Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
June 27, 2010
Byoung‐joon Song, Kwan–hoon Moon, Vijay Upreti et al.
73 citations
MDMA (ecstasy) causes organ damage partly through increased oxidative and nitrosative stress. This review focuses on how oxidative modifications of mitochondrial proteins lead to mitochondrial dysfunction. It describes a method using biotin-N-maleimide as a sensitive probe to identify oxidatively-modified mitochondrial proteins in rats exposed to MDMA, and discusses applications and limitations of this Cys-targeted proteomics approach. The review also covers synergistic drug interactions between MDMA and alcohol, and the potential of this redox-based proteomics method for developing preventive and therapeutic agents against MDMA-induced organ damage.
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
June 27, 2010
Sumit Sarkar, Larry Schmued
63 citations
MDMA (ecstasy) is a hallucinogenic drug with high abuse potential that can cause neurotoxicity in both humans and laboratory animals. In rats and mice, MDMA reduces serotonin levels in cortical axon terminals and can degenerate neurons in brain areas including the insular and parietal cortex, thalamus, tenia tecta, and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Acute effects include arrhythmias, hypertension, hyperthermia, serotonin syndrome, liver problems, seizures, and long-lasting mood and cognitive impairments. In human abusers, serotonergic biochemical markers are reduced. Hyperthermia is a key factor in MDMA-induced neurotoxicity, along with dopamine and serotonin metabolism, nitric oxide generation, glutamate excitotoxicity, serotonin 2A receptor activation, and toxic metabolites.
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
June 27, 2010
Emanuela Turillazzi, Irene Riezzo, Margherita Neri et al.
43 citations
MDMA (ecstasy) can cause four main types of serious toxicity: liver, heart, brain, and overheating. The exact molecular causes are not fully understood, but oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, and mitochondrial dysfunction appear to be key events leading to damage. Animal studies show that MDMA triggers cardiovascular responses similar to amphetamine, involving both catecholaminergic and non-catecholaminergic mechanisms. While evidence of cardiac and liver toxicity is clear, the mechanisms remain unclear; liver damage may involve MDMA metabolism, neurotransmitter release, oxidation of biogenic amines, and hyperthermia. Overwhelming evidence shows MDMA produces acute and long-lasting toxic effects on brain cells in both animals and humans.
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
January 1, 2025
Maram B Alhawarri, Suleiman Olimat
10 citations
An extract of the plant Silene undulata, traditionally used to induce vivid dreams, contains 51 phytochemicals including the β-carboline alkaloids norharman, harmalol, harmaline, harmine, and ibogaine. Computer simulations predicted that harmaline, harmalol, and ibogaine bind to the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor with affinities comparable to LSD, suggesting they may act as agonists. The compounds also showed favorable predicted pharmacokinetic properties. These results support the plant's historical psychoactive use and point to potential therapeutic applications, though further research is needed.
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
January 1, 2017
Alice Ameline, Audrey Farrugia, Jean-Sébastien Raul et al.
A retrospective case report demonstrates acute poisoning with the hallucinogenic designer drug 25I-NBOMe, confirmed through hair analysis six and a half months after consumption. Hair strands were segmented and analyzed by UPLC-MS/MS, revealing 1.0 pg/mg in the 4–6 cm segment and 4.9 pg/mg in the 6–8 cm segment, with the latter aligning with the reported consumption date. The findings represent the first documented use of hair analysis to detect 25I-NBOMe, though the toxicological significance of the measured concentrations remains uncertain due to limited knowledge about the drug's incorporation into hair keratin. The authors caution that hair analysis for new psychoactive substances should be interpreted carefully by experienced forensic toxicologists.