Chemical Profiling, In-Silico Investigation and In Vivo Toxicity Assessment of Lacatomtom (A Psychoactive Mixture) on Selected Indices in Albino Wistar Rats

Abstract

Introduction/Objective: The use of lacatomtom (LTT), a psychoactive mixture of tomtom (TT) candies with lacasera (LC) beverage, has recently increased among young Nigerians and Africans. There isn't much scientific study on the constituent and effects of this psychoactive substance. Methods: Herein, LTT was chemically-profiled using GCMS analysis, and the toxicological effects were examined in albino rats. In vivo experiment consists of five groups of six rats each (group 2 - LTT ad libitum; groups 1, 3, & 4 - TTT, TT, LC (1 mL) mg/mL kg/body weight once/day respectively, group 5 - distilled water ad libitum). Identified constituents were examined against human monoamine oxidase (hMOA) and human catechol O-methyltransferase (hCOMT) using in silico methods. Results: Forty-seven chemical compounds were identified. Ad libitum intake of LTT elevated plasma alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol levels. The docked poses, binding scores, and interactions with amino acids informed the selection of (4-Methoxymethoxy-hex-5-ynylidene)-cyclohexane (MM) (-9.4 kcal/mol) and 3-(hydroxyphenylmethyl)-3,4-dimethyl-1-phenylpentan-2-one (HP) for hCOMT (- 9.4 kcal/mol), while propionylcodeine (-10.1 kcal/mol) and HP (-8.9 kcal/mol) for hMOA. Topdocked compounds (TDC) demonstrated the potential to permeate the blood-brain barrier. TDC was predicted to be a positive substrate of the P-glycoprotein and presents inhibitory potential for cytochrome P450 descriptors. HP was mutagenic and could induce human hepatotoxicity and druginduced liver injury, while propionylcodeine had a human hepatotoxic prediction. Conclusion: The present study, for the first time, confirmed the potential toxicity of lacatomtom to the liver, kidney, heart, and central nervous system supported by the identified top-docked compounds regarded as potential psychoactive constituents of hMOA and hCOMT.