Spice drugs as a new trend: Mode of action, identification and legislation

Vardakou, Ioanna; Pistos, Constantinos; Spiliopoulou, Chara

doi:10.1016/j.toxlet.2010.06.002

Cited by 310 publications

(300 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…cannabis, cocaine, opioids, ecstasy, LSD), the products known as new psychoactive substances (NPS) were distributed between three subcategories. The four major classes -phenethylamines, cathinones, piperazines and tryptamines [46] -were listed as "NPS". Their classification is based on the general chemical structure, shared by every substance of each category.…”

Section: Appendixmentioning

confidence: 99%

A geographical analysis of trafficking on a popular darknet market

Broséus

Rhumorbarbe

Morelato

et al. 2017

Forensic Science International

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Cryptomarkets are online marketplaces, located on the darknet, that facilitate the trading of a variety of illegal goods, mostly drugs. While the literature essentially focused on drugs, various other goods and products related to financial or identity fraud, firearms or counterfeit goods, as well as doping products are also offered on these marketplaces. Through the analysis of relevant data collected on a popular marketplace in 2014-2015, Evolution, this research provides an analysis of the structure of trafficking (types and proportions of products, number of vendors, shipping countries). It also aims at highlighting geographical patterns in the trafficking of these products (e.g. trafficking flows, specialisation of vendors, role in the distribution chain). The analysis of the flow of goods between countries emphasises the role of specific countries in the international and domestic trafficking, potentially informing law enforcement agencies to target domestic mails or international posts from specific countries. The research also highlights the large proportion of licit and illicit drug listings and vendors on Evolution, followed by various fraud issues (in particular, financial fraud), the sharing of knowledge (tutorials) and finally goods, currencies and precious metals (principally luxury goods). Looking at the country of origin, there seems to be a clear division between digital and physical products, with more specific information for physical goods. This reveals that the spatial analysis of trafficking is particularly meaningful in the case of physical products (such as illicit drugs) and to a lesser extent for digital products. Finally, the geographical analysis reveals that spatial patterns on Evolution tend to reflect the structure of the traditional illicit market. However, regarding illicit drugs, country-specificity have been observed and are presented in this article.

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Section: Appendixmentioning

confidence: 99%

A geographical analysis of trafficking on a popular darknet market

Broséus

Rhumorbarbe

Morelato

et al. 2017

Forensic Science International

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“…The implementation of appropriate legal restriction of synthetic cannabinoids is hampered by a scarcity of reference materials and analytical data, a problem which is compounded by the sheer rate of emergence of such compounds. 21 Dozens of indole cannabinoids have been identified as components of Spice-like products from around the world, and in some cases the structures were previously unprecedented in the scientific literature. 43−57 In 2010, adamantan-1-yl(1-pentyl-1H-indol-3-yl)methanone (5, AB-001) was identified in products originating from Ireland, and subsequently reported to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) via the Early Warning System (EWS).…”

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confidence: 99%

The Synthesis and Pharmacological Evaluation of Adamantane-Derived Indoles: Cannabimimetic Drugs of Abuse

Banister

Wilkinson

Longworth

et al. 2013

ACS Chem. Neurosci.

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Two novel adamantane derivatives, adamantan-1-yl(1-pentyl-1H-indol-3-yl)methanone (AB-001) and N-(adamtan-1-yl)-1-pentyl-1H-indole-3-carboxamide (SDB-001), were recently identified as cannabimimetic indoles of abuse. Conflicting anecdotal reports of the psychoactivity of AB-001 in humans, and a complete dearth of information about the bioactivity of SDB-001, prompted the preparation of AB-001, SDB-001, and several analogues intended to explore preliminary structure−activity relationships within this class. This study sought to elucidate which structural features of AB-001, SDB-001, and their analogues govern the cannabimimetic potency of these chemotypes in vitro and in vivo. All compounds showed similar full agonist profiles at CB 1 (EC 50 = 16−43 nM) and CB 2 (EC 50 = 29−216 nM) receptors in vitro using a FLIPR membrane potential assay, with the exception of SDB-002, which demonstrated partial agonist activity at CB 2 receptors. The activity of AB-001, AB-002, and SDB-001 in rats was compared to that of Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 9 -THC) and cannabimimetic indole JWH-018 using biotelemetry. SDB-001 dose-dependently induced hypothermia and reduced heart rate (maximal dose 10 mg/kg) with potency comparable to that of Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 9 -THC, maximal dose 10 mg/kg), and lower than that of JWH-018 (maximal dose 3 mg/kg). Additionally, the changes in body temperature and heart rate affected by SDB-001 are of longer duration than those of Δ 9 -THC or JWH-018, suggesting a different pharmacokinetic profile. In contrast, AB-001, and its homologue, AB-002, did not produce significant hypothermic and bradycardic effects, even at relatively higher doses (up to 30 mg/kg), indicating greatly reduced potency compared to Δ 9 -THC, JWH-018, and SDB-001.

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“…HU 210 is an analogue of the tricyclic benzopyran Δ 9 -THC and one of the most potent CB 1 and CB 2 receptor agonists discovered so far (with reported K i values of 0.06-1.6 nM at the CB 1 (Burkey et al 1997;Devane et al 1992a;Pertwee 1997)). The cytotoxic potency of HU 210 may be of interest since this compound is an important ingredient in "Spice" products, herbal mixtures with added synthetic CBs that are smoked to obtain cannabis-like effects (for a review, see Vardakou et al 2010). Although it is difficult to make any assumptions about the relevance of our results to the situation in vivo, especially since the cytotoxic effects were found at relatively high concentrations, but prolonged and/or excessive recreational use of HU 210 may be cytotoxic to cells undergoing rapid mitotic division such as immune cells and cells in the developing embryo.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of cannabinoids and related fatty acids upon the viability of P19 embryonal carcinoma cells

et al. 2013

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Plym Forshell, L. et al. (2013) Effects of cannabinoids and related fatty acids upon the viability of P19 embryonal carcinoma cells. Toxicology, 87(11): 1939Toxicology, 87(11): -1951 http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00204-013-1051-3 Archives ofAccess to the published version may require subscription. Abstract Compounds acting on the cannabinoid (CB) receptors are involved in the control of cell fate, and there is an emerging consensus that CBs have anticancer effects. However, the CB-mediated effects are contradictory since some studies suggest stimulatory effects on cancer cell proliferation, and CBs have been shown to stimulate both proliferation and differentiation of other mitotic cells such as stem and progenitor cells. In this study, the concentration-dependent effects of synthetic and endogenous CBs on the viability of mouse P19 embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells have been examined by using fluorescence assays of cell membrane integrity, cell proliferation, oxidative stress, and detection of apoptosis and necrosis. All compounds examined produced a concentrationdependent decrease in cell viability in the micromolar range, with the potent CB receptor agonist HU 210 and the enantiomer HU 211(with no CB receptor activity) being the most potent compounds examined with apparent IC 50 values of 1 µM and 0.6 µM, respectively. The endogenous CB anandamide showed similar potency and efficacy as structurally related polyunsaturated fatty acids with no reported activity at the CB receptors. The rapid (within hours) decrease in cell viability induced by the examined CBs suggests cytocidal rather than antiproliferative effects, and is dependent on the plating cell population density with the highest toxicity around 100 cells/mm 2 . The CB-induced cytotoxicity, that appears to involve CB receptors and the sphingomyelin-ceramide pathway, is a mixture of both apoptosis and necrosis that can be blocked by the antioxidants α-tocopherol and Nacetylcysteine. In conclusion, both synthetic and endogenous CBs, produce seemingly unspecific cytotoxic effects in the P19 EC cells.

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Spice drugs as a new trend: Mode of action, identification and legislation

Cited by 310 publications

References 27 publications

A geographical analysis of trafficking on a popular darknet market

A geographical analysis of trafficking on a popular darknet market

The Synthesis and Pharmacological Evaluation of Adamantane-Derived Indoles: Cannabimimetic Drugs of Abuse

Effects of cannabinoids and related fatty acids upon the viability of P19 embryonal carcinoma cells

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