Abstract
Physiological disposition of isoergine (d-isolysergamide, iso-LA) obtained from the seeds of Argyreia nervosa (Burm. f.) Bojer were determined in rat liver, brain and plasma. Method of determination involved the extraction of the drug from biological samples and quantitation of the compound by fluorometric analysis. The injection of 5 mg/kg, i.p., of iso-LA resulted after 5 min in peak levels in the liver (7.2 μg/g) and after 15 min in peak levels in the brain (1.2 μg/g) and plasma (1.9 μg/ml). After 120 min, 90% of the compound had disappeared from the tissues and plasma. The minimal dose required to produce a significant decrease in the conditioned avoidance response (CAR) was somewhat less than 5 mg/kg. The minimal brain level which interfered with the CAR was approximately 1 μg/g. Brain levels of iso-LA seem to correlate directly with changes in behavior suggesting that iso-LA, and not a metabolite, is the psychoactive agent.
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Vogel, W.H., Carapellotti, R.A., Evans, B.D. et al. Physiological disposition of isoergine [from Argyreia nervosa (Burm. f.) Bojer Convolvulaceae] and its effect on the conditioned avoidance response in rats. Psychopharmacologia 24, 238–242 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00403643
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00403643