Journal of pain research
January 1, 2019
Ulises Coffeen, Francisco Pellicer
33 citations
Salvia divinorum, a plant native to southwest Mexico, has been traditionally used for inflammatory conditions and pain. Its main active component, salvinorin A (SA), is a potent hallucinogen that acts on κ opioid and cannabinoid type 1 receptors. Recent research has uncovered the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind SA's anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. However, due to SA's short duration and hallucinogenic properties, current research aims to develop analogues that provide long-lasting pain relief and reduced inflammation without psychoactive effects. This review examines the roles of S. divinorum, SA, and its analogues, focusing on analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties while also addressing psychoactive effects.
Journal of ethnopharmacology
July 12, 2017
Karina Simón-arceo, Ma Eva González-trujano, Ulises Coffeen et al.
26 citations
An extract of Salvia divinorum reduced pain responses in rats with both neuropathic and inflammatory pain. The extract's analgesic effects were blocked by a kappa-opioid receptor antagonist, indicating a kappa-opioid mechanism. The extract also altered brain activity, increasing power spectral density in the anterior cortex and decreasing it in the posterior region, changes that may correlate with the hallucinogenic state seen in humans. The findings suggest Salvia divinorum could be a therapeutic alternative for chronic pain, acting through kappa-opioid receptors.
Phytotherapy research : PTR
July 1, 2016
María Eva González-Trujano, Fernando Brindis, Edith López-ruiz et al.
10 citations
Extracts of the herb Salvia divinorum produce sedative-like effects in mice and rats, altering normal sleep patterns. In mice, non-polar, medium polar, and polar extracts all reduced activity, with the medium polar extract showing the strongest effects. In rats, the medium polar extract, which contains salvinorins, fragmented sleep by decreasing rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and increasing quiet wakefulness at doses of 10 and 100 mg/kg. These findings indicate that S. divinorum has depressant properties that disrupt physiological sleep architecture, supporting its traditional use as a tranquilizer but raising questions about its safety for sleep.