Analgesic and immunomodulatory effects of codeine and codeine 6-glucuronide.

V Srinivasan, D Wielbo, J Simpkins, J Karlix, K Sloan, I Tebbett

Index: Pharm. Res. 13(2) , 296-300, (1996)

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Abstract

The antinociceptive and immunosuppressive effects of codeine and codeine 6-glucuronide were determined in rats after intracerebroventricular administration.Codeine 6-glucuronide was synthesized using a modification of the Koenigs-Knorr reaction. A lipophilic intermediate formed during synthesis, methyl [codein-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 compounds.All compounds tested produced significant analgesic responses, as assessed by the tail flick model. Additionally, codeine 6-glucuronide showed significantly less immunosuppressive effects than codeine in vitro.We conclude that codeine 6-glucuronide and related compounds may have clinical benefit in the treatment of pain in immune compromised patients.