Kappa opioid receptor (KOR) is a member of the opioid receptor system, the G protein-
coupled receptors that are expressed throughout the peripheral and central nervous …

Pain remains a very pervasive problem throughout medicine. Classical pain management is
achieved through the use of opiates belonging to the mu opioid receptor (MOR) class, which …

The hypothesis that functionally selective G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) agonists may
have enhanced therapeutic benefits has revitalized interest for many GPCR targets. In …

The κ-opioid receptor (KOR)-dynorphin system has been implicated in the control of affect,
cognition, and motivation, and is thought to be dysregulated in mood and psychotic …

The neoclerodane diterpene salvinorin A, found in the leaves of Salvia divinorum, is a potent
κ-opioid receptor agonist, making it an attractive scaffold for development into a treatment for …

Pain continues to be an enormous global health challenge, with millions of new untreated or
inadequately treated patients reported annually. With respect to current clinical applications …

Strong opioid analgesics, including morphine, are the mainstays for treating moderate to
severe acute pain and alleviating chronic cancer pain. However, opioid-related adverse …

The plant metabolite salvinorin A potently and selectively agonizes the human kappa-opioid
receptor, an emerging target for next-generation analgesics. Here we review analogs of the …

Acute activation of kappa-opioid receptors produces anti-addictive effects by regulating
dopamine levels in the brain. Unfortunately, classic kappa-opioid agonists have undesired …

Opioids such as morphine, codeine, and oxycodone are extracts or analogs isolated from a
single source: the opium poppy. For a long time, it was believed to be nature's only source of …