ABSTRACT
Salvia divinorum, or the ‘diviner’s sage’, is a member of the Lamiaceae family. it is a perennial shrub-like herb and grows to a height of 0.5–1.5 metres. S. divinorum is native to the Sierra Mazateca in Oaxaca, Mexico where the Mazatec people consume the plant's fresh leaves or leaf preparations for medicinal, therapeutic, and divinatory rites. The plant is a rich source of diterpenes and terpenoids. Divinatorins, salvinicins, salvidivins, neoclerodane diterpene and salvinorins are the predominant diterpenes isolated from the plant. The terpenoids such as divinorin A and divinorin B found in S. divinorum have psychotropic effect. Traditionally the plant is used to cure diarrhoea, anemia, headaches, rheumatism, and a semi-magical disease known as panzón de borrego, or a swollen belly, hemialgia and bursitis. The plant is believed to possess hallucinogenic effect which is due to the presence of Salvinorin A. The plant extracts have been studied to 196evaluate its antinociceptive effects, anti-inflammatory effect, neuroprotective activity, psychoactive properties, antidepressant and anxiolytic activity. Salvinorin A can be used as a remedy for treatment of gastrointestinal dysfunction such as inflammatory bowel disease and diarrhoea. This chapter helps in understanding the phytochemistry and pharmacological aspect of S. divinorum and provides information about the potential pharmaceutical and psychotropic properties of the plant.
