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Papers of the Week


2020 Apr


Br J Pharmacol


177


7

G protein-biased kratom-alkaloids and synthetic carfentanil-amide opioids as potential treatments for alcohol use disorder.

Authors

Gutridge AM, Robins MT, Cassell RJ, Uprety R, Mores KL, Ko M J, Pasternak GW, Majumdar S, van Rijn RM
Br J Pharmacol. 2020 Apr; 177(7):1497-1513.
PMID: 31705528.

Abstract

Mitragyna speciosa, more commonly known as kratom, is a plant that contains opioidergic alkaloids, but is unregulated in most countries. Kratom is used in the self-medication of chronic pain and to reduce illicit and prescription opioid dependence. Kratom may be less dangerous than typical opioids because of the stronger preference of kratom alkaloids to induce receptor interaction with G proteins over beta-arrestin proteins. We hypothesized that kratom (alkaloids) can also reduce alcohol intake.