In vitro pharmacological activity of the tetrahydroisoquinoline salsolinolpresent in products from Theobroma cacao L. like cocoa and chocolate

Cocoa and chocolate contain the tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid salsolinol up to a concentration of 25 mug/g. Salsolinol is a dopaminergic active comp ound which binds to the D-2 receptor family, especially to the D-3 receptor with a K-i of 0.48 +/- 0.021 mu mol/l. If inhibits the formation of cyclic AMP and the release of beta -endorphin and ACTH in a pituitary cell system . Taking the detected concentration and the pharmacological properties into account, salsolinol seems to be one of the main psychoactive compounds pre sent in cocoa and chocolate and might be included in chocolate addiction. ( C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.