigation Schleswig-Holstein, Section Narcotics/Toxicology, Kiel, Germany
| | - Benedikt Pulver
- State Bureau of Criminal Investigation Schleswig-Holstein, Section Narcotics/Toxicology, Kiel, Germany
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Toxicology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Hermann Staudinger Graduate School, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Hannes M Schwelm
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Toxicology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Hermann Staudinger Graduate School, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Volker Auwärter
- State Bureau of Criminal Investigation Schleswig-Holstein, Section Narcotics/Toxicology, Kiel, Germany
| | - Adam L Halberstadt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA
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Tanaka R, Kawamura M, Mizutani S, Kikura-Hanajiri R. Identification of LSD analogs, 1cP-AL-LAD, 1cP-MIPLA, 1V-LSD and LSZ in sheet products. Forensic Toxicol 2023; 41:294-303. [PMID: 36809464 PMCID: PMC10310582 DOI: 10.1007/s11419-023-00661-1] [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: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Many analogs of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) have recently appeared as designer drugs around the world. These compounds are mainly distributed as sheet products. In this study, we identified three more newly distributed LSD analogs from paper sheet products. METHODS The structures of the compounds were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatography-photodiode array-mass spectrometry (LC-PDA-MS), liquid chromatography with hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. RESULTS From the NMR analysis, the compounds in the four products were identified as 4-(cyclopropanecarbonyl)-N,N-diethyl-7-(prop-2-en-1-yl)-4,6,6a,7,8,9-hexahydroindolo[4,3-fg]quinoline-9-carboxamide (1cP-AL-LAD), 4-(cyclopropanecarbonyl)-N-methyl-N-isopropyl-7-methyl-4,6,6a,7,8,9-hexahydroindolo-[4,3-fg]quinoline-9-carboxamide (1cP-MIPLA), N,N-diethyl-7-methyl-4-pentanoyl-4,6,6a,7,8,9-hexahydroindolo[4,3-fg]quinoline-9-carboxamide (1V-LSD) and (2'S,4'S)-lysergic acid 2,4-dimethylazetidide (LSZ). In comparison with the structure of LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD was converted at the positions at N1 and N6, and 1cP-MIPLA was converted at the positions at N1 and N18. The metabolic pathways and biological activities of 1cP-AL-LAD and 1cP-MIPLA have not been reported. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report showing that LSD analogs that were converted at multiple positions have been detected in sheet products in Japan. There are concerns about the future distribution of sheet drug products containing new LSD analogs. Therefore, the continuous monitoring for newly detected compounds in sheet products is important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rie Tanaka
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry and Narcotics, National Institute of Health Sciences, 3-25-26, Tonomachi, Kawasaki-Ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 210-9501, Japan.
| | - Maiko Kawamura
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry and Narcotics, National Institute of Health Sciences, 3-25-26, Tonomachi, Kawasaki-Ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 210-9501, Japan
| | - Sakumi Mizutani
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry and Narcotics, National Institute of Health Sciences, 3-25-26, Tonomachi, Kawasaki-Ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 210-9501, Japan
| | - Ruri Kikura-Hanajiri
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry and Narcotics, National Institute of Health Sciences, 3-25-26, Tonomachi, Kawasaki-Ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 210-9501, Japan
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Schifano F, Vento A, Scherbaum N, Guirguis A. Stimulant and hallucinogenic novel psychoactive substances; an update. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2023; 16:1109-1123. [PMID: 37968919 DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2023.2279192] [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: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The renewed interest in considering a range of stimulants, psychedelics and dissociatives as therapeutics emphasizes the need to draft an updated overview of these drugs' clinical and pharmacological issues. AREAS COVERED The focus here was on: stimulants (e.g. amphetamines, methamphetamine, and pseudoephedrine; phenethylamines; synthetic cathinones; benzofurans; piperazines; aminoindanes; aminorex derivatives; phenmetrazine derivatives; phenidates); classical (e.g. ergolines; tryptamines; psychedelic phenethylamines), and atypical (e.g. PCP/ketamine-like dissociatives) psychedelics.Stimulant and psychedelics are associated with: a) increased central DA levels (psychedelic phenethylamines, synthetic cathinones and stimulants); b) 5-HT receptor subtypes' activation (psychedelic phenethylamines; recent tryptamine and lysergamide derivatives); and c) antagonist activity at NMDA receptors, (phencyclidine-like dissociatives). EXPERT OPINION Clinicians should be regularly informed about the range of NPS and their medical, psychobiological and psychopathological risks both in the acute and long term. Future research should focus on an integrative model in which pro-drug websites' analyses are combined with advanced research approaches, including computational chemistry studies so that in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies of index novel psychoactives can be organized. The future of psychedelic research should focus on identifying robust study designs to convincingly assess the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics, molecules likely to present with limited dependence liability levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Schifano
- Psychopharmacology Drug Misuse and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, Herts (UK)
| | - A Vento
- Mental Health Department, Addiction Observatory (Osservatorio sulle dipendenze)- NonProfit Association - Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - N Scherbaum
- LVR-University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - A Guirguis
- Psychopharmacology Drug Misuse and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, Herts (UK)
- Pharmacy, Swansea University Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science, Swansea University, Wales, UK
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Zhang SH, Tang ASY, Chin RSL, Goh JY, Ong MC, Lim WJL, Yap ATW, So CW. Stability studies of ALD-52 and its homologue 1P-LSD. J Forensic Sci 2023; 68:1009-1019. [PMID: 36779453 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.15224] [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: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
With the emergence of new psychoactive substances (NPSs) over the years, the substances detected on stamps (also known as blotter papers) have also evolved from the traditional drug-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) to the multiple variants of lysergamides such as ALD-52 and 1P-LSD. The analysis of such blotter papers is usually done by solvent extraction followed by identification using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). This study has shown that hydrolysis to form LSD was observed in GC-MS analysis when ALD-52 was extracted with methanol. The extraction of ALD-52 using other solvents such as acetonitrile, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, ethyl acetate, and acetone, followed by GC-MS analysis, was investigated. It is shown that alcoholic solvents such as methanol and ethanol will result in the conversion of ALD-52 to LSD during GC-MS analysis, whereas the sterically hindered isopropyl alcohol will prevent this conversion. Investigation also shows that the hydrolysis of ALD-52 to LSD occurs at the GC injector port. It was also observed that the degree of hydrolysis was more pronounced at a lower concentration (0.1 mg/mL). The study was extended to a close analog-1P-LSD, and the results showed that 1P-LSD similarly hydrolyzes to LSD. However, 1P-LSD was observed to be more stable than ALD-52 due to steric hindrance because of the propanoyl group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Hua Zhang
- Illicit Drugs Laboratory, Illicit Drugs Division, Applied Sciences Group, Health Sciences Authority, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Angeline S Y Tang
- Illicit Drugs Laboratory, Illicit Drugs Division, Applied Sciences Group, Health Sciences Authority, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Reenie S L Chin
- Illicit Drugs Laboratory, Illicit Drugs Division, Applied Sciences Group, Health Sciences Authority, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Jia Ying Goh
- Illicit Drugs Laboratory, Illicit Drugs Division, Applied Sciences Group, Health Sciences Authority, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Mei Ching Ong
- Illicit Drugs Laboratory, Illicit Drugs Division, Applied Sciences Group, Health Sciences Authority, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Wendy J L Lim
- Illicit Drugs Laboratory, Illicit Drugs Division, Applied Sciences Group, Health Sciences Authority, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Angeline T W Yap
- Illicit Drugs Laboratory, Illicit Drugs Division, Applied Sciences Group, Health Sciences Authority, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Cheuk-Wai So
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore City, Singapore
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Brandt SD, Kavanagh PV, Westphal F, Pulver B, Schwelm HM, Whitelock K, Stratford A, Auwärter V, Halberstadt AL. Analytical profile, in vitro metabolism and behavioral properties of the lysergamide 1P-AL-LAD. Drug Test Anal 2022; 14:1503-1518. [PMID: 35524430 PMCID: PMC9546273 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is known to induce powerful psychoactive effects in humans, which cemented its status as an important tool for clinical research. A range of analogues and derivatives has been investigated over the years, including those classified as new psychoactive substances. This study presents the characterization of the novel lysergamide N,N-diethyl-1-propanoyl-6-(prop-2-en-1-yl)-9,10-didehydroergoline-8β-carboxamide (1P-AL-LAD) using various mass spectrometric, gas- and liquid chromatographic and spectroscopic methods. In vitro metabolism studies using pooled human liver microsomes (pHLM) confirmed that 1P-AL-LAD converted to AL-LAD as the most abundant metabolite consistent with the hypothesis that 1P-AL-LAD may act as a prodrug. Fourteen metabolites were detected in total; metabolic reactions included hydroxylation of the core lysergamide ring structure or the N6 -allyl group, formation of dihydrodiol metabolites, N-dealkylation, N1 -deacylation, dehydrogenation, and combinations thereof. The in vivo behavioral activity of 1P-AL-LAD was evaluated using the mouse head twitch response (HTR), a 5-HT2A -mediated head movement that serves as a behavioral proxy in rodents for human hallucinogenic effects. 1P-AL-LAD induced a dose-dependent increase in HTR counts with an inverted U-shaped dose-response function, similar to lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, and other psychedelics. Following intraperitoneal injection, the median effective dose (ED50 ) for 1P-AL-LAD was 491 nmol/kg, making it almost three times less potent than AL-LAD (174.9 nmol/kg). Previous studies have shown that N1 -substitution disrupts the ability of lysergamides to activate the 5-HT2A receptor; based on the in vitro metabolism data, 1P-AL-LAD may induce the HTR because it acts as a prodrug and is metabolized to AL-LAD after administration to mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon D Brandt
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Pierce V Kavanagh
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St. James Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland
| | - Folker Westphal
- State Bureau of Criminal Investigation Schleswig-Holstein, Section Narcotics/Toxicology, Kiel, Germany
| | - Benedikt Pulver
- State Bureau of Criminal Investigation Schleswig-Holstein, Section Narcotics/Toxicology, Kiel, Germany.,Institute of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Toxicology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Hermann Staudinger Graduate School, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Hannes M Schwelm
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Toxicology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Hermann Staudinger Graduate School, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Kyla Whitelock
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Volker Auwärter
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Toxicology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Adam L Halberstadt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
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Brandt SD, Kavanagh PV, Westphal F, Pulver B, Morton K, Stratford A, Dowling G, Halberstadt AL. Return of the lysergamides. Part VII: Analytical and behavioural characterization of 1-valeroyl-d-lysergic acid diethylamide (1V-LSD). Drug Test Anal 2022; 14:733-740. [PMID: 34837347 PMCID: PMC9191648 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The psychopharmacological properties of the psychedelic drug lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) have attracted the interest of several generations of scientists. While further explorations involving novel LSD-type compounds are needed to assess their potential as medicinal drugs, the emergence of novel derivatives as recreational drugs has also been observed. 1-Valeroyl-LSD (also known as 1-valeryl-LSD, 1-pentanoyl-LSD, 1V-LSD, or "Valerie") is a new N1 -acylated LSD derivative that recently appeared on the online market, and it could be viewed as a higher homolog of ALD-52, 1P-LSD, and 1B-LSD. The present study included the analytical characterization and involved various methods of mass spectrometry (MS), gas and liquid chromatography (GC and LC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, GC-solid-state infrared (GC-sIR) analysis, and Raman spectroscopy. The in vivo activity of 1V-LSD was assessed using the mouse head-twitch response (HTR), a 5-HT2A -mediated head movement that serves as a behavioral proxy in rodents for human hallucinogenic effects. Similar to LSD and other psychedelic drugs, the HTR induced by 1V-LSD was dose dependent, and the median effective dose for 1V-LSD was 373 nmol/kg, which was about a third of the potency of LSD (ED50 = 132.8 nmol/kg). Lysergamides containing the N1 -substituent typically act as weak partial agonists at the 5-HT2A receptor and are believed to serve as prodrugs for LSD. 1V-LSD is also likely to be hydrolyzed to LSD and serve as a prodrug, but studies to assess the biotransformation and receptor pharmacology of 1V-LSD should be performed to fully elucidate its mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon D. Brandt
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Pierce V. Kavanagh
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Folker Westphal
- Section Narcotics/Toxicology, State Bureau of Criminal Investigation Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Benedikt Pulver
- Section Narcotics/Toxicology, State Bureau of Criminal Investigation Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Kathleen Morton
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | | | - Geraldine Dowling
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland,Department of Life Sciences, School of Science, Sligo Institute of Technology, Sligo, Ireland
| | - Adam L. Halberstadt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA,Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA
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9
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Vilca-Melendez S, Uthaug MV, Griffin JL. 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance: A Future Approach to the Metabolic Profiling of Psychedelics in Human Biofluids? Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:742856. [PMID: 34966300 PMCID: PMC8710695 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.742856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
While psychedelics may have therapeutic potential for treating mental health disorders such as depression, further research is needed to better understand their biological effects and mechanisms of action when considering the development of future novel therapy approaches. Psychedelic research could potentially benefit from the integration of metabonomics by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy which is an analytical chemistry-based approach that can measure the breakdown of drugs into their metabolites and their metabolic consequences from various biofluids. We have performed a systematic review with the primary aim of exploring published literature where 1H NMR analysed psychedelic substances including psilocin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), LSD derivatives, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) and bufotenin. The second aim was to assess the benefits and limitations of 1H NMR spectroscopy-based metabolomics as a tool in psychedelic research and the final aim was to explore potential future directions. We found that the most current use of 1H NMR in psychedelic research has been for the structural elucidation and analytical characterisation of psychedelic molecules and that no papers used 1H NMR in the metabolic profiling of biofluids, thus exposing a current research gap and the underuse of 1H NMR. The efficacy of 1H NMR spectroscopy was also compared to mass spectrometry, where both metabonomics techniques have previously shown to be appropriate for biofluid analysis in other applications. Additionally, potential future directions for psychedelic research were identified as real-time NMR, in vivo 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and 1H NMR studies of the gut microbiome. Further psychedelic studies need to be conducted that incorporate the use of 1H NMR spectroscopy in the analysis of metabolites both in the peripheral biofluids and in vivo to determine whether it will be an effective future approach for clinical and naturalistic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvana Vilca-Melendez
- Department of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Malin V. Uthaug
- The Centre for Psychedelic Research, Department of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Julian L. Griffin
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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10
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Brandt SD, Kavanagh PV, Westphal F, Stratford A, Blanckaert P, Dowling G, Grill M, Schwelm HM, Auwärter V, Chapman SJ. Separating the wheat from the chaff: Observations on the analysis of lysergamides LSD, MIPLA, and LAMPA. Drug Test Anal 2021; 14:545-556. [PMID: 34022102 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a potent psychoactive substance that has attracted great interest in clinical research. As the pharmacological exploration of LSD analogs continues to grow, some of those analogs have appeared on the street market. Given that LSD analogs are uncontrolled in many jurisdictions, it is important that these analogs be differentiated from LSD. This report presents the analysis of blotters found to contain the N-methyl-N-isopropyl isomer of LSD (MIPLA), and techniques to differentiate it from LSD and the N-methyl-N-propyl isomer (LAMPA) under routine conditions. Gas chromatography (GC)-solid phase infrared spectroscopy was particularly helpful. GC-electron ionization-tandem mass spectrometry of the m/z 72 iminium ion also provided sufficient information to distinguish the three isomers on mass spectral grounds alone, where chromatographic separation proved challenging. Derivatization with 2,2,2-trifluoro-N,N-bis (trimethylsilyl)acetamide (BSTFA) also led to improved GC separation. Liquid chromatography single quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-Q-MS) and in-source collision-induced dissociation allowed for the differentiation between MIPLA and LAMPA based on distinct m/z 239 ion ratios when co-eluting. An alternative LC-MS/MS method improved the separation between all three lysergamides, but LSD was found to co-elute with iso-LSD. However, a comparison of ion ratios recorded for transitions at m/z 324.2 > 223.2 and m/z 324.2 > 208.2 facilitated their differentiation. The analysis of two blotters by LC-Q-MS revealed the presence of 180 and 186 μg MIPLA per blotter. These procedures may be used to avoid inadvertent misidentification of MIPLA or LAMPA as LSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon D Brandt
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Pierce V Kavanagh
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St. James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Folker Westphal
- Section Narcotics/Toxicology, State Bureau of Criminal Investigation Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Peter Blanckaert
- Belgian Early Warning System Drugs, Substance Use and Related Disorders, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Geraldine Dowling
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St. James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.,Department of Life Sciences, School of Science, Sligo Institute of Technology, Sligo, Ireland
| | | | - Hannes M Schwelm
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Toxicology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Volker Auwärter
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Toxicology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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11
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Brandt SD, Kavanagh PV, Westphal F, Stratford A, Elliott SP, Dowling G, Halberstadt AL. Analytical profile of N-ethyl-N-cyclopropyl lysergamide (ECPLA), an isomer of lysergic acid 2,4-dimethylazetidide (LSZ). Drug Test Anal 2020; 12:1514-1521. [PMID: 32803833 PMCID: PMC9191644 DOI: 10.1002/dta.2911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Recent investigations have shown that N-ethyl-N-cyclopropyl lysergamide (ECPLA) produces LSD-like behavioral effects in mice, which suggests that it may act as a hallucinogen in humans. Although the use of ECPLA as a recreational drug has been limited, key analytical data that can be used to detect ECPLA are required for future forensic and clinical investigations. ECPLA is an isomer of (2′S,4′S)-lysergic acid 2,4-dimethylazetidide (LSZ), a lysergamide that emerged as a recreational drug in 2013. Several analytical approaches were examined, including single- and tandem mass spectrometry platforms at low and high resolution, gas- and liquid chromatography (GC, LC), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and GC condensed-phase infrared spectroscopy (GC-sIR). ECPLA and LSZ could be differentiated by NMR, GC-sIR, GC, and LC-based methods. The electron ionization mass spectra of ECPLA and LSZ contained ion clusters typically observed with related lysergamides such as m/z 150–155, m/z 177–182, m/z 191–197, m/z 205–208, and m/z 219–224. One of the significant differences in abundance related to these clusters included ions at m/z 196 and m/z 207/208. The base peaks were detected at m/z 221 in both cases followed by the retro-Diels-Alder fragment at m/z 292. Minor but noticeable differences between the two isomers could also be seen in the relative abundance of m/z 98 and m/z 41. Electrospray ionization mass spectra included lysergamide-related ions at m/z 281, 251, 223, 208, 197, 180, and 140. LSZ (but not ECPLA) showed product ions at m/z 267 and m/z 98 under the conditions used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon D Brandt
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Pierce V Kavanagh
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Folker Westphal
- State Bureau of Criminal Investigation Schleswig-Holstein, Section Narcotics/Toxicology, Kiel, Germany
| | | | | | - Geraldine Dowling
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.,Department of Life Sciences, School of Science, Sligo Institute of Technology, Sligo, Ireland
| | - Adam L Halberstadt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA, USA
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12
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Abstract
Psychoactive substances with chemical structures or pharmacological profiles that are similar to traditional drugs of abuse continue to emerge on the recreational drug market. Internet vendors may at least temporarily sell these so-called designer drugs without adhering to legal statutes or facing legal consequences. Overall, the mechanism of action and adverse effects of designer drugs are similar to traditional drugs of abuse. Stimulants, such as amphetamines and cathinones, primarily interact with monoamine transporters and mostly induce sympathomimetic adverse effects. Agonism at μ-opioid receptors and γ-aminobutyric acid-A (GABAA) or GABAB receptors mediates the pharmacological effects of sedatives, which may induce cardiorespiratory depression. Dissociative designer drugs primarily act as N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonists and pose similar health risks as the medically approved dissociative anesthetic ketamine. The cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor is thought to drive the psychoactive effects of synthetic cannabinoids, which are associated with a less desirable effect profile and more severe adverse effects compared with cannabis. Serotonergic 5-hydroxytryptamine-2A (5-HT2A) receptors mediate alterations of perception and cognition that are induced by serotonergic psychedelics. Because of their novelty, designer drugs may remain undetected by routine drug screening, thus hampering evaluations of adverse effects. Intoxication reports suggest that several designer drugs are used concurrently, posing a high risk for severe adverse effects and even death.
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13
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Brandt SD, Kavanagh PV, Westphal F, Stratford A, Odland AU, Klein AK, Dowling G, Dempster NM, Wallach J, Passie T, Halberstadt AL. Return of the lysergamides. Part VI: Analytical and behavioural characterization of 1-cyclopropanoyl-d-lysergic acid diethylamide (1CP-LSD). Drug Test Anal 2020; 12:812-826. [PMID: 32180350 DOI: 10.1002/dta.2789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a prototypical serotonergic psychedelic drug and the subject of many clinical investigations. In recent years, a range of lysergamides has emerged with the production of some being inspired by the existing scientific literature. Others, for example various 1-acyl substituted lysergamides, did not exist before their appearance as research chemicals. 1-Cylopropanoyl-LSD (1CP-LSD) has recently emerged as a new addition to the group of lysergamide-based designer drugs and is believed to be psychoactive in humans. In this investigation, 1CP-LSD was subjected to detailed analytical characterizations including various mass spectrometry (MS) platforms, gas and liquid chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, solid phase and GC condensed phase infrared spectroscopy. Analysis by GC-MS also revealed the detection of artificially induced degradation products. Incubation of 1CP-LSD with human serum led to the formation of LSD, indicating that it may act as a prodrug for LSD in vivo, similar to other 1-acyl substituted lysergamides. The analysis of blotters and pellets is also included. 1CP-LSD also induces the head-twitch response (HTR) in C57BL/6 J mice, indicating that it produces an LSD-like behavioural profile. 1CP-LSD induced the HTR with an ED50 = 430.0 nmol/kg which was comparable to 1P-LSD (ED50 = 349.6 nmol/kg) investigated previously. Clinical studies are required to determine the potency and profile of the effects produced by 1CP-LSD in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon D Brandt
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Pierce V Kavanagh
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Folker Westphal
- Section Narcotics/Toxicology, State Bureau of Criminal Investigation Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Anna U Odland
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Adam K Klein
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Geraldine Dowling
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.,Department of Life Sciences, School of Science, Sligo Institute of Technology, Sligo, Ireland
| | - Nicola M Dempster
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Jason Wallach
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Torsten Passie
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Dr Senckenberg Institute for History and Ethics in Medicine, Goethe-University Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | - Adam L Halberstadt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.,Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, California, USA
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14
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Tsochatzis E, Lopes JA, Reniero F, Holland M, Åberg J, Guillou C. Identification of 1-Butyl-Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (1B-LSD) in Seized Blotter Paper Using an Integrated Workflow of Analytical Techniques and Chemo-Informatics. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25030712. [PMID: 32045999 PMCID: PMC7037844 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25030712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid dispersion of new psychoactive substances (NPS) presents challenges to customs services and analytical laboratories, which are involved in their detection and characterization. When the seized material is limited in quantity or of a complex nature, or when the target substance is present in very small amounts, the need to use advanced analytical techniques, efficient workflows and chemo-informatics tools is essential for the complete identification and elucidation of these substances. The current work describes the application of such a workflow in the analysis of a single blotter paper, seized by Swedish customs, that led to the identification of a lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) derivative, 1-butyl-lysergic acid diethylamide (1B-LSD). Such blotter paper generally contains an amount in the range of 30–100 ug. This substance, which is closely related to 1-propionyl-lysergic acid diethylamide (1P-LSD), seems to have only recently reached the drug street market. Its identification was made possible by comprehensively combining gas chromatography with mass spectrometry detection (GC–MS), liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution tandem MS (LC–HR-MS/MS), Orbitrap-MS and both 1D and 2D nuclear-magnetic-resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. All the obtained data have been managed, assessed, processed and evaluated using a chemo-informatics platform to produce the effective chemical and structural identification of 1B-LSD in the seized material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanouil Tsochatzis
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), I-20127 Ispra, Italy; (E.T.); (F.R.); (M.H.)
| | - Joao Alberto Lopes
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), I-20127 Ispra, Italy; (E.T.); (F.R.); (M.H.)
- Correspondence: (J.A.L.); (C.G.); Tel.: +32-1457-3032 (J.A.L.); +39-0332785678 (C.G.)
| | - Fabiano Reniero
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), I-20127 Ispra, Italy; (E.T.); (F.R.); (M.H.)
| | - Margaret Holland
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), I-20127 Ispra, Italy; (E.T.); (F.R.); (M.H.)
| | - Jenny Åberg
- Swedish Customs Laboratory, Box 6055, SE-171 06 Solna, Sweden;
| | - Claude Guillou
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), I-20127 Ispra, Italy; (E.T.); (F.R.); (M.H.)
- Correspondence: (J.A.L.); (C.G.); Tel.: +32-1457-3032 (J.A.L.); +39-0332785678 (C.G.)
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15
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Elliott SP, Holdbrook T, Brandt SD. Prodrugs of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS): A New Challenge. J Forensic Sci 2020; 65:913-920. [DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.14268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2019] [Revised: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Simon P. Elliott
- Elliott Forensic Consulting Birmingham U.K
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Forensic Sciences King’s College London London U.K
| | - Tanith Holdbrook
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Forensic Sciences King’s College London London U.K
| | - Simon D. Brandt
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool U.K
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16
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Pharmacological and biotransformation studies of 1-acyl-substituted derivatives of d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Neuropharmacology 2019; 172:107856. [PMID: 31756337 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.107856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The ergoline d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is one of the most potent psychedelic drugs. 1-Acetyl-LSD (ALD-52), a derivative of LSD containing an acetyl group on the indole nitrogen, also produces psychedelic effects in humans and has about the same potency as LSD. Recently, several other 1-acyl-substitued LSD derivatives, including 1-propanoyl-LSD (1P-LSD) and 1-butanoyl-LSD (1B-LSD), have appeared as designer drugs. Although these compounds are assumed to act as prodrugs for LSD, studies have not specifically tested this prediction. The present investigation was conducted to address the gap of information about the pharmacological effects and mechanism-of-action of 1-acyl-substituted LSD derivatives. Competitive binding studies and calcium mobilization assays were performed to assess the interaction of ALD-52, 1P-LSD, and 1B-LSD with serotonin 5-HT2 receptor subtypes. A receptorome screening was performed with 1B-LSD to assess its binding to other potential targets. Head twitch response (HTR) studies were performed in C57BL/6J mice to assess in vivo activation of 5-HT2A (the receptor thought to be primarily responsible for hallucinogenesis). Finally, liquid chromatography/ion-trap mass spectrometry (LC/MS) was used to quantify plasma levels of LSD in Sprague-Dawley rats treated with ALD-52 and 1P-LSD. 1-Acyl-substitution reduced the affinity of LSD for most monoamine receptors, including 5-HT2A sites, by one to two orders of magnitude. Although LSD acts as an agonist at 5-HT2 subtypes, ALD-52, 1P-LSD and 1B-LSD have weak efficacy or act as antagonists in Ca2+-mobilization assays. Despite the detrimental effect of 1-acyl substitution on 5-HT2A affinity and efficacy, 1-acyl-substitued LSD derivatives induce head twitches in mice with relatively high potency. High levels of LSD were detected in the plasma of rats after subcutaneous administration of ALD-52 and 1P-LSD, demonstrating these compounds are rapidly and efficiently deacylated in vivo. These findings are consistent with the prediction that ALD-52, 1P-LSD and 1B-LSD serve as prodrugs for LSD. This article is part of the special issue entitled 'Serotonin Research: Crossing Scales and Boundaries'.
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17
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Grumann C, Henkel K, Stratford A, Hermanns-Clausen M, Passie T, Brandt SD, Auwärter V. Validation of an LC-MS/MS method for the quantitative analysis of 1P-LSD and its tentative metabolite LSD in fortified urine and serum samples including stability tests for 1P-LSD under different storage conditions. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2019; 174:270-276. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2019.05.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/26/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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18
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Chia XWS, Ong MC, Yeo YYC, Ho YJ, Binte Ahmad Nasir EI, Tan LLJ, Chua PY, Yap TWA, Lim JLW. Simultaneous analysis of 2Cs, 25-NBOHs, 25-NBOMes and LSD in seized exhibits using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry: A targeted approach. Forensic Sci Int 2019; 301:394-401. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.05.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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19
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Brandt SD, Kavanagh PV, Westphal F, Stratford A, Elliott SP, Dowling G, Wallach J, Halberstadt AL. Return of the lysergamides. Part V: Analytical and behavioural characterization of 1-butanoyl-d-lysergic acid diethylamide (1B-LSD). Drug Test Anal 2019; 11:1122-1133. [PMID: 31083768 DOI: 10.1002/dta.2613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Revised: 05/05/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The psychedelic properties of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) have captured the imagination of researchers for many years and its rediscovery as an important research tool is evidenced by its clinical use within neuroscientific and therapeutic settings. At the same time, a number of novel LSD analogs have recently emerged as recreational drugs, which makes it necessary to study their analytical and pharmacological properties. One recent addition to this series of LSD analogs is 1-butanoyl-LSD (1B-LSD), a constitutional isomer of 1-propanoyl-6-ethyl-6-nor-lysergic acid diethylamide (1P-ETH-LAD), another LSD analog that was described previously. This study presents a comprehensive analytical characterization of 1B-LSD employing nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), low- and high-resolution mass spectrometry platforms, gas- and liquid chromatography (GC and LC), and GC-condensed phase and attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy analyses. Analytical differentiation of 1B-LSD from 1P-ETH-LAD was straightforward. LSD and other serotonergic hallucinogens induce the head-twitch response (HTR) in rats and mice, which is believed to be mediated largely by 5-HT2A receptor activation. HTR studies were conducted in C57BL/6J mice to assess whether 1B-LSD has LSD-like behavioral effects. 1B-LSD produced a dose-dependent increase in HTR counts, acting with ~14% (ED50 = 976.7 nmol/kg) of the potency of LSD (ED50 = 132.8 nmol/kg). This finding suggests that the behavioral effects of 1B-LSD are reminiscent of LSD and other serotonergic hallucinogens. The possibility exists that 1B-LSD serves as a pro-drug for LSD. Further investigations are warranted to confirm whether 1B-LSD produces LSD-like psychoactive effects in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon D Brandt
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Pierce V Kavanagh
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St. James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Folker Westphal
- Section Narcotics/Toxicology, State Bureau of Criminal Investigation Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | | | | | - Geraldine Dowling
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St. James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.,Department of Life Sciences, School of Science, Sligo Institute of Technology, Sligo, Ireland
| | - Jason Wallach
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Adam L Halberstadt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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20
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Palamar JJ, Le A. Use of new and uncommon synthetic psychoactive drugs among a nationally representative sample in the United States, 2005-2017. Hum Psychopharmacol 2019; 34:e2690. [PMID: 30843283 PMCID: PMC6534815 DOI: 10.1002/hup.2690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 01/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aims to examine patterns and first mentions of reported use of new or uncommon drugs across 13 years, among nationally representative samples in the United States. METHODS Participants (ages ≥12) in the National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (2005-2017, N = 730,418) were provided opportunities to type in names of new or uncommon drugs they had ever used that were not specifically queried. We examined self-reported use across survey years and determined years of first mentions. RESULTS From 2005 to 2017, there were 2,343 type-in responses for use of 79 new or uncommon synthetic drugs, and 54 were first-ever mentions of these drugs. The majority (65.8%) of mentions were phenethylamines (e.g., 2C-x, NBOMe), which were also the plurality of new drug mentions (n = 22; 40.7%). Mentions of 2C-x drugs in particular increased from 30 mentions in 2005 to 147 mentions in 2013. We estimate an upward trend in use of new or uncommon drugs between 2005 and 2017 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Although type-in responses on surveys are limited and underestimate prevalence of use, such responses can help inform researchers when new compounds are used. Continued surveillance of use of new and uncommon drugs is needed to inform adequate public health response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph J. Palamar
- Department of Population Health, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Austin Le
- Department of Population Health, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, New York, USA,New York University College of Dentistry, New York, New York, USA
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21
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Halberstadt AL, Chatha M, Chapman SJ, Brandt SD. Comparison of the behavioral effects of mescaline analogs using the head twitch response in mice. J Psychopharmacol 2019; 33:406-414. [PMID: 30789291 PMCID: PMC6848748 DOI: 10.1177/0269881119826610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent years, there has been increasing scientific interest in the effects and pharmacology of serotonergic hallucinogens. While a large amount of experimental work has been conducted to characterize the behavioral response to hallucinogens in rodents, there has been little systematic investigation of mescaline and its analogs. The hallucinogenic potency of mescaline is increased by α-methylation and by homologation of the 4-methoxy group but it not clear whether these structural modifications have similar effects on the activity of mescaline in rodent models. METHODS In the present study, the head twitch response (HTR), a 5-HT2A receptor-mediated behavior induced by serotonergic hallucinogens, was used to assess the effects of mescaline and several analogs in C57BL/6J mice. HTR experiments were conducted with mescaline, escaline (4-ethoxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenylethylamine) and proscaline (3,5-dimethoxy-4-propoxyphenylethylamine), their α-methyl homologs TMA (3,4,5-trimethoxyamphetamine), 3C-E (4-ethoxy-3,5-dimethoxyamphetamine) and 3C-P (3,5-dimethoxy-4-propoxyamphetamine), and the 2,4,5-substituted regioisomers TMA-2 (2,4,5-trimethoxyamphetamine), MEM (4-ethoxy-2,5-dimethoxyamphetamine) and MPM (2,5-dimethoxy-4-propoxyamphetamine). RESULTS TMA induced the HTR and was twice as potent as mescaline. For both mescaline and TMA, replacing the 4-methoxy substituent with an ethoxy or propoxy group increased potency in the HTR assay. By contrast, although TMA-2 also induced the HTR with twice the potency of mescaline, potency was not altered by homologation of the 4-alkoxy group in TMA-2. CONCLUSIONS The potency relationships for these compounds in mice closely parallel the human hallucinogenic data. These findings are consistent with evidence that 2,4,5- and 3,4,5-substituted phenylalkylamine hallucinogens exhibit distinct structure-activity relationships. These results provide additional evidence that the HTR assay can be used to investigate the structure-activity relationships of serotonergic hallucinogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam L. Halberstadt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0804, USA,Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, 3350 La Jolla Village Dr., San Diego, CA 92161, USA,Correspondence to: Adam L. Halberstadt, Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093-0804 USA.
| | - Muhammad Chatha
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0804, USA
| | | | - Simon D. Brandt
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK
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22
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Halberstadt AL, Klein LM, Chatha M, Valenzuela LB, Stratford A, Wallach J, Nichols DE, Brandt SD. Pharmacological characterization of the LSD analog N-ethyl-N-cyclopropyl lysergamide (ECPLA). Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2019; 236:799-808. [PMID: 30298278 PMCID: PMC6848745 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-5055-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE The lysergamide lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a prototypical classical hallucinogen with remarkably high potency. LSD remains a popular recreational drug but is also becoming an important research tool for medical and neuroscience studies. Recently, several lysergamides that are close structural analogs of LSD have been sold as recreational drugs, which suggests that further studies are needed to explore the pharmacological properties of these compounds. OBJECTIVE In this present investigation, another LSD congener, N-ethyl-N-cyclopropyl lysergamide (ECPLA), which to date has not been marketed as a recreational substance, was evaluated for its pharmacological features relative to those previously reported for LSD. The experiments focused on interactions with the 5-HT2A receptor, which is responsible for mediating the psychedelic effects of LSD and other hallucinogens. METHODS Competitive binding assays were performed to measure the affinity of ECPLA for 27 monoamine receptors. The ability of ECPLA to activate human 5-HT2 receptor subtypes was assessed using calcium mobilization assays. Head twitch response (HTR) studies were conducted in C57BL/6J mice to determine whether ECPLA activates 5-HT2A receptors in vivo. Two other N-alkyl substituted lysergamides, N-methyl-N-isopropyl lysergamide (MIPLA) and N-methyl-N-propyl lysergamide (LAMPA), were also tested in the HTR paradigm for comparative purposes. RESULTS ECPLA has high affinity for most serotonin receptors, α2-adrenoceptors, and D2-like dopamine receptors. Additionally, ECPLA was found to be a potent, highly efficacious 5-HT2A agonist for Gq-mediated calcium flux. Treatment with ECPLA induced head twitches in mice with a median effective dose (ED50) of 317.2 nmol/kg (IP), which is ~ 40% of the potency observed previously for LSD. LAMPA (ED50 = 358.3 nmol/kg) was virtually equipotent with ECPLA in the HTR paradigm whereas MIPLA (ED50 = 421.7 nmol/kg) was slightly less potent than ECPLA. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate that the pharmacological properties of ECPLA, MIPLA, and LAMPA are reminiscent of LSD and other lysergamide hallucinogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam L. Halberstadt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0804, USA,Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, 3350 La Jolla Village Dr., San Diego, CA 92161, USA,Correspondence to: Adam L. Halberstadt, Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093-0804 USA.
| | - Landon M. Klein
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0804, USA
| | - Muhammad Chatha
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0804, USA
| | - Laura B. Valenzuela
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0804, USA
| | | | - Jason Wallach
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, University of the Sciences, 600 South 43rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - David E. Nichols
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Genetic Medicine Building, 120 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Simon D. Brandt
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK
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23
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Wagmann L, Richter LHJ, Kehl T, Wack F, Bergstrand MP, Brandt SD, Stratford A, Maurer HH, Meyer MR. In vitro metabolic fate of nine LSD-based new psychoactive substances and their analytical detectability in different urinary screening procedures. Anal Bioanal Chem 2019; 411:4751-4763. [PMID: 30617391 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-018-1558-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The market of new psychoactive substances (NPS) is characterized by a high turnover and thus provides several challenges for analytical toxicology. The analysis of urine samples often requires detailed knowledge about metabolism given that parent compounds either may be present only in small amounts or may not even be excreted. Hence, knowledge of the metabolism of NPS is a prerequisite for the development of reliable analytical methods. The main aim of this work was to elucidate for the first time the pooled human liver S9 fraction metabolism of the nine d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) derivatives 1-acetyl-LSD (ALD-52), 1-propionyl-LSD (1P-LSD), 1-butyryl-LSD (1B-LSD), N6-ethyl-nor-LSD (ETH-LAD), 1-propionyl-N6-ethyl-nor-LSD (1P-ETH-LAD), N6-allyl-nor-LSD (AL-LAD), N-ethyl-N-cyclopropyl lysergamide (ECPLA), (2'S,4'S)-lysergic acid 2,4-dimethylazetidide (LSZ), and lysergic acid morpholide (LSM-775) by means of liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry. Identification of the monooxygenase enzymes involved in the initial metabolic steps was performed using recombinant human enzymes and their contribution confirmed by inhibition experiments. Overall, N-dealkylation and hydroxylation, as well as combinations of these steps predominantly catalyzed by CYP1A2 and CYP3A4, were found. For ALD-52, 1P-LSD, and 1B-LSD, deacylation to LSD was observed. The obtained mass spectral data of all metabolites are essential for reliable analytical detection particularly in urinalysis and for differentiation of the LSD-like compounds as biotransformations also led to structurally identical metabolites. However, in urine of rats after the administration of expected recreational doses and using standard urine screening approaches, parent drugs or metabolites could not be detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Wagmann
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University, Kirrberger Str. 100, 66421, Homburg, Germany
| | - Lilian H J Richter
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University, Kirrberger Str. 100, 66421, Homburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Kehl
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University, Kirrberger Str. 100, 66421, Homburg, Germany
| | - Franziska Wack
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University, Kirrberger Str. 100, 66421, Homburg, Germany
| | - Madeleine Pettersson Bergstrand
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University, Kirrberger Str. 100, 66421, Homburg, Germany.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Chemistry, Karolinska Institutet, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Simon D Brandt
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Byron Street, Liverpool, L33AF, UK
| | | | - Hans H Maurer
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University, Kirrberger Str. 100, 66421, Homburg, Germany
| | - Markus R Meyer
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University, Kirrberger Str. 100, 66421, Homburg, Germany.
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24
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Nichols DE. Dark Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD). ACS Chem Neurosci 2018; 9:2331-2343. [PMID: 29461039 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is one of the most potent psychoactive agents known, producing dramatic alterations of consciousness after submilligram (≥20 μg) oral doses. Following the accidental discovery of its potent psychoactive effects in 1943, it was supplied by Sandoz Laboratories as an experimental drug that might be useful as an adjunct for psychotherapy, or to give psychiatrists insight into the mental processes in their patients. The finding of serotonin in the mammalian brain in 1953, and its structural resemblance to LSD, quickly led to ideas that serotonin in the brain might be involved in mental disorders, initiating rapid research interest in the neurochemistry of serotonin. LSD proved to be physiologically very safe and nonaddictive, with a very low incidence of adverse events when used in controlled experiments. Widely hailed by psychiatry as a breakthrough in the 1950s and early 1960s, clinical research with LSD ended by about 1970, when it was formally placed into Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 following its growing popularity as a recreational drug. Within the past 5 years, clinical research with LSD has begun in Europe, but there has been none in the United States. LSD is proving to be a powerful tool to help understand brain dynamics when combined with modern brain imaging methods. It remains to be seen whether therapeutic value for LSD can be confirmed in controlled clinical trials, but promising results have been obtained in small pilot trials of depression, anxiety, and addictions using psilocybin, a related psychedelic molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- David E. Nichols
- Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
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25
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Brandt SD, Kavanagh PV, Twamley B, Westphal F, Elliott SP, Wallach J, Stratford A, Klein LM, McCorvy JD, Nichols DE, Halberstadt AL. Return of the lysergamides. Part IV: Analytical and pharmacological characterization of lysergic acid morpholide (LSM-775). Drug Test Anal 2018; 10:310-322. [PMID: 28585392 PMCID: PMC6230476 DOI: 10.1002/dta.2222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Revised: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 06/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is perhaps one of the best-known psychoactive substances and many structural modifications of this prototypical lysergamide have been investigated. Several lysergamides were recently encountered as 'research chemicals' or new psychoactive substances (NPS). Although lysergic acid morpholide (LSM-775) appeared on the NPS market in 2013, there is disagreement in the literature regarding the potency and psychoactive properties of LSM-775 in humans. The present investigation attempts to address the gap of information that exists regarding the analytical profile and pharmacological effects of LSM-775. A powdered sample of LSM-775 was characterized by X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS), high mass accuracy electrospray MS/MS, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) diode array detection, HPLC quadrupole MS, and GC solid-state infrared analysis. Screening for receptor affinity and functional efficacy revealed that LSM-775 acts as a nonselective agonist at 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors. Head twitch studies were conducted in C57BL/6J mice to determine whether LSM-775 activates 5-HT2A receptors and produces hallucinogen-like effects in vivo. LSM-775 did not induce the head twitch response unless 5-HT1A receptors were blocked by pretreatment with the antagonist WAY-100,635 (1 mg/kg, subcutaneous). These findings suggest that 5-HT1A activation by LSM-775 masks its ability to induce the head twitch response, which is potentially consistent with reports in the literature indicating that LSM-775 is only capable of producing weak LSD-like effects in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon D. Brandt
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Pierce V. Kavanagh
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, Dublin 8, Ireland
| | - Brendan Twamley
- School of Chemistry, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Folker Westphal
- Section Narcotics/Toxicology, State Bureau of Criminal Investigation Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Jason Wallach
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Landon M. Klein
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - John D. McCorvy
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - David E. Nichols
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Adam L. Halberstadt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
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