Validation and exploratory application of a simple, rapid and economical procedure (MESQ) for the quantification of mescaline in fresh cactus tissue and aqueous cactus extracts
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) April 3, 2022 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6409376 via OpenAlex
Summary
An accessible procedure for quantifying mescaline in fresh cactus tissue and aqueous extracts has been validated. The method revealed a radial mescaline gradient in Lophophora williamsii and a longitudinal gradient in Echinopsis species, with a correlation between mescaline concentration and cactus strength. This minimally invasive technique aims to aid the selective propagation of endangered cacti and provide users with reliable dosing methods.
Study at a glance
| Population | live specimens of Lophophora williamsii and Echinopsis species |
|---|---|
| Key finding | The procedure is valid for quantifying mescaline in live cacti and extracts, revealing previously undescribed mescaline gradients. |
Abstract
Objective: An effective way to protect the currently endangered wild populations of Lophophora williamsii is to select mescaline-rich specimens for selective propagation. Also, users of these and other entheogenic cacti are in need of an accessible way of dosing extracts. This research aims to introduce and validate an accessible procedure for the quantification of mescaline in fresh cactus tissue and aqueous cactus extracts, providing harm-reduction to entheogenic cactus populations and their users. Method: Standardized biopsy and Microscale Extraction followed by Scanometric Quantitative thin-layer chromatography (MESQ) were applied to live specimens and the extracts of Lophophora williamsii, Echinopsis lageniformis, E. peruviana and E.pachanoi. Results: The procedure was found to be valid for the intended applications. A previously undescribed radial mescaline gradient in L. williamsii and a longitudinal mescaline gradient in the Echinopsis species was thereby discovered. In the process, there also appeared to be a predictable correlation between the mescaline concentration in targeted biopsies and the strength of the overall cactus. Conclusion: This accessible and minimally invasive procedure is valid for the quantification of mescaline in live cacti and aqueous cactus extracts for breeding and dosing purposes. In addition, the MESQ-procedure holds promise as a valuable research tool for further botanical and phytochemical research.