Salvinorin A, the most potent naturally occurring hallucinogen, is found in Salvia divinorum, a rare Mexican plant from the mint family. It was described and named in 1982 by A. Ortega and co-workers. At least 12 similar compounds have been discovered or synthesized, but none are appreciably psychoactive. Unlike most hallucinogens, salvinorin A is a terpenoid, not an alkaloid. In 2007, D. A. Evans and co-workers reported an asymmetric synthesis of salvinorin A.
MOTW Update: September 11, 2017
Salvinorin A is a hallucinogen obtained from the Mexican salvia plant. Recently, researchers synthesized an analogue of salvinorin A, 20-norsalvinorin A, that is easier to make and more stable than the natural product. The salvinorins show promise as anti-itching agents.
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