Biological studies of clavine alkaloids targeting CNS receptors
Frontiers in Psychiatry – November 21, 2023
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Potent clavine alkaloids, widely present through plant and fungal interactions, are surprisingly underexplored compared to well-known psychedelics like psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide. Their unique pharmacology and biology, influencing various brain receptors, offer vast potential for drug studies. Exploring their chemical synthesis and alkaloids could uncover novel hallucinogen compounds. This neuroscience-focused work highlights opportunities to expand the therapeutic range beyond current lysergic acid derivatives, revolutionizing our understanding of psychedelic action and future drug development.
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.