Salvinorin-A is a component of Salvia divinorum , displaying psychoactive and hallucinogenic properties in humans. Recent literature suggests that this compound can act as a potent and selective opioid receptor agonist, having high affinity towards the K–opioid receptor subtype. The aim of our study was to investigate whether and to what extent this compound can alter the release of...
This study determined the degree to which Salvia divinorum, a potent hallucinogenic drug that is legal in most U.S. jurisdictions, is being proffered for sale over the Internet and how it is being characterized on popular Web sites. Search results revealed that between one half and two thirds (58%) of the Web sites either offered to sell S. divinorum or linked to other Web sites offering to...
Salvia divinorum, a mint plant originally used by the Mazatecs of Oaxaca, Mexico in spiritual rituals has gained popularity, in smoked form, as a legal hallucinogen in the United States and Europe. Abuse results in rapid onset and short-lasting effects that include visual hallucinations and motor-function impairment. Salvinorin A, the psychoactive component of S. divinorum, is a uniquely potent...
The salvinorin A analog dimethyl (2R,3aR,4R,6aR,7R,9S,9aS,9bS)-2-(3-fur-yl)-9,9a-dihydr-oxy-3a,6a-dimethyl-dodeca-hydro-benzo[de]chromene-4,7-dicarboxyl-ate, C(22)H(30)O(8), has a relatively simple spatial arrangement in which mol-ecules are linked into layers by two pairs of O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. Each mol-ecule has as the central feature a dodeca-hydro-1H-phenalene ring system. Its three...
The legal status of the hallucinogenic plant Salvia divinorum has been rapidly changing. Legal prohibitions on this plant native to Oaxaca, Mexico have emerged at the state level, a phenomenon that has not occurred since the passage of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Included will be a brief description of the plant that has only recently crept into the popular American consciousness, and...
Total synthesis of salvinorin A (1), a neoclerodane diterpenoid having the most potent hallucinogenic activity and a selective kappa-opioid agonist, was completed in 20 steps starting from enantiomerically pure hydroxy-Wieland-Miescher ketone 5.
PsychopharmacologyApril 2008Brenda J Gehrke, Vladimir I Chefer, Toni S Shippenberg
Acute systemic administration of salvinorin A, a naturally occurring kappa-opioid receptor (KOPr) agonist, decreases locomotion and striatal dopamine (DA) overflow. Conventional and quantitative microdialysis techniques were used to determine whether salvinorin A infusion into the dorsal striatum (DSTR) decreases DA overflow by altering DA uptake or release. The influence of repeated salvinorin...
Salvia divinorum (salvia) is a plant that appears to be enjoying increased popularity as a legal hallucinogen in many U.S. jurisdictions. While the popular press has claimed that its use has become widespread, there have been no epidemiological studies published documenting this within the U.S. A sample of college students was randomly drawn from a large public university in the southwestern...
The structural basis to salvinorin A recognition of the kappa-opioid receptor is evaluated using a combination of site-directed mutagenesis and molecular-modeling techniques. The results show that salvinorin A recognizes a collection of residues in transmembrane II and VII, including Q115, Y119, Y313, I316, and Y320. The mutation of one hydrophobic residue in particular, I316, was found to...
To unambiguously confirm the actual product in autoxidation of salvinorin A under basic conditions, deacetyl-1,10-didehydrosalvinorin G was synthesized from salvinorin C via intermediate salvinorin H. Furthermore, oxidation of salvinorin D with manganese dioxide gave salvinorin G in good yield.