title: Salvinorin A: the "magic mint" hallucinogen finds a molecular target in the kappa opioid receptor.
abstract: Salvinorin A, a neoclerodane diterpene, is the most potent naturally occurring hallucinogen known and rivals the synthetic hallucinogen lysergic acid diethylamide in potency. Recently, the molecular target of salvinorin A was identified as the kappa opioid receptor (KOR). Salvinorin A represents the only known non-nitrogenous KOR selective agonist. Based on the selectivity of salvinorin A for the KOR, this receptor represents a potential molecular target for the development of drugs to treat disorders characterized by alterations in perception, including schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease and bipolar disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Case Western Reserve University Medical School, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
authors.forename: Douglas J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Sheffler
authors.forename: Bryan L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Roth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045785:Diterpenes, Clerodane; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa / Q000819:agonists* / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004224:Diterpenes; D045785:Diterpenes, Clerodane; D006213:Hallucinogens; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa; C090499:salvinorin A