The goal of this study was to contribute further knowledge regarding the metabolism of desomorphine, the principal pharmacologically active opioid in Krokodil, a homemade injectable drug that is perceived to be a cheaper alternative to heroin.
Recombinant human cytochrome P450 enzymes (rCYPs) and recombinant uridine 5ft-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferases (rUGTs) were used to investigate the biotransformational pathways involved. Samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry (LC-Q/TOF-MS). Seven rCYP (rCYP2B6, rCYP2C8, rCYP2C9, rCYP2C18, rCYP2C19, rCYP2D6 and rCYP3A4) enzymes were found to contribute to desomorphine metabolism and eight phase I metabolites were identified, including nordesomorphine, desomorphine-N-oxide, norhydroxydesomorphine, and five hydroxylated species. Inhibition assays were used to confirm individual rCYP isoenzyme activity. Nine rUGTs (rUGT1A1, rUGT1A3, rUGT1A8, rUGT1A9, rUGT1A10, rUGT2B4, rUGT2B7, rUGT2B15, and rUGT2B17) were found to contribute to the formation of desomorphine-glucuronide. (publisher abstract modified)