Chemistry
Salvinorin A
The primary psychoactive compound in Salvia divinorum, unique among natural psychedelics for acting on kappa-opioid receptors.
Unlike most psychedelics, salvinorin A does not interact with serotonin receptors. It acts on kappa-opioid receptors, producing a pharmacologically distinct experience. It is considered one of the most potent naturally occurring psychoactive substances, active at microgram doses. The experience is often described as disorienting and reality-disrupting, qualitatively different from classical psychedelics.