Journal of Analytical Toxicology
April 30, 2026
Alexandria S. Senetra, Sushobhan Mukhopadhyay, Yi-Hua Chiang et al.
Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8THC) has been growing in popularity across the United States due to its reported therapeutic benefits, including pain relief, euphoria, relaxation, and mild psychoactive effects, especially in areas where sale of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9THC) is illegal. Currently, much debate surrounds Δ8THC regarding its regulatory status and whether this compound is...
Pharmacological reports : PR
April 1, 2026
Elmira Zolali, Mallory Burns, Sebastiano Intagliata et al.
BACKGROUND: Mu opioid receptor (MOR) agonists are the primary medication class used to treat moderate to severe pain; however, the ongoing opioid overdose crisis underscores the need for alternatives to MOR agonists for pain treatment. Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a cannabinoid CB1 receptor (CB1R) agonist, and sigma1 receptor (σ1R) antagonists elicit antinociceptive effects albeit less...
Brain Sciences
August 28, 2025
Seif Abouheif, Ahmed Awad, Christopher R Mccurdy
1 citation
Indolethylamine N-methyltransferase (INMT) is a Class 1 methyltransferase responsible for N-methylation of various endogenous and exogenous compounds, including tryptamine, serotonin, and dopamine. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the biological and therapeutic relevance of INMT, emphasizing the human isoform (hINMT), highlighting its structural characteristics, disease...
Psychopharmacology
February 7, 2025
Sabrina Zequeira, Emely A. Gazarov, Alara A. Güvenli et al.
With increasing legalization of recreational and medical cannabis, use of this drug is growing rapidly among older adults. As cannabis can impair cognition in young adults, it is critically important to understand how its consumption interacts with the cognitive profile of aged subjects, who are already at increased risk of decline. The current study was designed to determine how cannabis...
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
September 29, 2024
Sabrina Zequeira, Emely A. Gazarov, Alara A. Güvenli et al.
preprint
With increased legalization of recreational and medical cannabis, use of this drug is growing rapidly among older adults. As cannabis use can impair cognition in young adults, it is critically important to understand how consumption interacts with the cognitive profile of aged individuals, who are already at increased risk of decline. The current study was designed to determine how cannabis...
Behavioural Pharmacology
October 1, 2012
Mitchell T Harden, Staci E Smith, Jennifer A Niehoff et al.
37 citations
Salvinorin A (SalvA), the hallucinogenic derivative of the plant Salvia divinorum, is a selective κ-opioid receptor agonist that may also have antidepressant properties. Chronic mild stress (CMS) was applied to male and female Long-Evans rats to model anhedonia common in depression. The progressive loss in preference for a sucrose solution over plain water, a measure of anhedonia, and locomotor...
Clinical Toxicology
2008
Kavita M. Babu, Christopher R Mccurdy, Edward W Boyer
221 citations
Salvia divinorum and Mitragyna speciosa ("Kratom"), two unscheduled dietary supplements whose active agents are opioid receptor agonists, have discrete psychoactive effects that have contributed to their increasing popularity. Salvia divinorum contains the highly selective kappa- opioid receptor agonist salvinorin A; this compound produces visual hallucinations and synesthesia. Mitragynine, the...
Neuropharmacology
September 1, 2007
Catherine B Willmore-Fordham, Daniel M Krall, Christopher R Mccurdy et al.
49 citations
Data from clinical and preclinical studies converge implicating the plant-derived hallucinogen salvinorin A as an important pharmacologic tool; this psychoactive compound may expand scientific understandings on mammalian kappa-opioid receptor systems. Human salvinorin A effects, consistent with kappa-opioid receptor agonism, include antinociception, sedation, dysphoria and distorted...
The FEBS Journal
May 1, 2006
Brian E. Kane, Marcelo J. Nieto, Christopher R Mccurdy et al.
Salvinorin A is a potent kappa opioid receptor (KOP) agonist with unique structural and pharmacological properties. This non‐nitrogenous ligand lacks nearly all the structural features commonly associated with opioid ligand binding and selectivity. This study explores the structural basis to salvinorin A binding and selectivity using a combination of chimeric and single‐point mutant opioid...
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology
Chad J Reissig, Ling Chen, Srikanth C Nallani et al.
1 citation
Kratom ( Mitragyna speciosa ) is a plant indigenous to Southeast Asia. This pilot study evaluated the pharmacodynamic (PD) effects, safety, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of kratom and several of its alkaloids. Recreational polydrug users (8 participants/cohort; 6 active: 2 placebo, N=40) completed the study. Participants had experience with opioids but were otherwise healthy. This study utilized a...