Black cohosh is a commonly used botanical dietary supplement for the treatment of climacteric complaints. Since the opiate system in the brain is intimately associated with mood, temperature and sex hormonal levels, we investigated the activity of black cohosh extracts at the human μ opiate receptor (hMOR) expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. The 100% methanol-, 75% ethanol-and 40% 2-propanol-extracts of black cohosh effectively displaced the specific binding of [ 3 H]DAMGO to hMOR. Further studies of the clinically used ethanol extract indicated that black cohosh acted as a mixed competitive ligand, displacing 77 ± 4% [ 3 H]DAMGO to hMOR (Ki = 62.9 μg/ml). Using the [ 35 S]GTPγS assay, the action of black cohosh was found to be consistent with an agonist, with an EC 50 of 68.8 ± 7.7 μg/ml. These results demonstrate for the first time that black cohosh contains active principle(s) that activate hMOR, supporting its beneficial role in alleviating menopausal symptoms.

A new labdane-diterpene, viteagnusin I (1), together with 23 known phytoconstituents were isolated from the fruits of Vitex agnus-castus L, and their structures characterized by spectroscopic method (NMR and MS). The known compounds include ten flavonoids, five terpenoids, three neolignans, and four phenolic compounds, as well as one glyceride. Biological evaluation identified apigenin, 3-methylkaempferol, luteolin, and casticin as weak ligands of delta and mu opioid receptors, exhibiting dose-dependent receptor binding.

Vitex agnus-castus (VAC) has been used since ancient Greek times and has been shown clinically to be effective for the treatment of pre-menstrual syndrome. However, its mechanism of action has only been partially determined. Compounds, fractions, and extracts isolated from VAC were used in this study to thoroughly investigate possible opioidergic activity. First, an extract of VAC was found to bind and activate μ-and δ-, but not κ-opioid receptor subtypes (MOR, DOR, and KOR respectively). The extract was then resuspended in 10% methanol and partitioned sequentially with petroleum ether, CHCl 3 , and EtOAc to form four fractions including a water fraction. The highest affinity for MOR was concentrated in the CHCl 3 fraction, whereas the highest affinity for DOR was found in the CHCl 3 and EtOAc fractions. However, the petroleum ether fraction had the highest agonist activity at MOR and DOR. Several flavonoids from VAC were found to bind to both MOR and DOR in a dose-dependent manner; however only casticin, a marker compound for genus Vitex, was found to have agonist activity selective for DOR at high concentrations. These results suggest VAC may exert its therapeutic effects through the activation of MOR, DOR, but not KOR.

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The general anesthetic ketamine (Ketalar | Ketaject, Vetalar) (KET) is used in human and veterinary medicine for induction of anesthesia for short surgical procedures and routine veterinary examination. Its illicit use by teenagers in rave parties has been reported, and it has recently been identified as a substance associated with sexual assault. One aim of this paper was to study the elimination of KET and its major metabolite norketamine (NKET) in urine collected from five nonhuman primates that received a single dose (5 mg/kg, I.M.) of KET and to study elimination patterns to determine how long after drug administration KET and NKET can be detected. Another aim of this study was to develop and validate a highly sensitive negative ion chemical ionization-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (NCI-GC-MS) method for the simultaneous quantitation of KET and its major metabolite NKET in urine and to analyze urine samples collected from the animals. The last aim of this study was to apply and evaluate a newly developed ELISA screening methodology for detection of KET and its metabolites in the same urine samples collected from primates which received a single dose of KET. In two monkeys, KET was detected in urine up to 3 days after drug administration (32-7070 ng/mL); in one monkey, it was detected up to 4 days (65-13,500 ng/mL); in one monkey, it was detected only on days 1 and 2 (4000 and 70 ng/mL, respectively); and in one monkey, it was detected 10 days after KET injection (22-35,000 ng/mL). NKET concentrations ranged from 63 pg/mL to 1.75 pg/mL, and it remained in the urine throughout the entire 35-day study period in 4 out of 5 animals. In one monkey, NKET was detected up to 31 days after KET administration. Urine analysis using ELISA revealed that KET and NKET can be easily detectable at 25 ng/mL. In one monkey, KET and its metabolites were detected in urine up to 4 days after drug administration, up to 7 days in two monkeys, up to 11 days in one monkey, and 16 days after KET injection in one monkey. Urine extraction followed by screening using ELISA methodology allowed for significant extension of the detection period in all animals from the study. It is believed that the KET elimination in urine of nonhuman primates is slightly faster than in humans. We propose that NCI-GC-MS be employed to detect NKET as a target compound in urine in toxicological investigations of drug-facilitated sexual assault when KET use by the perpetrator is suspected.