Pharmacokinetics of the plant-derived kappa-opioid hallucinogen salvinorin A in nonhuman primates.
Matthew Schmidt, Mark S Schmidt, Eduardo R Butelman, Wayne W Harding, Kevin Tidgewell, Daryl J Murry, Mary Jeanne Kreek, Thomas E Prisinzano
Synapse December 1, 2005 DOI: 10.1002/syn.20191 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | In vivo pharmacokinetic study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 4 |
| Population | Rhesus monkeys (2 male, 2 female) |
| Intervention | Salvinorin A |
| Dose | 0.032 mg/kg |
| Topics | Salvia divinorum |
| Keywords | Plant hallucinogen Psychoactive substance Pharmacokinetics Drug metabolism Drug disposition Drug elimination Drug clearance Half-life studies In-body behavior Processing Sex differences Gender differences Sex-specific effects Male-female variations Sexual dimorphism Animal models Rhesus monkey study In vivo study Non-human primate research |
| Citations | 85 |
| Key points | Salvinorin A has a rapid elimination half-life of 56.6 ± 24.8 minutes in rhesus monkeys, and pharmacokinetic differences between males and females suggest potential sex differences in its effects. |
Abstract
Salvinorin A, a potent hallucinogen isolated from the leaves of Salvia divinorum, has gained popularity among adolescents in the USA. No detailed study of the pharmacokinetics has been conducted in vivo. The present study investigates the in vivo pharmacokinetics of salvinorin A (0.032 mg/kg, i.v. bolus) in rhesus monkeys (n=4, 2 male, 2 female). The elimination t(1/2) was rapid (56.6+/-24.8 min) for all subjects. Pharmacokinetic differences (distribution t(1/2), elimination t(1/2), and AUC) were observed between males and females, suggesting potential sex differences in its pharmacologic effects. Salvinorin B, the presumed major metabolite, is observed to accumulate ex vivo; however, in this study it never reached the limit of detection.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on salvia divinorum, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effects of the plant-derived hallucinogen salvinorin A on basal dopamine levels in the caudate putamen and in a conditioned place aversion assay in mice: agonist actions at kappa opioid receptors. Mice | 2005 | Experimental study | |
| Potential anxiolytic‐ and antidepressant‐like effects of salvinorin A, the main active ingredient of Salvia divinorum, in rodents Male Sprague-Dawley rats and male Albino Swiss mice | 2009 | Experimental study | |
| Involvement of kappa-opioid and endocannabinoid system on Salvinorin A-induced reward. Wistar rats | 2008 | Experimental study | |
| Role of kappa-opioid receptors in the effects of salvinorin A and ketamine on attention in rats. Rats | 2010 | Experimental study | |
| The plant-derived hallucinogen, salvinorin A, produces kappa-opioid agonist-like discriminative effects in rhesus monkeys. Rhesus monkeys | 2004 | Experimental study | n = 3 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 54
- Here today, gone tomorrow…and back again? A review of herbal marijuana alternatives (K2, Spice), synthetic cathinones (bath salts), kratom, Salvia divinorum, methoxetamine, and piperazines. Journal of Medical Toxicology March 1, 2012
- Opioid receptors and legal highs:Salvia divinorumand Kratom Clinical Toxicology 2008
- Psychopharmacology of the hallucinogenic sage Salvia divinorum. Life Sciences December 22, 2005
- Neuropharmacology of the naturally occurring kappa-opioid hallucinogen salvinorin A. Pharmacological Reviews June 1, 2011
- Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism and Excretion Pharmacogenomics of Drugs of Abuse Pharmacogenomics February 1, 2011
and 49 more in the library
Cites 9
- Salvinorin A: a potent naturally occurring nonnitrogenous kappa opioid selective agonist. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences September 3, 2002
- Effects of the plant-derived hallucinogen salvinorin A on basal dopamine levels in the caudate putamen and in a conditioned place aversion assay in mice: agonist actions at kappa opioid receptors. Psychopharmacology May 1, 2005
- Salvia divinorum and the unique diterpene hallucinogen, Salvinorin (divinorin) A. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 1994
- The plant-derived hallucinogen, salvinorin A, produces kappa-opioid agonist-like discriminative effects in rhesus monkeys. Psychopharmacology March 1, 2004
- Screening the receptorome to discover the molecular targets for plant-derived psychoactive compounds: a novel approach for CNS drug discovery. Pharmacology & Therapeutics May 1, 2004
and 4 more in the library