Application of Metabolomics in the Investigation of New Psychoactive Substances

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1671-2072.2025.02.004

Abstract

Abstract: New psychoactive substances (NPS) pose a significant threat to public health and social stability due to their wide variety, rapid turnover, difficulty in identification and detection, and lagging risk assessment and legal regulation. Metabolomics is a powerful tool for studying systems biology, reflecting the biochemical processes occurring in biological systems through the qualitative and quantitative analysis of metabolites. This review summarises recent progress in the application of metabolomics in NPS research. By combining metabolomics with other research methods, we can explore the pharmacological mechanisms of NPS for treating Parkinson’s disease, depression, and other neurological dysfunctions. We can also examine the mechanisms of NPS addiction, the toxic responses and mechanisms of different types of NPS. These studies can predict the psychopharmacological activity of NPS, identify potential therapeutic agents for neurological disorders, prevent or alleviate addiction, treat toxic reactions, and provide insights for further research on NPS. Although metabolomics in NPS is currently limited, its potential application is promising and requires further exploration.

Key words: new psychoactive substance（NPS）, metabolomics, pharmacological function, addiction mechanism, toxicity mechanicm

摘要： 新精神活性物质（new psychoactive substances，NPS）种类繁多，更迭迅速，鉴别检测困难，风险评估与法律监管滞后，现已成为公共卫生健康与社会稳定的一大威胁。代谢组学是研究系统生物学的有力工具，通过对代谢物进行定性、定量分析，反映生物系统内发生的多种生化过程。总结近年来代谢组学在NPS研究中的应用进展：利用代谢组学与其他研究方法相结合，可探索NPS治疗帕金森病、抑郁症等神经系统功能障碍的药理作用机制，考察NPS成瘾机制，研究不同种类NPS的毒性反应及机制。通过这些研究，可以预测NPS的药理活性，为多种神经系统疾病寻找潜在的治疗药物，预防或减轻成瘾、缓解或治疗毒性反应，以及为NPS的深入研究提供新见解。尽管目前代谢组学在NPS中的研究有限，但其应用前景广阔，有待进一步探索。

关键词: 新精神活性物质（NPS）, 代谢组学, 药理作用, 成瘾机制, 毒性作用机制

CLC Number:

DF795.1

QIAN Xiaoyu, XIANG Ping, YAN Hui. Application of Metabolomics in the Investigation of New Psychoactive Substances[J]. Chinese Journal of Forensic Sciences, 2025(2): 31-39.

钱小雨, 向平, 严慧. 代谢组学在新精神活性物质研究中的应用[J]. 中国司法鉴定, 2025(2): 31-39.

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