Journal of ethnopharmacology
April 21, 2010
Yan-Hong Wang, Volodymyr Samoylenko, Babu L Tekwani et al.
73 citations
Banisteriopsis caapi, a vine used in ayahuasca, shows promise for treating neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease. This work developed standardized aqueous extracts from different plant parts, locations, and seasons, then tested them in vitro for inhibition of human monoamine oxidases (MAO) and antioxidant activity. HPLC analysis revealed that dried bark from large branches contained the highest concentrations of key chemical markers (1, 2, 5, 7-9). Harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine were responsible for MAO-A inhibition, while epicatechin and procyanidine B2 produced antioxidant effects. Commercial dried stems had lower marker content and reduced potency compared to the Da Vine source. The results support traditional use of bark from mature stems.
Journal of natural medicines
January 1, 2014
Anna P Kowalczuk, Vijayasankar Raman, Ahmed M Galal et al.
13 citations
Salvia divinorum, a species traditionally cultivated in Oaxaca, Mexico, has hallucinogenic properties and is legally controlled in many countries. Proper identification of the plant in fresh and dried forms is important for crime prevention. This paper provides a thorough anatomical description of leaves, petioles, and stems, with detailed investigation and illustration of foliar trichomes. Chromatographic analyses, including TLC and HPLC, were applied to fresh and dried plant material alongside the standard reference salvinorin A. A comprehensive identification method based on anatomical examination combined with chemical analysis is proposed for proper plant recognition.
International journal of medicinal mushrooms
January 1, 2025
Kumar Katragunta, Bharathi Avula, Amar G Chittiboyina et al.
3 citations
A validated LC-QToF-MS method was developed to assess the quality and potential adulteration of Amanita muscaria and Psilocybe cubensis-based products. Analysis of 27 commercial products—including gummies, chocolates, capsules, tablets, and powders—revealed inconsistencies: 11 of 14 gummies claiming to contain Amanita extracts lacked ibotenic acid, containing only muscimol and muscarine; one gummy labeled "no psilocybin" contained psilocin and psilocybin; and five products contained none of the target compounds. Psilocin and psilocybin levels in Psilocybe samples ranged from 0.001-1.6% and 9.9-19.3%, respectively, while Amanita muscaria samples showed ibotenic acid, muscimol, and muscarine at 0.03-0.04%, 0.01-0.02%, and 0.01-0.02%. The findings underscore the need for standardized product specifications.
Journal of ethnopharmacology
January 1, 2014
Kenneth J Sufka, Melissa J Loria, Kevin Lewellyn et al.
Salvia divinorum extract and salvinorin A produced strong place aversion in rats, exceeding that of the negative control haloperidol, while mitragynine produced place preference similar to the positive control S(+)-amphetamine. The Mitragyna speciosa extract and its alkaloid-enriched fraction showed much weaker preference effects. These results suggest both botanicals have liabilities that warrant caution in their use.