Salvia divinorum increases alcohol intake and tonic immobility whilst decreasing food intake in Wistar rats.
Acta neurobiologiae experimentalis January 1, 2021 Priscila Vázquez-león, Ulises Arenas-Martínez, Dafne Córdova-maqueda et al. 3 citations
Salvia divinorum extract (SDE) and its active compound salvinorin-A (Sal-A) increased voluntary alcohol intake in male Wistar rats. SDE boosted alcohol consumption especially in rats with a history of forced alcohol intake from a young age, while Sal-A increased alcohol intake regardless of prior alcohol exposure. Both SDE and Sal-A also prolonged tonic immobility, a sign of anxiety-like behavior, and reduced food intake. These findings suggest that activation of the kappa-opioid system by Sal-A or SDE can stimulate alcohol consumption and produce anorexigenic and anxiety-like effects in rats.