Metabolism study of two phenethylamine - derived new psychoactive substances using in silico, in vivo, and in vitro approaches.
Yiling Tang, Linhao Xu, Zhenshuo Guo, Junbo Zhao, Yue Xiao, Ping Xiang, Lili Xu, Hui Yan
Archives of toxicology March 10, 2025 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-025-04010-6 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractProscaline and methallylescaline are two phenylethylamine derivatives of the classic hallucinogen mescaline, classified as new psychoactive substances (NPS) not controlled by international drug conventions. Limited toxicity information has hindered their identification. Using high-resolution mass spectrometry with three complementary models—computational prediction, zebrafish (in vivo), and human liver microsomes (in vitro)—the study identified 7 proscaline metabolites and 11 methallylescaline metabolites for the first time. Hydroxylated and N-acetylated products were the major metabolites, enabling their selection as biomarkers for detecting intake of these two NPS over a relatively wide detection window.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Experimental study using complementary in silico, in vivo (zebrafish), and in vitro (human liver microsome) models Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Proscaline and methallylescaline |
| Keywords | Forensic toxicology Metabolomics Phenethylamine detection Biomarkers Human liver microsome |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key finding | Hydroxylated and N-acetylated metabolites are the major metabolites of proscaline and methallylescaline, serving as biomarkers for detecting intake of these two NPS. |
Abstract
New psychoactive substances (NPS) are substances that are not controlled by international drug control conventions but are abused and pose a threat to public health. Proscaline and methallylescaline are two phenylethylamines with psychoactive and stimulant effects and are also derivatives of the classic hallucinogen mescaline. However, limited toxicity information on proscaline and methallylescaline has hindered the identification of these two NPS. Therefore, data on the metabolic profiles of proscaline and methallylescaline are urgently needed. In this study, high-resolution mass spectrometry was used to establish three complementary metabolism models-computational prediction (in silico), zebrafish (in vivo), and human liver microsomes (in vitro)-to study the in vivo and in vitro metabolic fates of proscaline and methallylescaline. The models provided the first identification of 7 proscaline metabolites and 11 methallylescaline metabolites. In addition, hydroxylated and N-acetylated products were identified as the major metabolites of these two phenylethylamines. This enabled the selection of hydroxylated and N-acetylated metabolites as biomarkers of proscaline and methallylescaline, thereby facilitating the specific detection of the intake of these two NPSs in a relatively wide detection window.