Learning and memory impairment induced by salvinorin A, the principal ingredient of Salvia divinorum, in wistar rats.
International journal of toxicology December 1, 2011 Daniela Braida, Andrea Donzelli, Roberta Martucci et al. 29 citations
Salvinorin A, the main psychoactive compound in Salvia divinorum, impairs spatial long-term memory, episodic memory, and aversive memory in rats, but does not affect short-term memory. These memory deficits are blocked by a selective κ-opioid receptor antagonist, indicating the effects are mediated through that receptor. Additionally, salvinorin A disrupts latent inhibition, a measure of attention, suggesting broader cognitive impairment. The findings demonstrate that salvinorin A has deleterious effects on learning and memory via a κ-opioid receptor mechanism.