Molecular target
κ-Opioid Receptor (selective focus)
Opioid receptor with predominantly dysphoric and antinociceptive effects (vs μ's euphoric). Selective agonism (salvinorin A in Salvia divinorum) produces atypical psychoactive effects distinct from classical opioids — short duration (~15 min), no respiratory depression, dissociative phenomenology.
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Pharmaceutical agents
Drugs that act on κ-Opioid Receptor (selective focus)
These medications have κ-Opioid Receptor (selective focus) among their molecular targets. Sharing a target is a mechanistic relationship — it does not make any plant below an alternative to, or substitute for, these drugs.
Botanical connections
Plants whose compounds act on κ-Opioid Receptor (selective focus)
Each plant below contains a named compound documented to act on κ-Opioid Receptor (selective focus). The compound and the reason for the connection are shown on every edge — a shared mechanism, not a therapeutic equivalence.
- Salvinorin ANeoclerodane diterpene
**The most potent naturally-occurring κ-opioid agonist known** (Roth 2002 PNAS). Unique among major psychoactive plants in being a non-alkaloid (no nitrogen) — a neoclerodane diterpene. Effects are short-duration and atypical: no respiratory depression (unlike μ-opioids), no euphoria (κ produces dysphoria), strong dissociative phenomenology.