Synthetic studies of neoclerodane diterpenoids from Salvia splendens and evaluation of Opioid Receptor affinity.
Tetrahedron – December 20, 2008
Source: PubMed
Summary
A unique compound from *Salvia divinorum* is the only known non-nitrogenous kappa-opioid agonist. This prompted an investigation into whether related natural and synthetic compounds, some featuring a pyrazoline structure, derived from *Salvia splendens*, could also interact with opioid receptors. While most substances tested showed low affinity, one compound demonstrated modest binding to kappa receptors. This positive result suggests that other natural compounds within the Salvia family may offer similar opioid interactions.
Abstract
Salvinorin A (1), a neoclerodane diterpene from the hallucinogenic mint Salvia divinorum, is the only known non-nitrogenous and specific kappa-opioid agonist. Several structural congeners of 1 isolated from Salvia splendens (2 - 8) together with a series of semisynthetic derivatives (9 - 24), some of which possess a pyrazoline structural moiety (9, 19 - 22), have been tested for affinity at human mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptors. None of these compounds showed high affinity binding to these receptors. However, 10 showed modest affinity for kappa receptors suggesting other naturally neoclerodanes from different Salvia species may possess opioid affinity.