Characterization of in vitro phase I metabolites of methamnetamine in human liver microsomes by liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry
International Journal of Legal Medicine July 1, 2021 Young-Ki Hong, Young-Hoon Kim, Jin-Moo Lee et al.
Methamnetamine (PAL-1046), an amphetamine-based new psychoactive substance that causes excessive serotonin release, is not regulated in most countries and had no prior metabolism studies. Using human liver microsomes and flavin-containing monooxygenase analyzed by liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, eight phase I metabolites were identified. Metabolic processes include N-demethylation, N-hydroxylation, and aromatic hydroxylation. N-hydroxylated metabolites were confirmed using expressed FMOs. The major metabolite results from hydroxylation of the naphthalene ring. These findings may help detect methamnetamine ingestion by users.