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 (New York, N.Y.) 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.