Novel Psychoactive Phenethylamines: Impact on Genetic Material.
International journal of molecular sciences – December 17, 2020
Source: PubMed
Summary
Some novel psychoactive phenethylamines, even at doses not causing acute harm, can damage our genetic material. Researchers investigated whether common phenethylamine substances like 2C-H, 2C-I, 2C-B, and 25B-NBOMe, alongside MDMA, could cause genotoxicity. Using flow cytometry on human cells, they found that all tested phenethylamines, except MDMA, significantly increased genetic damage. This genotoxicity was linked to elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. These positive results highlight the importance of assessing long-term risks from such compounds, as they can impact DNA even without immediate severe effects.
Abstract
Psychedelic and stimulating phenethylamines belong to the family of new psychoactive substances (NPS). The acute toxicity framework has begun to be investigated, while studies showing genotoxic potential are very limited or not available. Therefore, in order to fill this gap, the aim of the present work was to evaluate the genotoxicity by treating TK6 cells with 2C-H, 2C-I, 2C-B, 25B-NBOMe, and the popular 3,4-Methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA). On the basis of cytotoxicity and cytostasis results, we selected the concentrations (6.25-35 µM) to be used in genotoxicity analysis. We used the micronucleus (MN) as indicator of genetic damage and analyzed the MNi frequency fold increase by an automated flow cytometric protocol. All substances, except MDMA, resulted genotoxic; therefore, we evaluated reactive oxygen species (ROS) induction as a possible mechanism at the basis of the demonstrated genotoxicity. The obtained results showed a statistically significant increase in ROS levels for all genotoxic phenethylamines confirming this hypothesis. Our results highlight the importance of genotoxicity evaluation for a complete assessment of the risk associated also with NPS exposure. Indeed, the subjects who do not have hazardous behaviors or require hospitalization by using active but still "safe" doses could run into genotoxicity and in the well-known long-term effects associated.