Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38459837›Full record

ArticleDrug testing and analysis2024

Metabolite markers for three synthetic tryptamines N-ethyl-N-propyltryptamine, 4-hydroxy-N-ethyl-N-propyltryptamine, and 5-methoxy-N-ethyl-N-propyltryptamine.

Marianne Skov-Skov Bergh, Inger Lise Bogen, Katharina Elisabeth Grafinger, Marilyn A Huestis, Åse Marit Leere Øiestad

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Drug testing and analysis, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
0.6field-weighted citation impact, top 34% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Interpol review of forensic drug chemistry, 2022-2025.Forensic science international. Synergy · 2026
    Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Frontiers in pharmacology · 2024
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.

Marianne Skov-Skov BerghSection for Drug Abuse Research, Department of Forensic Sciences, Division of Laboratory Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3171-3906
Inger Lise BogenSection for Drug Abuse Research, Department of Forensic Sciences, Division of Laboratory Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2877-0624
Katharina Elisabeth GrafingerInstitute of Chemistry and Bioanalytics, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Muttenz, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3647-7455
Marilyn A HuestisInstitute of Emerging Health Professions, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2137-4645
Åse Marit Leere ØiestadSection for Forensic Toxicological Analytics, Department of Forensic Sciences, Division of Laboratory Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7909-5863
Oslo University Hospital · NOFHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts · CHThomas Jefferson University · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

N-Ethyl-N-propyltryptamine (EPT), 4-hydroxy-N-ethyl-N-propyltryptamine (4-OH-EPT), and 5-methoxy-N-ethyl-N-propyltryptamine (5-MeO-EPT) are new psychoactive substances classified as tryptamines, sold online. Many tryptamines metabolize rapidly, and identifying the appropriate metabolites to reveal intake is essential. While the metabolism of 4-OH-EPT and 5-MeO-EPT are not previously described, EPT is known to form metabolites by indole ring hydroxylation among others. Based on general knowledge of metabolic patterns, 5-MeO-EPT is also expected to form ring hydroxylated EPT (5-OH-EPT). In the present study, the aim was to characterize the major metabolites of EPT, 4-OH-EPT, and 5-MeO-EPT, to provide markers for substance identification in forensic casework. The tryptamines were incubated with pooled human liver microsomes at 37°C for up to 4 h. The generated metabolites were separated and detected by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis. The major in vitro EPT metabolites were formed by hydroxylation, N-dealkylation, and carbonylation. In comparison, 4-OH-EPT metabolism was dominated by double bond formation, N-dealkylation, hydroxylation, and carbonylation in vitro and hydroxylation or carbonylation combined with double bond loss, carbonylation, N-dealkylation, and hydroxylation in vivo. 5-MeO-EPT was metabolized by O-demethylation, hydroxylation, and N-dealkylation in vitro. The usefulness of the characterized metabolites in forensic casework was demonstrated by identification of unique metabolites for 4-OH-EPT in a human postmortem blood sample with suspected EPT or 4-OH-EPT intoxication.

Indexed as

Microsomes, LiverTryptaminesBiomarkersHumansHydroxylationPsychotropic DrugsSubstance Abuse DetectionTandem Mass SpectrometryBiomarkersPsychotropic DrugsTryptamines4‐hydroxy‐N‐ethyl‐N‐propyltryptamine (4‐OH‐EPT)5‐methoxy‐N‐ethyl‐N‐propyltryptamine (5‐MeO‐EPT)metabolitemicrosomesN‐ethyl‐N‐propyltryptamine (EPT)new psychoactive substances (NPS)synthetic tryptaminesultra‐high performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC‐QTOF‐MS)

Identifiers

PMID38459837
PMCPMC11635065
OpenAlexW4392615014

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.