An Overview on the Hallucinogenic Peyote and Its Alkaloid Mescaline: The Importance of Context, Ceremony and Culture
Molecules December 5, 2023 Marjolein Doesburg-Van Kleffens, Amy Marisa Zimmermann-Klemd, Carsten Gründemann 13 citations
Peyote (Lophophora williamsii) contains alkaloids including pellotine, anhalonidine, hordenine, and mescaline. Mescaline produces psychoactive effects by activating the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor, which triggers calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum. Research is evaluating mescaline's therapeutic potential, with outcomes strongly influenced by mindset and context (set and setting), including ceremonies and culture. This overview summarizes current knowledge on peyote and mescaline metabolism, mechanism of action, and clinical applications. It presents their potential benefits in a new light, exemplifying how nature-based, ritually enriched treatment can combine with innovative Western medicine.