From local to global-fifty years of research on Salvia divinorum.
Journal of ethnopharmacology February 3, 2014 Ivan Casselman, Catherine J Nock, Hans Wohlmuth et al. 54 citations
Over the past 50 years, Salvia divinorum has become globally recognized for its main active constituent, the diterpene salvinorin A, which is a kappa-opioid agonist and the first reported psychoactive diterpene. This review covers ethnobotany, ethnopharmacology, taxonomy, systematics, genetics, chemistry, and pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic research. Traditional Mazatec use is well documented, but modern ethnobotanical use is not. Botanical investigations are limited, and only one study has examined phylogenetic relationships. Chemistry research has focused on salvinorin A and related diterpenoids. Effects have primarily been studied in animal models. Published human studies report no harmful effects at doses of 0.375-21µg/kg, but more toxicology and safety data are needed before larger clinical trials.