Pharmacokinetics of the plant-derived κ-opioid hallucinogen salvinorin A in nonhuman primates

Matthew D. Schmidt, Mark S. Schmidt, Eduardo R. Butelman, Wayne W. Harding, Kevin Tidgewell, Daryl J. Murry, Mary Jeanne Kreek, Thomas E. Prisinzano

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

70 Scopus citations

Abstract

Salvinorin A, a potent hallucinogen isolated from the leaves of Salvia divinorum, has gained popularity among adolescents in the USA. No detailed study of the pharmacokinetics has been conducted in vivo. The present study investigates the in vivo pharmacokinetics of salvinorin A (0.032 mg/kg, i.v. bolus) in rhesus monkeys (n = 4, 2 male, 2 female). The elimination t 1/2 was rapid (56.6 ± 24.8 min) for all subjects. Pharmacokinetic differences (distribution t1/2, elimination t 1/2, and AUC) were observed between males and females, suggesting potential sex differences in its pharmacologic effects. Salvinorin B, the presumed major metabolite, is observed to accumulate ex vivo; however, in this study it never reached the limit of detection.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)208-210
Number of pages3
JournalSynapse
Volume58
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2005

Funding

FundersFunder number
National Institute on Drug AbuseR01DA011113
National Institute on Drug Abuse

    Keywords

    • Hallucinogen
    • Salvia divinorum
    • Salvinorin A
    • κ-opioid

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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