Salvia divinorum, a plant used for centuries by the Mazatecan culture and now a recreational drug, produces potent hallucinogenic effects. Its main compound, salvinorin A, is the first highly selective non-nitrogenous kappa opioid receptor agonist. Animal studies show rapid onset, short half-lives, and no evidence of short- or long-term toxicity. Salvinorin A appears promising for new treatments of central nervous system illnesses, but further research is needed to understand the plant's medicinal properties and inform legislation.
Salvinorin A, the active compound in Salvia divinorum, increased compulsive gnawing in male C57BL/6 mice when given with apomorphine, indicating dopaminergic activity. This effect was blocked by the dopamine antagonist haloperidol but not by the κ-opioid receptor antagonist NorBNI, suggesting salvinorin A is not a selective κ-opioid receptor agonist. A new digitized method for quantifying gnawing behavior provided more precise measurement of dopaminergic activity.