Psychoactive Substances

GE1328 BMS CityU 2015

Part 3:

Americas and Africa

Georges M. Halpern, MD, PhD

drgeorges@drgeorges.net

CityU GE1328 2015 1

Mescal bean Sophora secundiflora (Fabaceae)

• The seeds of Sophora secundiflora have beenused by the American Indians of theSouthwestern U.S. as a hallucinogenic drug.

• They are also very toxic.

CityU GE1328 2015 2

Mescal bean, Sophorasecundiflora, Fabaceae

CityU GE1328 2015 3

CityU GE1328 2015 4

CityU GE1328 2015 5

Khat, Catha edulis, Celastraceae

• The leaves of khat (kat, qat) have been usedfor many years in the Arabian peninsula. Theleaves are chewed daily by many, and theplant is a major export of Ethiopia to Yemenand a number of nearby countries. Khat isbanned in Saudi Arabia.

• Lime is frequently added to hydrolyze thealkaloids and convert them to the free bases.The plant is probably native to Africa.

CityU GE1328 2015 6

Courtesy Dr. Abraham KrikorianCityU GE1328 2015 7

CityU GE1328 2015 8

Khat Is NOT That Safe!

CityU GE1328 2015 9

Coca, Erythroxylum coca,Erythroxylaceae

• The leaves of coca have been chewed forthousands of years by Indians of AndeanSouth America.

• The Spanish tried to prohibit coca until theyrealized that the Indians worked harder withit.

CityU GE1328 2015 10

Coca, Erythroxylum coca, Erythroxylaceae

CityU GE1328 2015 11

CityU GE1328 2015 12

CityU GE1328 2015 13

• In this case also, the Indians add lime tothe leaves before chewing them.

• Cocaine blocks re-adsorption ofnorepinephrine in the brain. This makesthe user feel invigorated and blocksfeelings of fatigue and hunger.

CityU GE1328 2015 14

Chemical Structure of Cocaine

CityU GE1328 2015 15

CityU GE1328 2015 16

• The leaf form of coca never became popularabroad.

• In 1860, cocaine was isolated and becamepopular. It became used as a local anesthetic.

• An extract of coca leaves became used inCoca Cola. Later the FDA made the companyremove coca alkaloids from the extract.

• As a drug of abuse, cocaine may be sniffed,smoked or injected.

CityU GE1328 2015 17

Excellent Pain-Killer!

CityU GE1328 2015 18

CityU GE1328 2015 19

CityU GE1328 2015 20

Yagé or ayahuasca, Banisteriopsis spp., Malpighiaceae

• Yagé or ayahuasca, the resinous exudate ofthe stems of Banisteriopsis spp. is usuallymade into a drink known as yagé orayahuasca. B. caapi is one of the mostcommonly used species and is common inColombia and Ecuador. The active compoundsare harmine and other related alkaloids. Otherplants are sometimes added as synergists,i.e., to enhance the activity.

CityU GE1328 2015 21

Yagé, Banisteriopsis caapi,Malpighiaceae

CityU GE1328 2015 22

CityU GE1328 2015 23

Courtesy Dr. Carl BoutonCityU GE1328 2015 24

Chemical Structure of Harmine

CityU GE1328 2015 25

Painting on/after Atahuasca

CityU GE1328 2015 26

Psychoactive compounds from cacti

• A number of species of cacti from theNew World are known to behallucinogenic. Among these are peyoteor mescal, Lophophora williamsii andTrichocereus pachanoi. The former isfrom Mexico and the latter from theAndes of South America. Mescaline isthe most common alkaloid.

CityU GE1328 2015 27

Peyote, Lophophorawilliamsii, Cactaceae

CityU GE1328 2015 28

CityU GE1328 2015 29

CityU GE1328 2015 30

• The Spanish also tried to suppress the use ofthese. Many Indians in Mexico and in SouthAmerica continued use of these plants, however.

• The Native American Church (chartered about1920) began use of these in religious rites muchlater (about 1890).

CityU GE1328 2015 31

Henri Michaux Mescaline Paintings

CityU GE1328 2015 32

CityU GE1328 2015 33

Bad Trip

CityU GE1328 2015 34

Other hallucinogenic plants

• A snuff made from the powdered pods ofAnadananthera peregrina (Fabaceae orLeguminosae) (yopo) has been used byIndians of the Caribbean and of northernSouth America. The snuff is often mixed withlime (calcium hydroxide).

CityU GE1328 2015 35

CityU GE1328 2015 36

CityU GE1328 2015 37

Iboga, Tabernanthe iboga (Apocynaceae)

• Iboga is reported to be used in Africa as ahallucinogen. In Gabon and the adjacentCongo, the plant is used in religious ritesand in hunting game. There are alsoimportant medical uses for the plant. Theactive compounds are indole alkaloids.

CityU GE1328 2015 38

Iboga & Ibogaine

CityU GE1328 2015 39

CityU GE1328 2015 40

CityU GE1328 2015 41

END OF PART THREE

CityU GE1328 2015 42