Toxicity of Bromo-DragonFLY as a New Psychoactive Substance: Application of <i>In Silico</i> Methods for the Prediction of Key Toxicological Parameters Important to Clinical and Forensic Toxicology
Bromo-DragonFLY is a synthetic new psychoactive substance (NPS) that has gained attention due to its powerful and long-lasting hallucinogenic effects, legal status, and widespread availability. This study aimed to use various <i>in silico</i> toxicology methods to predict key toxicological parameters for Bromo-DragonFLY, including acute toxicity (LD<sub>50</sub>), genotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, health effects, and the potential for endocrine disruption. The results indicate significant acute toxicity with noticeable variations across different species, a low likelihood of genotoxic potential suggesting potential DNA damage, and a notable risk of cardiotoxicity associated with inhibition of the hERG channel. Evaluation of endocrine disruption suggests a low probability of Bromo-DragonFLY interacting with the estrogen receptor α (ER-α), indicating minimal estrogenic activity. These insights from <i>in silico</i> investigations are important for advancing our understanding of this NPS in forensic and clinical toxicology. These initial toxicological examinations establish a foundation for future research efforts and contribute to developing risk assessment and management strategies for using and misusing NPS.
Authors
- Maciej Noga (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4621-3429)
- Kamil Jurowski (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0310-2849)
Institutions
- University of Rzeszów (PL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Chemical Research in Toxicology
- Published
- 2024-08-09
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrestox.4c00105
- Citations
- 9
- Primary Topic
- Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.41