Analysis of the smoke of cigarettes containing Salvia divinorum.
John L Krstenansky, Miguel Muzzio
Journal of Analytical Toxicology September 1, 2014 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bku054 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Salvia divinorum cigarettes |
| Dose | 133 μg salvinorin A delivered per cigarette; 830 mg cigarette containing ~2.7 mg salvinorin A |
| Topics | Salvia divinorum |
| Keywords | Psychoactive plant Hallucinogenic plant Entheogen Active compound Active agent Diterpenoid Psychoactive substance Pharmacokinetics Drug delivery Bioavailability Inhaled dose Effective dose Drug absorption Drug metabolism Dosage Microgram Concentration |
| Key findings | Only about 5% of salvinorin A in dried Salvia divinorum leaf is delivered in smoke, with an average of 133 μg delivered per cigarette, indicating an effective inhaled dose below 133 μg per person. |
Abstract
Salvia divinorum is a hallucinogen sold over the internet in several forms. Perhaps the most common method of use is smoking the dried leaf material. The sole presumed active constituent, salvinorin A, is a selective kappa-opioid receptor agonist. Upon smoking of the dried leaf material, some of the salvinorin A is destroyed or converted to other materials, leaving in question the actual amount of salvinorin A delivered that leads to the psychotomimetic effect. On average, 133 μg of salvinorin A was delivered in the smoke from an 830 mg per cigarette, which contained ∼2.7 mg of salvinorin A. Hence, only ∼5% of the salvinorin A available in the dried plant material was delivered in the smoke. Upon smoking, hydrolysis of salvinorin A to salvinorin B, an inactive and minor component of the leaf material, also occurs as evidenced by a higher delivered amount of salvinorin B vs salvinorin A (217 vs 133 μg per cigarette). Since smoking is an effective means of achieving the hallucinogenic effect and salvinorin A is the presumed sole active ingredient in the plant, the estimated effective dose of salvinorin A by inhalation is <133 μg per person. Considering the reported rapid metabolism of salvinorin A in vivo, the dose reaching the brain would be substantially less.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on salvia divinorum, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salvinorin A: a potent naturally occurring nonnitrogenous kappa opioid selective agonist. | 2002 | Experimental study | |
| Salvinorin A, an active component of the hallucinogenic sage salvia divinorum is a highly efficacious kappa-opioid receptor agonist: structural and functional considerations. Cloned human kappa-opioid receptors expressed in human embryonic kidney-293 cells and... | 2004 | Experimental study | |
| Synthesis and κ-opioid receptor activity of furan-substituted salvinorin A analogues. Animal model | 2014 | Experimental study | |
| Identification of the molecular mechanisms by which the diterpenoid salvinorin A binds to kappa-opioid receptors. | 2005 | Experimental study | |
| Dopamine D2High receptors stimulated by phencyclidines, lysergic acid diethylamide, salvinorin A, and modafinil. Rat brain striatum homogenates | 2009 | Laboratory experiment |
Citations in the library
Cites 6
- Salvinorin A: a potent naturally occurring nonnitrogenous kappa opioid selective agonist. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences September 3, 2002
- Human psychopharmacology and dose-effects of salvinorin A, a kappa opioid agonist hallucinogen present in the plant Salvia divinorum. Drug and Alcohol Dependence May 1, 2011
- Pharmacokinetics of the potent hallucinogen, salvinorin A in primates parallels the rapid onset and short duration of effects in humans. Neuroimage July 1, 2008
- Salvia divinorum: from Mazatec medicinal and hallucinogenic plant to emerging recreational drug. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental September 1, 2013
- Intramolecular transacetylation in salvinorins D and E. Journal of Natural Products April 23, 2010
and 1 more in the library