Antinociceptive effects of Salvia divinorum and bioactive salvinorins in experimental pain models in mice.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology February 10, 2020 Lorenzo Leonel Tlacomulco-Flores, M. Déciga-campos, María Eva González-trujano Me et al. 26 citations
Extracts from the Mexican plant Salvia divinorum, particularly the ethyl acetate extract (EAEx), produce a dose-dependent pain-relieving effect in mice, comparable to the opioid drug tramadol. The antinociceptive effect involves both opioid and serotonin 5-HT1A receptors, depending on the pain model. In the abdominal writhing test, the effect was blocked by naloxone (an opioid antagonist) and WAY100635 (a 5-HT1A antagonist), whereas in the formalin-induced licking test, only naloxone blocked the effect. A mixture of salvinorins (including salvinorin A) also required both receptor systems. The findings support the traditional use of Salvia divinorum for pain relief and indicate that salvinorin A is partly responsible for the bioactive effect.