CEBIL an American hallucinogenic plant in Botany books by

different authors

Dra Ariadna VIGLIONE SEDRONAR Buenos Aires

Prof Nelly VALLEJO Researcher Tucumaacuten

40th International Congress for the History of Pharmacy

Berliacuten

September 2011

Since the times of the American conquest in numerous Pharmacobotany textbooks by

American and European authors Cebil has been described as a hallucinogenic species

broadly used by indigenous peoples in different regions of South America

Let us start by citing what Prof Amorin used to say in his Botany classes ldquoLet us start

by a taxonomic identification of the specimen

Name Anad nanthera colubrina (Vell) Brenan

Origin of the scientific name Anadenanthera means without anther glands

SYNONIMS Acacia cebil Griseb

Acacia colubrina Mart

Acacia grata Willd

Anadenanthera colubrina var cebil (Griseb) Altschul 1964

Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell) Brenan var Colubrina 1988

Anadenanthera macrocarpa (Benth) Brenan

Mimosa colubrina Vell

Piptadenia cebil (Griseb) Griseb

Piptadenia hassleriana Chodat

Piptadenia hassleriana Chodat var fruticosa Chodat amp Hass

Piptadenia grata (Willd) JFMacbr

Piptadenia macrocarpa Benth

Piptadenia macrocarpa Benth var cebil (Griseb) Chodat amp Hass

Piptadenia macrocarpa Benth var genuina Chodat amp Hass

Piptadenia macrocarpa Benth var plurifoliata Hoehne

Piptadenia macrocarpa Benth var vestita Chodat amp Hass

Piptadenia microphylla Benth

Superkingdom Eukaryota

Kingdom Plantae

Division Magnoliophyta

Class Magnoliopsida

Order Fabales

Family Fabaceae

Subfamily Mimosoideae

Tribe Mimoseae

Gender Anadenanthera

Species A colubrina

Archeological studies have shown that in Andean societies the use of hallucinogenic

plants dates back from approximately 2000 AC Also thanks to the contribution of

ethnographic studies it is known that it was consumed by oral or nasal routes smoking

it in cigars or pipes consuming the plants or parts of the plant and in enemas

The Incas used a considerable number of substances with psychoactive properties both

for ritual ceremonies or for medicinal use The use of the natural drugs used by this

civilization dates back from the depths of time 16

Consumption of plants with psychotropic properties was very common in the pre-

hispanic world though common should not be understood as massive or for daily use

since it is known that consumption was restricted to religious ceremonies and was

consumed by a group of specialists

Plants with these properties capable of causing strange effects in humans interpreted at

that time as related to the magic and uncanny were considered sacred and attached

great importance in social and religious life like many elements of nature In the Inca

world in particular and in the pre-hispanic Andean world in general we find that this

plant was part of a universe where the natural and the cultural aspects were part of a

whole in which mountains were Apus or Gods that interacted with people in a dialogue

mediated by offers in a society that believed that rocks had a soul spirits lived in the

water springs and the death of a child could restore the balance of the universe In this

world Earth and the Sea manifested themselves as feminine deities (Pachamama y

Mamacocha) a dynamic world of unanimated objects with their own lives and feelings

In this cultural context a disease was the result of a ruptured balance with uncanny

forces materialized in elements of nature and the contact with deities could be

achieved under the effects of certain plants that had mysterious powers

The main wife of one of the Incas suffered from what is known today as depression she

was probably treated with vegetable substances with psychotropic properties Engraving

by Felipe Guamaacuten Poma de Ayala a colonial chronicler

This species is easily reproduced by seeds There is evidence that primitive inhabitants of

America made small plantations of the species

However there is no current data on the cultivation but it is presumed that there are

some given the importance of its wood and its excellent growth rate

In the Andes the tools most frequently used in connection with this habit were made of

ceramic rock or bones in the shape of pipes inhalation tubes and tablets Also there

are some artistic representations in petroglyphs and cave paintings that some researchers

interpret as representations of the consumption of these substances or else that they

were made under their effect

Distribution and habitat

Brazil Paraguay Argentina In Argentina it is found in the provinces of Jujuy Salta

Tucumaacuten Santiago del Estero Catamarca Formosa Chaco Misiones and Corrientes

A colubrina grows at altitudes of about 315-2200 m with roughly 250-600 mmyear

(10-24 inyr) of precipitation and a mean temperature of 21 degC It tends to grow on

rocky hillsides in well-drained soil often in the vicinity of rivers It grows quickly at 1-

15 myear in good conditions8 The growing areas are often savannah to dry

rainforest Flowering can begin in as soon as two years after germination

It is characteristic of the Tucumano-Bolivian forest and of the hilly area of the Parque

Chaquentildeo in the forest it is found at 400 to 800 masl mainly along the eastern

foothills It is rarely found in the North of Corrientes and the South of Misiones

The fruit is glabrous leguminosae linear coriaceous dehiscent along one suture

constricted of a reddish-brow color The seeds are brown smooth generally 8 to 15

seeds per fruit laterally compressed having a diameter of approximately 15 cm each

and an average weight of 0125 gr each The wood has a specific weight of 0840

kgdm3

Flowering occurs during spring and fruit are born from early December to the end of the

summer

Seeds germinate easily however they require care to grow into adult plants They are

very sensitive to fungal attack it is advisable to use fungicides Excessive humidity

makes the seeds susceptible to rotting thus they should not be watered in excess It

grows well in sunny areas in tropical and subtropical zones and is sensitive to frost

Anadenanthera colubrina (also known as vilca huilco curupaacutey wilco cebil angico anguo)

Other popular names are Cebil colorado curupay curupaiacute cebil moro (Argentina) Curupa-iacute

curupa-iacute pitaacute (Paraguay) Coboba cohoba yupa yopa parikaacute Kurupa hatax jataj Curupaiacute

Cebil moro (Argentina) This South American tree is closely related to the species yopo

Anadenanthera peregrina

It grows from 5 to 30 m tall (seldom up to 60 m) and its trunk 60-90 cm is very spiky2 The

bark is dark grey with conical protuberances The leaves are mimosa-like up to 30 cm in

length and they fold at night3 In the South of South America A colubrina produces flowers

from September to December and bean pods from September to July4

It is a thornless tree that grows from 10 to 25 m tall with a trunk of up to 60 cm in diameter

mammillated ruggy dark suberous bark and thin lenticelled brownish green glabrous twigs

Caducous alternate bipinnated leaves with multifoliate pinnas reaching from 7 to 20 cm in

length

In Brazil A colubrina has been given high priority conservation status5

The main active ingredient of vilca is calcium bufotenate (made from the bufotenin in

the beans) A colubrina contains 124 bufotenine16

Since bufotenate is quickly

metabolized its effects are short acting According to 1996 reports Wichi shamans use

Vilca actively under the name of hataacutej [Ott 2001 p90]17

It is said that Incas used to

consume the beads

In ancient Peruacute cebil (Villca) had great religious importance to the extent that high

rank priests and fortune tellers were called Villca Camayoc a sanctuary (huaca) was

called Vilcacona a worshiped mountain was called Vilca Coto a sacred mountain ridge

was and is called Vilcanota and it is thought that the name of the mythical city of

Vilcabamba in the vicinity of Machu Pichu is also related to this tree

In this cultural context a disease was the result of a ruptured balance with uncanny

forces materialized in elements of nature and the contact with deities could be

achieved under the effects of certain plants that had mysterious powers

Many researchers agree that the use of psychoactive substances was related to certain

mental diseases especially for the treatment of certain depressive disorders that affected

the Inca elite including close relatives of the governors such as the third Coya or

Mama Cora Ocllo the main wife of Lloque Yupanqui Inca Guzmaacuten Poma reports that

she used to eat very little drink chicha abundantly and cry all the time It is also known

that Mayta Capac the fourth Inca was a melancholic man and not very bright

Dibujo de un indiacutegena wichi consumiendo cebil durante una ceremonia

Tomado de Schultes y Hofmann 2000)

Hieronymus G (188288) pPiptadenia cebil = Acacia cebil nv cebil cebil

colorado writes

ldquohellip in the years when grass is scarce the leaves that fall in winter and get dry on the

floor are good feed for animals particularly cows The bark is very useful for tanneries

because it contains up to 10 tannin The wood has secondary value since it scratches

very easily it is used for rays and shafts of carriages door frames pitchforks columns

for thatched roof sheds plows and other applications mainly as fuelrdquo

In a comment added by I T (Inocencio Torino) to the Catalogue of Medicinal Plants of

Catamarca by F Schickendantz in Annals of the Argentine Medical Association Book

V page 122 cebil (the seeds) provoke abortion and it is said to prevent the

development of eggs in hens and leads to premature laying of the egg

The trunk and twigs secret a r esinous gum usually in abundance

Domiacutenguez JA (1928) CONTRIBUCIONES A LA MATERIA MEDICA

ARGENTINA Bs As Ed Peuser 1523 ndash 433 pp

States that in foliaceous-fluctiferous stems of Piptadenia macrocarpa collected in

January in the Botanic Gardens in the City of Buenos Aires no cianoglucosides

saponins or alkaloids were found however they did contain peroxidase and gum

Bufotenine and N-N-dimetiltriptamine were isolated from fruits and 5 metoxi-N-

metiltriptamine from the bark and stems

The bark may contain 10 to 30 tannins

This species is not listed in the Argentine National Pharmacopoeia

The bark is commonly used for medicinal and shamanic uses10 The gum is used to treat

infections of the upper respiratory tract as expectorant and also to alleviate cough12

Chemical compounds in A colubrina include

Bufotenine beans14

15

Bufotenine oxide beans14

NN-dimetiltriptamine beans10

pods10

NN-dimetiltriptamine oxide beans10

Domiacutenguez JA (1928) CONTRIBUCIONES A LA MATERIA MEDICA

ARGENTINA Bs As Ed Peuser 1523 ndash 433 pp

States that in foliaceous-fluctiferous stems of Piptadenia macrocarpa collected in

January in the Botanic Gardens in the City of Buenos Aires no cianoglucosides

saponins or alkaloids were found however they did contain peroxidase and gum

Bufotenine and N-N-dimetiltriptamine were isolated from fruits and 5 metoxi-N-

metiltriptamine from the bark and stems

The bark may contain 10 to 30 tannins

This species is not listed in the Argentine National Pharmacopoeia

The bark is commonly used for medicinal and shamanic uses10 The gum is used to treat

infections of the upper respiratory tract as expectorant and also to alleviate cough12

Chemical compounds in A colubrina include

Bufotenine beans14

15

Bufotenine oxide beans14

NN-dimetiltriptamine beans10

pods10

NN-dimetiltriptamine oxide beans10

Pardal R (1937332-341) MEDICINA ABORIGEN AMERICANAN Ed Biblioteca

del Americanista Moderno BAs 1937 Chapter XV about Piptadenias contains a

synopsis and reports on the use of these species by the indigenous populations

He mentions that ldquothe powder of Piptadenia seeds and tobacco were the first substances

that Colon`s crew described they saw the Indians use as hallucinogens He wrote that

the Mataco indians of Chaco use ground seeds introducing them through the nasal

orifices

He cites that ldquoJesuit Father Ramoacuten Paneacute one of the first to send tobacco samples to

Europe reports that he saw that the natives in the Antilles inhaled or smoked a grey

powder like cinnamon that produced violent effects and was called Cohobardquo

Amoriacuten JL (197433-63) GUIA TAXONOMICA CON PLANTAS DE INTEREacuteS

FARMACUETICO Ed Publicaciones de la Academia Argentina de Farmacia y

Bioquimica Nordm1- 1974 writes that the powder obtained from roasted seeds of

Anadenanthera peregrina (L) Speg and other species of Anadenanthera mixed with

alkali ashes is known by the name of piptadenia and is used as hallucinogenic by

several South American indigenous tribes

As for A macrocarpa (Benth) Speg = Piptadenia macrocarpa Benth knwon by the

names of cebil cebil colorado curupay kurupaacute etc he writes that Galluppi mentions

that Semi-roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or

kurupa (a spell according to Montoya) that when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces

extasis The Guaraniacute Indians that prepared the kurupaacute and own the secret were called

kurupadyaras (probably the name given to the healer)

GA Iacobucci and EA Ruveda in a chemical study of Argentine Piptadenia species

transferred to other genders determined in 1963 that A macrocarpa (P macrocarpa)

was the richest in alkaloids and in the number of bases present in the different parts of

the plant

Bufotenine and N-N-dimetiltriptamine were isolated from seeds and sheaths

In the final Report of the Chaco Exploration Commission Arturo Seelstrang states

ldquoCurupay is a beautiful tree Its bark is commonly used by tanneries and it is very

important for trade with the neighbouring Province of Corrientes Its wood is very

pretty red with black streaks excellent for furniture The outer surface of its bark is

characterized by a large number of spiky protruberances and this is the reason why it

is called curupay that in guaraniacute language means mangy shellrdquo

(Seelstrang Arturo Informe de la Comisioacuten Exploradora del Chaco Primera Edicioacuten

Tipografiacutea y litografiacutea del Courier de la Plata Buenos Aires 1878 2a Edic EUDEBA

1977)

When describing the flora of Gran Chaco Luis Jorge Fontana makes reference to

cebil or curupay

ldquoThe curupay of the guaraniacute indians known by the name of cebil is abundant

throughout Chaco both inland and on the banks of the rivers the tree is very high and

can be easily distinguished by its ruggy bark a material used for industry its red wood

with black streaks is strong and very appropriate for construction We have two species

that are distinguished as curupay-naacute and curupay-ataacute and by white and black by the

natives and also in trade ((Fo ntana Luis Jorge El Gran Chaco Ed Se)

Boelcke O (1989158) p Anadenanthera colubrina var cebil = Piptadenia

macrocarpa (cebil colorado) rates this species as one of the most valuable trees in the

North of Argentina since its wood is very valuable and the bark is rich in tannins

Ragonese AE y Milano VA (1984147) citing Gallupi 1943 mentions that

Roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or kurupa that

when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces extasis

Acknowledgements

Botanical Museum of the School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry ldquoDr Juan A DOMINGUEZrdquo

University of Buenos Aires

(herbarium and collections)

Prof Dr Alberto Gurni Director of the Museum and Professor of Botany (who kindly

supervised and contributed documents for this paper)

SPONSOR

PRESIDENCIA DE LA NACION

Amoriacuten JL (197433-63) GUIA TAXONOMICA CON PLANTAS DE INTEREacuteS

FARMACUETICO Ed Publicaciones de la Academia Argentina de Farmacia y

Bioquimica Nordm1- 1974 writes that the powder obtained from roasted seeds of

Anadenanthera peregrina (L) Speg and other species of Anadenanthera mixed with

alkali ashes is known by the name of piptadenia and is used as hallucinogenic by

several South American indigenous tribes

As for A macrocarpa (Benth) Speg = Piptadenia macrocarpa Benth knwon by the

names of cebil cebil colorado curupay kurupaacute etc he writes that Galluppi mentions

that Semi-roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or

kurupa (a spell according to Montoya) that when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces

extasis The Guaraniacute Indians that prepared the kurupaacute and own the secret were called

kurupadyaras (probably the name given to the healer)

GA Iacobucci and EA Ruveda in a chemical study of Argentine Piptadenia species

transferred to other genders determined in 1963 that A macrocarpa (P macrocarpa)

was the richest in alkaloids and in the number of bases present in the different parts of

the plant

Bufotenine and N-N-dimetiltriptamine were isolated from seeds and sheaths

In the final Report of the Chaco Exploration Commission Arturo Seelstrang states

ldquoCurupay is a beautiful tree Its bark is commonly used by tanneries and it is very

important for trade with the neighbouring Province of Corrientes Its wood is very

pretty red with black streaks excellent for furniture The outer surface of its bark is

characterized by a large number of spiky protruberances and this is the reason why it

is called curupay that in guaraniacute language means mangy shellrdquo

(Seelstrang Arturo Informe de la Comisioacuten Exploradora del Chaco Primera Edicioacuten

Tipografiacutea y litografiacutea del Courier de la Plata Buenos Aires 1878 2a Edic EUDEBA

1977)

When describing the flora of Gran Chaco Luis Jorge Fontana makes reference to

cebil or curupay

ldquoThe curupay of the guaraniacute indians known by the name of cebil is abundant

throughout Chaco both inland and on the banks of the rivers the tree is very high and

can be easily distinguished by its ruggy bark a material used for industry its red wood

with black streaks is strong and very appropriate for construction We have two species

that are distinguished as curupay-naacute and curupay-ataacute and by white and black by the

natives and also in trade ((Fo ntana Luis Jorge El Gran Chaco Ed Se)

Boelcke O (1989158) p Anadenanthera colubrina var cebil = Piptadenia

macrocarpa (cebil colorado) rates this species as one of the most valuable trees in the

North of Argentina since its wood is very valuable and the bark is rich in tannins

Ragonese AE y Milano VA (1984147) citing Gallupi 1943 mentions that

Roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or kurupa that

when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces extasis

Acknowledgements

Botanical Museum of the School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry ldquoDr Juan A DOMINGUEZrdquo

University of Buenos Aires

(herbarium and collections)

Prof Dr Alberto Gurni Director of the Museum and Professor of Botany (who kindly

supervised and contributed documents for this paper)

SPONSOR

PRESIDENCIA DE LA NACION

GA Iacobucci and EA Ruveda in a chemical study of Argentine Piptadenia species

transferred to other genders determined in 1963 that A macrocarpa (P macrocarpa)

was the richest in alkaloids and in the number of bases present in the different parts of

the plant

Bufotenine and N-N-dimetiltriptamine were isolated from seeds and sheaths

In the final Report of the Chaco Exploration Commission Arturo Seelstrang states

ldquoCurupay is a beautiful tree Its bark is commonly used by tanneries and it is very

important for trade with the neighbouring Province of Corrientes Its wood is very

pretty red with black streaks excellent for furniture The outer surface of its bark is

characterized by a large number of spiky protruberances and this is the reason why it

is called curupay that in guaraniacute language means mangy shellrdquo

(Seelstrang Arturo Informe de la Comisioacuten Exploradora del Chaco Primera Edicioacuten

Tipografiacutea y litografiacutea del Courier de la Plata Buenos Aires 1878 2a Edic EUDEBA

1977)

When describing the flora of Gran Chaco Luis Jorge Fontana makes reference to

cebil or curupay

ldquoThe curupay of the guaraniacute indians known by the name of cebil is abundant

throughout Chaco both inland and on the banks of the rivers the tree is very high and

can be easily distinguished by its ruggy bark a material used for industry its red wood

with black streaks is strong and very appropriate for construction We have two species

that are distinguished as curupay-naacute and curupay-ataacute and by white and black by the

natives and also in trade ((Fo ntana Luis Jorge El Gran Chaco Ed Se)

Boelcke O (1989158) p Anadenanthera colubrina var cebil = Piptadenia

macrocarpa (cebil colorado) rates this species as one of the most valuable trees in the

North of Argentina since its wood is very valuable and the bark is rich in tannins

Ragonese AE y Milano VA (1984147) citing Gallupi 1943 mentions that

Roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or kurupa that

when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces extasis

Acknowledgements

Botanical Museum of the School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry ldquoDr Juan A DOMINGUEZrdquo

University of Buenos Aires

(herbarium and collections)

Prof Dr Alberto Gurni Director of the Museum and Professor of Botany (who kindly

supervised and contributed documents for this paper)

SPONSOR

PRESIDENCIA DE LA NACION

When describing the flora of Gran Chaco Luis Jorge Fontana makes reference to

cebil or curupay

ldquoThe curupay of the guaraniacute indians known by the name of cebil is abundant

throughout Chaco both inland and on the banks of the rivers the tree is very high and

can be easily distinguished by its ruggy bark a material used for industry its red wood

with black streaks is strong and very appropriate for construction We have two species

that are distinguished as curupay-naacute and curupay-ataacute and by white and black by the

natives and also in trade ((Fo ntana Luis Jorge El Gran Chaco Ed Se)

Boelcke O (1989158) p Anadenanthera colubrina var cebil = Piptadenia

macrocarpa (cebil colorado) rates this species as one of the most valuable trees in the

North of Argentina since its wood is very valuable and the bark is rich in tannins

Ragonese AE y Milano VA (1984147) citing Gallupi 1943 mentions that

Roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or kurupa that

when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces extasis

Acknowledgements

Botanical Museum of the School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry ldquoDr Juan A DOMINGUEZrdquo

University of Buenos Aires

(herbarium and collections)

Prof Dr Alberto Gurni Director of the Museum and Professor of Botany (who kindly

supervised and contributed documents for this paper)

SPONSOR

PRESIDENCIA DE LA NACION

Ragonese AE y Milano VA (1984147) citing Gallupi 1943 mentions that

Roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or kurupa that

when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces extasis

Acknowledgements

Botanical Museum of the School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry ldquoDr Juan A DOMINGUEZrdquo

University of Buenos Aires

(herbarium and collections)

Prof Dr Alberto Gurni Director of the Museum and Professor of Botany (who kindly

supervised and contributed documents for this paper)

SPONSOR

PRESIDENCIA DE LA NACION