title: Analgesic and immunomodulatory effects of codeine and codeine 6-glucuronide.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The antinociceptive and immunosuppressive effects of codeine and codeine 6-glucuronide were determined in rats after intracerebroventricular administration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Codeine 6-glucuronide was synthesized using a modification of the Koenigs-Knorr reaction. A lipophilic intermediate formed during synthesis, methyl [codein-6-yl-2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosid] uronate, was also tested. Morphine was used as a positive control to compare antinociceptive potencies of these compounds.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All compounds tested produced significant analgesic responses, as assessed by the tail flick model. Additionally, codeine 6-glucuronide showed significantly less immunosuppressive effects than codeine in vitro.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that codeine 6-glucuronide and related compounds may have clinical benefit in the treatment of pain in immune compromised patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610, USA.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wielbo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Simpkins
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karlix
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sloan
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tebbett
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D003061:Codeine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009294:Narcotics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000700:Analgesics; D009294:Narcotics; D009020:Morphine; C061773:codeine-6-glucuronide; D003061:Codeine