Identification of ‘Voodoo’: an emerging substance of abuse in Egypt

Hussien, Rania; Ahmed, Sarah H.; Awad, Hanem M.; El-Shinawi, Mohamed; Hirshon, Jon Mark

doi:10.1080/03067319.2020.1715384

Cited by 24 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…To date, some reports considered voodoo and strox as pure SCs, while others reported presence of hallucinogens such as atropine, hyoscine and hyoscyamine. As a result, little is actually known regarding their exact composition, toxicity profile and their effects on severity scores (Hussien et al, 2020). Waugh et al (2016) noticed significant difference in PSS regarding intoxication by different SCs where ''Pandora's Box'' was associated with significantly higher PSS compared to ''Clockwork Orange''.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pattern of Acute Synthetic Cannabinoids Toxicity in Patients Presented to the Poison Control Center of Ain Shams University Hospitals

Hashem

Mahmoud

Anza

et al. 2021

Ain Shams Journal of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pattern of Acute Synthetic Cannabinoids Toxicity in Patients Presented to the Poison Control Center of Ain Shams University Hospitals

Hashem

Mahmoud

Anza

et al. 2021

Ain Shams Journal of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology

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“…4,[7][8][9]54,55 PA was also recently identified as an ingredient of a newly emerging substance of abuse cocktail named "Voodoo". 3 The tremorgenic indole diterpene alkaloids can have marked adverse impacts on humans and livestock because their toxicity can cause partial or total loss of motor functions, especially when attacking the nervous system or smooth muscles via blocking the α-subunit in the BK channels, which represent so far the main and direct molecular target of PA. 7 Reported PA toxic symptoms include severe tremors, seizures, hyperthermia, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea. 4,5 This study investigates, for the first time, the effects of PA on PNS and attempts to identify a mechanism-based effective and safe natural product that can prevent or reverse this toxicity.…”

Section: ■ Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1 PA can contaminate human and animal food and was recently proven to be an ingredient in the potential substance of abuse cocktail "Voodoo". 2,3 The optimal molecular weight and acceptable lipophilicity qualified PA to cross the blood−brain barriers, where it exerts its toxicological effects through targeting big potassium (BK) channels and other pathways. 4 The ability of PA to spontaneously increase the release of endogenous glutamate, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) in primary cerebellar granule neurons is well documented.…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…commune isolate GS20 . PA can contaminate human and animal food and was recently proven to be an ingredient in the potential substance of abuse cocktail “Voodoo”. , The optimal molecular weight and acceptable lipophilicity qualified PA to cross the blood–brain barriers, where it exerts its toxicological effects through targeting big potassium (BK) channels and other pathways . The ability of PA to spontaneously increase the release of endogenous glutamate, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) in primary cerebellar granule neurons is well documented. ,, All signs of motor system dysfunction such as tremors, seizures, hyperthermia, ataxia, and nystagmus are typically displayed in response to PA toxicity due to its highly selective antagonistic effects on the high-conductance Ca 2+ -activated BK channels. ,, However, PA effects on the peripheral nervous system (PNS) are still ambiguous without definite mechanisms of action and molecular targets. , …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Olive Oil Lignan (+)-Acetoxypinoresinol Peripheral Motor and Neuronal Protection against the Tremorgenic Mycotoxin Penitrem A Toxicity via STAT1 Pathway

Qusa

Abdelwahed

Meyer

et al. 2020

ACS Chem. Neurosci.

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Penitrem A, PA, is an indole diterpene alkaloid produced by several fungal species. PA acts as a selective Ca2+-dependent K-channels (Maxi-K, BK) antagonist in brain, causing motor system dysfunctions including tremors and seizures. However, its molecular mechanism at the peripheral nervous system (PNS) is still ambiguous. The Mediterranean diet key ingredient extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) provides a variety of minor bioactive phenolics. (+)-Pinoresinol (PN) and (+)-1-acetoxypinoresinol (AC) are naturally occurring lignans in EVOO with diverse biological activities. AC exclusively occurs in EVOO, unlike PN, which occurs in several plants. Results suggest that PA neurotoxicity molecular mechanism is mediated, in part, through distortion of the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway. PA selectively activated the STAT1 pathway, independently of the interferon-γ (IFN-γ) pathway, in vitro in Schwann cells and in vivo in Swiss albino mice sciatic nerves. Preliminary in vitro screening of an EVOO phenolic compounds library for the ability to reverse PA toxicity on Schwann cells revealed PN and AC as potential hits. In a Swiss albino mouse model, AC significantly minimized the fatality after intraperitoneal administration of PA fatal doses and normalized most biochemical factors by modulating the STAT1 expression. The olive lignan AC is a novel lead that can prevent the neurotoxicity of food-contaminating tremorgenic indole alkaloid mycotoxins.

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“…Drug abuse problem is increasing in sub-Saharan Africa, with reports of youth engagement in risk behaviour, including injecting and multiple drug use [ 49 – 56 ]. Olawole and colleagues (2018) conducted a systematic review which included 143201 adolescents from sub-Saharan Africa, having an average age of 16 years [ 55 ].…”

Section: Drug Abuse In Sub-saharan Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Contribution of Illicit Drug Use to Pharmaceutical Load in the Environment: A Focus on Sub‐Saharan Africa

Ripanda

Rwiza

Nyanza

et al. 2022

Journal of Environmental and Public Health

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Illicit drug abuse and addiction are universal issues requiring international cooperation and interdisciplinary and multisectoral solutions. These addictive substances are utilized for recreational purposes worldwide, including in sub-Saharan Africa. On the other hand, conventional wastewater treatment facilities such as waste stabilization ponds lack the design to remove the most recent classes of pollutants such as illicit drug abuse. As a result, effluents from these treatment schemes contaminate the entire ecosystem. Public health officials are concerned about detecting these pollutants at alarming levels in some countries, with potential undesirable effects on aquatic species and increased health hazards through exposure to contaminated waters or recycling treated or untreated effluents in agriculture. Contaminants including illicit substances enter the environment by human excreta following illegal intake, spills, or through direct dumping, such as from clandestine laboratories, when their manufacturer does not follow accepted production processes. These substances, like other pharmaceuticals, have biological activity and range from pseudopersistent to highly persistent compounds; hence, they persist in the environment while causing harm to the ecosystem. The presence of powerful pharmacological agents such as cocaine, morphine, and amphetamine in water as complex combinations can impair aquatic organisms and human health. These compounds can harm human beings and ecosystem health apart from their low environmental levels. Therefore, this article examines the presence and levels of illicit substances in ecological compartments such as wastewater, surface and ground waters in sub-Saharan Africa, and their latent impact on the ecosystem. The information on the occurrences of illicit drugs and their metabolic products in the sub-Saharan Africa environment and their contribution to pharmaceutical load is missing. In this case, it is important to research further the presence, levels, distribution, and environmental risks of exposure to human beings and the entire ecosystem.

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Identification of ‘Voodoo’: an emerging substance of abuse in Egypt

Cited by 24 publications

References 26 publications

Pattern of Acute Synthetic Cannabinoids Toxicity in Patients Presented to the Poison Control Center of Ain Shams University Hospitals

Pattern of Acute Synthetic Cannabinoids Toxicity in Patients Presented to the Poison Control Center of Ain Shams University Hospitals

Olive Oil Lignan (+)-Acetoxypinoresinol Peripheral Motor and Neuronal Protection against the Tremorgenic Mycotoxin Penitrem A Toxicity via STAT1 Pathway

Contribution of Illicit Drug Use to Pharmaceutical Load in the Environment: A Focus on Sub‐Saharan Africa

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