A unique natural selective kappa-opioid receptor agonist, salvinorin A, and its roles in human therapeutics.
André R. Cruz, Sara Domingos, Eugenia Gallardo, Ana Martinho
Phytochemistry May 1, 2017 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2017.02.001 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Salvia divinorum |
| Keywords | Hallucinogen Kappa-opioid receptor Lamiaceae family Therapeutics Unique compound Pain relief Antidepressant benefits Anti-addictive properties |
| Citations | 44 |
| Key findings | Salvinorin A is the most potent natural hallucinogen known, acting as a highly selective kappa-opioid receptor agonist, and has demonstrated antinociceptive, antidepressant, pro-depressant, and anti-addictive effects in studies. |
Abstract
Until the mid-60s, only the Mazatecs, an indigenous group from Oaxaca, Mexico, used Salvia Divinorum (S. divinorum) due to its hallucinogen properties. Later it was found that the hallucinogen effects of this plant were caused by the presence of a neoclerodane diterpene Salvinorin A (salvinorin A), which is a highly selective agonist of kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) that cause more intense hallucinations than the common hallucinogens as lysergic acid, mushrooms, ecstasy and others. In fact, smoking of only 200-500 μg of S. divinorum leaves is enough to produce these effects thus making it the most potent natural occurring hallucinogen known. Due to its legal status in various countries, this compound has gained a worldwide popularity as a drug of abuse with an easy access through smartshops and internet. Furthermore, salvinorin A gathered an increased interest in the scientific community thanks to its unique structure and properties, and various studies demonstrated that salvinorin A has antinociceptive, antidepressant, in some circumstances pro-depressant and anti-addictive effects that have yielded potential new avenues for research underlying salvinorin A and its semi-synthetic analogs as therapeutic agents.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on salvia divinorum, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. General (review of novel psychoactive substances) | 2012 | Review | |
| Opioid receptors and legal highs:Salvia divinorumand Kratom | 2008 | Review | |
| Salvinorin A: the "magic mint" hallucinogen finds a molecular target in the kappa opioid receptor. | 2003 | Review | |
| Salvia divinorum and the unique diterpene hallucinogen, Salvinorin (divinorin) A. | 1994 | Review | |
| Drug models of schizophrenia. General (review of drug models of schizophrenia) | 2015 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 13
- Psychoactive Substances of Natural Origin: Toxicological Aspects, Therapeutic Properties and Analysis in Biological Samples. Molecules March 5, 2021
- Total Synthesis of the Neoclerodane Diterpene Salvinorin A via an Intramolecular Diels–Alder Strategy Organic Letters May 22, 2018
- Cutting-Edge Search for Safer Opioid Pain Relief: Retrospective Review of Salvinorin A and Its Analogs. Frontiers in Psychiatry 2019
- Acute Effects of Hallucinogens on Functional Connectivity: Psilocybin and Salvinorin-A ACS Chemical Neuroscience June 25, 2024
- A chromosome level reference genome of Diviner's sage (Salvia divinorum) provides insight into salvinorin A biosynthesis. BMC plant biology October 1, 2024
and 8 more in the library
Cites 45
- 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
- Divinorin A, a psychotropic terpenoid, and divinorin B from the hallucinogenic Mexican mint, Salvia divinorum The Journal of Organic Chemistry November 1, 1984
- Ethnopharmacology of ska María Pastora (Salvia divinorum, Epling and Játiva-M.). Journal of Ethnopharmacology May 1, 1983
- Potential anxiolytic‐ and antidepressant‐like effects of salvinorin A, the main active ingredient of Salvia divinorum, in rodents British Journal of Pharmacology May 5, 2009
and 40 more in the library