Forensic toxicology
January 1, 2017
Luciano Chaves Arantes, Ettore Ferrari Júnior, Luciano Figueiredo De Souza et al.
50 citations
A new potent serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonist, 25I-NBOH, was identified in blotter papers by several state-level forensic laboratories in Brazil. The molecule is labile and fragments into 2C-I during routine GC screening, requiring GC-MS, LC-QTOF-MS, FTIR, and NMR for full characterization. Individual doses range from 300 to 1000 μg. Although it is a potent 5-HT2A receptor agonist, 25I-NBOH is not registered with the UNODC and is controlled only in Sweden and Brazil. This is the first scientific report of 25I-NBOH identification in actual seizures.
Forensic toxicology
July 1, 2023
Rie Tanaka, Maiko Kawamura, Sakumi Mizutani et al.
18 citations
Three new analogs of LSD have been identified in paper sheet products sold as designer drugs in Japan. Using mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the compounds were determined to be 1cP-AL-LAD, 1cP-MIPLA, 1V-LSD, and LSZ. Compared to LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD is modified at two positions (N1 and N6), and 1cP-MIPLA at N1 and N18. The metabolic pathways and biological activities of 1cP-AL-LAD and 1cP-MIPLA are not yet reported. This is the first report of LSD analogs with multiple structural modifications detected in sheet products in Japan, raising concerns about future distribution and highlighting the need for continued monitoring.
Forensic toxicology
January 1, 2024
Yuki Okada, Kazuki Ueno, Noriko Nishiwaki et al.
8 citations
Blotter paper labeled "1D-LSD" was seized and analyzed. Although the label suggested the compound was 1-(1,2-dimethylcyclobutane-1-carbonyl)-LSD, chemical analysis using GC/MS, LC/MS, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and NMR spectroscopy revealed the actual substance to be 1-(thiophene-2-carbonyl)-LSD, a different lysergamide. This is the first reported seizure of this compound and the first LSD analog where an aromatic carboxylic acid was condensed to LSD. The finding highlights that drug-infused blotter paper may contain substances inconsistent with their labeling, and authorities should remain vigilant for newly emerging lysergamides.
Forensic toxicology
April 3, 2025
Rie Tanaka, Maiko Kawamura, Michiho Ito et al.
3 citations
Two new LSD analogs, 1S-LSD and 1T-AL-LAD, were identified in sheet products sold in Japan. Their structures were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance. A trace amount of iso-1S-LSD, a C8-epimerization product, was also suggested in one product. This is the first report of these compounds in sheet products in Japan. The metabolic pathways and biological activities of 1S-LSD and 1T-AL-LAD remain unexplored, and further investigation into their possible in vivo deacylation and conversion into LSD or AL-LAD is needed.
Forensic toxicology
January 1, 2025
Bogumiła Byrska, Roman Stanaszek
3 citations
Ecstasy tablets sold on the street in Poland vary widely in their content and often contain little or no MDMA. Analysis of nearly 20,000 tablets seized between 2005 and 2020 showed that the average MDMA content dropped from 90 mg in 2005 to 50 mg in 2011, then spiked to 195 mg per tablet in 2013 before declining again. From 2016 onward, average MDMA content rose, ranging from 60 to 280 mg. Almost 20% of tablets sold as Ecstasy contained other psychoactive substances, including new psychoactive substances (NPS) from various chemical groups or dangerous combinations. This variability poses a high risk to users unaware of a tablet's true composition.
Forensic toxicology
April 24, 2025
Letícia Birk, Bruno Pereira Dos Santos, Daniela Souza Ossanes et al.
2 citations
A simple method using protein precipitation and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed to detect 16 stimulant substances in postmortem blood samples from nearly 1000 Brazilian forensic cases. The method was validated according to ANSI/ASB Standard 036 and showed low quantification limits (5–20 ng/mL) and good precision and accuracy. Analysis of 971 samples found that about 20.1% tested positive for at least one substance, with benzoylecgonine (17.8%), ecgonine methyl ester (13.9%), and cocaine (13.0%) being most common. Significant matrix effects occurred only for EME and phenylephrine.
Forensic toxicology
July 29, 2025
Yuki Azuma, Misa Tanaka, Akiko Asada et al.
1 citation
A new LSD analog, 1S-LSD, which contains a silicon atom, was metabolized in human liver microsomes at a moderately rapid rate, forming LSD early in the process. Sixty-two metabolites were observed, and a metabolic pathway was proposed. The major metabolites had hydroxyl groups on the silicon-containing acyl moiety. Five metabolites that retained this moiety were relatively abundant: N-deethylated 1S-LSD (Si04), N-deethylated and silanolized 1S-LSD (Si06), N-deethylated and monohydroxylated 1S-LSD (Si09 and Si11), and silanolized 1S-LSD (Si21). These five are recommended as target markers for proving 1S-LSD consumption.
Forensic toxicology
July 1, 2026
Yuta Takahashi, Katsuhiro Okuda, Kazuo Matsubara et al.
Diphenidine (DPD) and its analogues 4-methoxydiphenidine (4MeO-DPD) and 4-hydroxydiphenidine (4OH-DPD) all penetrate the blood-brain barrier and trigger dopamine release in rats. 4OH-DPD produced the highest brain concentrations and dopamine release. Pretreatment with verapamil, a P-glycoprotein inhibitor, increased brain levels and prolonged elimination of all compounds, especially 4MeO-DPD, indicating that P-glycoprotein normally restricts their brain entry. Diphenhydramine, an organic cation transporter inhibitor, had no effect. The findings suggest that P-glycoprotein activity is a key factor in the toxicological risk of these emerging novel psychoactive substances.
Forensic toxicology
January 1, 2026
Meejung Park, Sungmin Moon, Nahyun Lee et al.
A validated method using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with solid-phase extraction was developed for simultaneously quantifying 2F-2-oxo-PCE, MDMA, MDA, ketamine, and norketamine in postmortem blood. The method showed satisfactory linearity, accuracy, precision, matrix effect, and recovery. In autopsy cases, 2F-2-oxo-PCE concentrations ranged from 664 to 7911 ng/mL. Concurrent detection with MDMA and ketamine suggested possible polydrug use contributing to fatal outcomes. This is the first forensic toxicological detection of 2F-2-oxo-PCE in autopsy cases, providing critical baseline data for interpreting intoxications involving this emerging dissociative substance.