Salvia divinorum: an hallucinogenic mint which might become a new recreational drug in Switzerland

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Abstract

Salvia divinorum Epling & Jativa is an hallucinogenic mint traditionally used for curing and divination by the Mazatec Indians of Oaxaca, Mexico. Young people from Mexican cities were reported to smoke dried leaves of S. divinorum as a marijuana substitute. Recently, two S. divinorum specimens were seized in a large-scale illicit in-door and out-door hemp plantation. Salvinorin A also called divinorin A, a trans-neoclerodane diterpene, was identified in several organic solvent extracts by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The botanical identity of the plant was confirmed by comparing it to an authentic herbarium specimen. More plants were then discovered in Swiss horticulturists greenhouses. All these data taken together suggest that many attempts exist in Switzerland to use S. divinorum as a recreational drug. This phenomenon may be enhanced because neither the magic mint, nor its active compound are banned substances listed in the Swiss narcotic law.

Introduction

During a recent fire of a private home, two unknown coleus-like shrubs at the vegetative stage were found together with an illicit, indoor, large-scale hemp cultivation. A plant sample was collected and subjected to botanical and chemical investigations.

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Botany

The unknown plants were about 0.5 m in height. The leaves were about 15 cm long, ovate, dentate and acuminate, opposite and decussated. The fleshy stems were quadrangular with characteristic flanged angles. Their morphology was typical of plants belonging to the Lamiaceae family.

Toxicological analyses

All chemicals and solvents used were analytical reagent grade.

Results

Beside sugars, fatty acids, vitamins and plant sterols, one mass spectrum from the total ion chromatogram of the acetylated basic extract of the fresh plant was tentatively identified as divinorin with the Wiley database. This compound turned out to be a furanolactone neoclerodane diterpene already known as the main active drug of Salvia divinorum, a plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family. Its chemical structure is shown in Fig. 1. Divinorin [1] is also called divinorin A, its chemical

Discussion

Salvia divinorum is employed as a shamanic inebriant by the Mazatec Indians of the Mexican state of Oaxaca [3]. This plant is known from the Indians as the ‘leaves of Mary, the Shepherdess’. They believe it allows them to travel to heaven and talk to God and the Saints about divination, diagnosis and healing [4]. Interesting enough, even though this species was known to the Mazatec Indians for several centuries, it was described only recently, in 1962 [3].

Both human and animal testing of

Conclusions

In conclusion, forensic toxicologists are facing a growing amount of new psychotropic drugs, some of them are difficult to detect and quantify because no reference standard can be purchased and only scarce data are available about their metabolism, pharmacokinetic and toxicology. In this regard, Salvia divinorum and salvinorin A are good examples.

Acknowledgements

Laurence Mauron is thanked for her technical assistance.

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