Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

CNS Stimulants: Cocaine, Amphetamines and Cannabinoids01:24

CNS Stimulants: Cocaine, Amphetamines and Cannabinoids

294
CNS stimulants, such as cocaine, amphetamines, and cannabinoids, have varying structures and mechanisms of action that lead to different therapeutic effects and side effects. Cocaine, with its molecular formula C17H21NO4, is a tropane alkaloid and a tertiary amino compound. It has two chemical forms: the hydrochloride salt and the "freebase." The former is in powder form, while the latter involves removing the hydrochloride salt to create a form that can be smoked. Cocaine exerts its...
294
Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Synthesis01:29

Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Synthesis

1.5K
Drugs affecting neurotransmitter synthesis can impact the adrenergic neuron and the synthesis of neurotransmitters. For example, α-methyltyrosine and carbidopa target specific enzymes involved in catecholamine synthesis. α-methyltyrosine inhibits the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase, which converts tyrosine into dopamine. By blocking this enzyme, α-methyltyrosine reduces dopamine production and other catecholamines. Carbidopa, on the other hand, inhibits the enzyme dopa decarboxylase,...
1.5K
CNS Stimulants: Psychedelic Agents01:22

CNS Stimulants: Psychedelic Agents

200
Hallucinogens, also known as psychedelic drugs, are a class of substances known for their ability to alter perception, cognition, and emotions. Despite their profound effects on the mind, these drugs are non-addictive, setting them apart from many other abused substances. The mechanism of action of these drugs lies in their impact on the 5-HT2A receptor in the brain. Upon activation, this receptor couples to Gq-type G proteins, triggering a cascade that releases intracellular calcium. This...
200
Stimulants01:29

Stimulants

262
Stimulants are substances that enhance neural activity and elevate dopamine levels in the brain, leading to their highly addictive nature. These drugs include cocaine, amphetamines, MDMA, caffeine, and nicotine, each with distinct mechanisms of action and varied health implications.
Cocaine can be administered via snorting, injection, or smoking. It primarily functions by blocking the reuptake of dopamine, resulting in a euphoric high characterized by an intense sensation of happiness and...
262
Hallucinogens and Psychedelics01:27

Hallucinogens and Psychedelics

223
Hallucinogens are psychoactive substances that profoundly alter perceptual experiences, generating unreal visual and sensory images. Often referred to as psychedelic drugs — a term derived from the Greek words "psyche" (mind) and "delos" (revealing) — these substances include marijuana and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), among others. These drugs vary in intensity and effects.
Marijuana, derived from the dried leaves and flowers of the hemp plant, contains...
223
Toxic Reactions: Overview01:26

Toxic Reactions: Overview

1.0K
When toxic substances penetrate the human body, they disseminate to various tissues, undergoing metabolic changes. This process yields reactive metabolites that may covalently bind with specific target molecules, resulting in toxicity.
Toxicity falls into two primary categories: local and systemic.
Local toxicity appears at the exposure site, such as protein denaturation caused by caustic substances.
In contrast, systemic toxicity requires the toxic agent's absorption and distribution,...
1.0K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Postmortem Oxycodone Toxicology: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Concentrations and Interpretative Markers.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same author

Enantioselective determination of methylone and its major phase 1 metabolites in various biological matrices and stereochemical stability of methylone enantiomers.

Drug metabolism and disposition: the biological fate of chemicals·2026
Same author

Xenobiotic Sulforaphane in Head and Neck Cancer: Beyond the Nrf2 Pathway.

Journal of xenobiotics·2026
Same author

Editorial: Exploring adverse drug reactions, medication adherence, and forensic markers in pediatrics and obstetrics.

Frontiers in pharmacology·2026
Same author

Legal responses to new psychoactive substances in Europe: countries inside the REITOX network, Norway, and Türkiye.

Annali dell'Istituto superiore di sanita·2026
Same author

Advanced Research in Forensic Genetics.

Genes·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 3, 2025

Color Spot Test As a Presumptive Tool for the Rapid Detection of Synthetic Cathinones
06:06

Color Spot Test As a Presumptive Tool for the Rapid Detection of Synthetic Cathinones

Published on: February 5, 2018

24.8K

Synthetic Cathinones and Neurotoxicity Risks: A Systematic Review.

Gloria Daziani1, Alfredo Fabrizio Lo Faro1, Vincenzo Montana2

  • 1Department of Excellence Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Marche Polytechnic University, 60121 Ancona, Italy.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|April 13, 2023
PubMed
Summary

Synthetic cathinones (SCs) pose significant neurotoxic risks, causing severe neurological events like psychosis and coma. This review details their mechanisms and human/animal toxicity, emphasizing the need for greater public health awareness.

Keywords:
animal and human studiesbrain damagefatalityintoxicationneurotoxicitynew psychoactive substancessynthetic cathinones

More Related Videos

Functional Evaluation of Biological Neurotoxins in Networked Cultures of Stem Cell-derived Central Nervous System Neurons
15:05

Functional Evaluation of Biological Neurotoxins in Networked Cultures of Stem Cell-derived Central Nervous System Neurons

Published on: February 5, 2015

9.4K
A Convenient Method for Extraction and Analysis with High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography of Catecholamine Neurotransmitters and Their Metabolites
13:35

A Convenient Method for Extraction and Analysis with High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography of Catecholamine Neurotransmitters and Their Metabolites

Published on: March 1, 2018

14.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 3, 2025

Color Spot Test As a Presumptive Tool for the Rapid Detection of Synthetic Cathinones
06:06

Color Spot Test As a Presumptive Tool for the Rapid Detection of Synthetic Cathinones

Published on: February 5, 2018

24.8K
Functional Evaluation of Biological Neurotoxins in Networked Cultures of Stem Cell-derived Central Nervous System Neurons
15:05

Functional Evaluation of Biological Neurotoxins in Networked Cultures of Stem Cell-derived Central Nervous System Neurons

Published on: February 5, 2015

9.4K
A Convenient Method for Extraction and Analysis with High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography of Catecholamine Neurotransmitters and Their Metabolites
13:35

A Convenient Method for Extraction and Analysis with High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography of Catecholamine Neurotransmitters and Their Metabolites

Published on: March 1, 2018

14.7K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Toxicology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Synthetic cathinones (SCs) are a rapidly growing class of new psychoactive substances (NPS) posing challenges to public health and forensic toxicology.
  • While cardiac effects are studied, the neurotoxicity of SCs remains less understood.
  • SCs share structural similarities with cathinone and exhibit amphetamine-like stimulant properties.

Approach:

  • A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed and Scopus databases, adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
  • 76 relevant studies published between 2005 and 2022 were included after screening 515 initial articles.
  • The review synthesizes findings on neurotoxic mechanisms, human intoxication cases, fatalities, and animal model toxicity.

Key Points:

  • SCs are associated with a range of neurological adverse effects, including encephalopathy, coma, convulsions, psychosis, and hyperthermia.
  • Sympathomimetic and hallucinogenic toxidromes are common, alongside the risk of agitated delirium and serotonin syndrome.
  • Animal studies (rats, mice, zebrafish larvae) corroborate the neurotoxic potential observed in humans.

Conclusions:

  • Synthetic cathinones present significant neurotoxic risks, contributing to severe neurological events and fatalities.
  • Further research is crucial to understand and mitigate the neurological impact of these substances.
  • Public health strategies must address the growing threat of SC neurotoxicity.