Brenneisen R, Geisshüsler S, Schorno X
J Pharm Pharmacol. 1986 Apr;38(4):298-300. doi: 10.1111/j.2042-7158.1986.tb04571.x.
S-(-)-Cathinone (S-(-)-alpha-aminopropiophenone) is the major active principle of khat leaves (Catha edulis), which are widely used in East Africa and the Arab peninsula as an amphetamine-like stimulant. After oral administration of synthesized cathinone (isomers, racemate), 22-52% was recovered in 24 h urine samples mainly as aminoalcohol metabolites. With GC/MS, HPLC and CD, the main metabolite of S-(-)-cathinone was identified as R/S-(-)-norephedrine and the main metabolite of R-(+)-cathinone as R/R-(-)-norpseudoephedrine. Both aminoalcohols are formed by a stereospecific keto reduction.
S-(-)-去甲伪麻黄碱（S-(-)-α-氨基苯丙酮）是巧茶树叶（Catha edulis）的主要活性成分，巧茶树叶在东非和阿拉伯半岛被广泛用作类似苯丙胺的兴奋剂。口服合成的去甲伪麻黄碱（异构体、外消旋体）后，24小时尿液样本中回收了22%-52%，主要为氨基醇代谢物。通过气相色谱/质谱联用仪、高效液相色谱法和圆二色光谱法，确定S-(-)-去甲伪麻黄碱的主要代谢物为R/S-(-)-去甲麻黄碱，R-(+)-去甲伪麻黄碱的主要代谢物为R/R-(-)-去甲伪麻黄碱。这两种氨基醇均通过立体特异性酮还原形成。
