Biological studies of clavine alkaloids targeting CNS receptors
Peter Wipf, Nikhil R. Tasker, Ethan J. Pazur
Frontiers in Psychiatry November 21, 2023 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1286941 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractClavine alkaloids, a subclass of ergot alkaloids found widely in nature, have potent physiological effects but remain understudied compared to well-known psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin. This review summarizes their biological properties, compares their pharmacology to ergolines and related psychedelics, and highlights opportunities for developing new structure–activity relationship profiles. Such advances could expand the currently limited structural variety of psychedelic therapeutics, opening new avenues for medicinal chemistry.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | LSD Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Hallucinogen Pharmacology Neuroscience |
| Citations | 7 |
| Key finding | Clavine alkaloids offer underexplored pharmacological potential that could diversify the structural portfolio of psychedelic therapeutics. |
Abstract
In contrast to well established psychedelics such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin, ergot alkaloids of the clavine subclass have not been thoroughly investigated, in spite of their broad occurrence in nature and their well-established potent physiological effects. This study presents the current knowledge on the biological properties of clavine alkaloids, draws comparisons to the pharmacology of ergolines and related psychedelics, and demonstrates opportunities to develop novel structure–activity relationship (SAR) profiles. The latter could usher in a new stage of medicinal chemistry studies that enable an expansion of the currently structurally limited portfolio of psychedelic therapeutics.