ANALGESIC AND IMMUNOMODULATORY EFFECTS OF CODEINE AND CODEINE 6-GLUCURONIDE

Purpose. The antinociceptive and immunosuppressive effects of codeine and codeine 6-glucuronide were determined in rats after intracerebrove ntricular administration. Methods. Codeine 6-glucuronide was synthesiz ed using a modification of the Koenigs-Knorr reaction. A lipophilic in termediate formed during synthesis, methyl ein-6-yl-2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl -beta-D-glucopyranosid] uronate, was also tested. Morphine was used as a positive control to compare antinociceptive potencies of these comp ounds. Results. All compounds tested produced significant analgesic re sponses, as assessed by the tail flick model. Additionally, codeine 6- glucuronide showed significantly less immunosuppressive effects than c odeine in vitro. Conclusions. We conclude that codeine 6-glucuronide a nd related compounds may have clinical benefit in the treatment of pai n in immune compromised patients.