Investigations on the human hepatic cytochrome P450 isozymes involved in the metabolism of 3,4-methylenedioxy-amphetamine (MDA) and benzodioxolyl-butanamine (BDB) enantiomers

Toxicol Lett. 2009 Oct 8;190(1):54-60. doi: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2009.06.866. Epub 2009 Jul 2.

Abstract

3,4-Methylenedioxy-amphetamine (MDA) and benzodioxolyl-butanamine (BDB) are chiral designer drugs distributed on the illicit drug market and they are also N-dealkyl metabolites of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, Ecstasy, Adam), 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA, Eve), and N-methyl-benzodioxolyl-butanamine (MBDB, Eden), respectively. MDA and BDB are mainly metabolized via demethylenation to the corresponding catecholamines. The aim of the present work was to elucidate the contribution of the relevant human P450s in the demethylenation of the MDA and BDB enantiomers. They were incubated using heterologously expressed human P450s and the corresponding metabolites dihydroxyamphetamine and 1,2-dihydroxy-4-[2-amino-butyl]benzene were determined. Highest contributions to the demethylenation as calculated from the enzyme kinetic data were obtained for CYP2D6 (MDA and BDB) and additionally CYP3A4 in the case of BDB at substrate concentrations corresponding to plasma concentrations of recreational users. A preferred transformation of the S-enantiomer could be observed for the CYP2D6- and CYP3A4-catalyzed reactions.

MeSH terms

  • 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine / analogs & derivatives*
  • 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine / chemistry
  • 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine / metabolism*
  • 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine / pharmacokinetics
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / metabolism*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Humans
  • Illicit Drugs / chemistry
  • Illicit Drugs / metabolism*
  • Illicit Drugs / pharmacokinetics
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Kinetics
  • Microsomes, Liver / drug effects*
  • Microsomes, Liver / enzymology
  • N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / chemistry
  • N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / metabolism*
  • N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / pharmacokinetics
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Illicit Drugs
  • N-methyl-1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-butanamine
  • 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine