Molecule

Salvia divinorum owes its psychoactive properties to its active ingredient Salvinorin A. It is secreted by glandular trichomes found in the leaves.

It is a non-nitrogenous compound ("non-nitrogenous alkaloid"), with an affinity for the kappa opioid receptor (KOR). Activation of the KOR / dynorphin system by endogenous or exogenous agonists causes dysphoria in humans.

The inhaled route of consumption of Salvinorin provides a quick effect, requiring doses of just 200 micrograms. Its effects in humans reach their strongest point in less than a minute, and show a duration of approximately 15 minutes to disappear until 30 minutes.

Ingesting an effective dose of Salvinorin A reduces the waking state, this can be related to a state similar to sleep, or a state of sedation.

KOR agonists are also powerful modulators of gastrointestinal functions, which is why S. divinorum is used as a medicinal remedy.

Salvinorin A and other diterpenes in the plant are not detected by conventional drug detection methods (saliva, urine and blood).

Consulted sites:

Maqueda-Sánchez, A. E. (2018) Farmacología humana de la Salvinorina A: estudio del mecanismo de acción central mediante bloqueo farmacológico de los efectos(tesis doctoral). Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, España.
(https://ddd.uab.cat/pub/tesis/2018/hdl_10803_666961/aems1de1.pdf)

European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA): Salvia divinorum
(http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/drug-profiles/salvia#analysis)