Characterization of in vitro metabolites of methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV): An N-oxide metabolite formation mediated by flavin monooxygenase

Abstract

Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) has emerged in recent years as a-recreational substance with psychostimulant properties. In this study, in vitro metabolites of MDPV were characterized based on liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry(LC/QTOF MS). MDPV was incubated with human liver microsomes, human recombinant cDNA-expressed cytochrome P450 enzymes and flavin monooxygenase (FMO). MDPV was metabolized to yield eight metabolites (M1-M8)with major metabolic reactions such as demethylenation and oxidation. Among them, M6 was assigned as an N-oxide metabolite. FMO was found to be a principal enzyme responsible for the formation of M6; FMO1 and FMO3 were the main enzymes involved in N-oxidation of MDPV. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.