Beyond a Psychotropic Plant: Exploring the Ethnomedicinal Value of Anadenanthera colubrina var. cebil.
Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry March 30, 2026 Romina Belen González, Gonzalo Adrián Ojeda, Ana Melissa González Miragliotta et al.
Anadenanthera colubrina var. cebil is a South American tree used traditionally by Indigenous communities for medicine and rituals. Its bark, leaves, seeds, and gum contain alkaloids like bufotenine, DMT, and 5-MeO-DMT, along with triterpenes, steroids, saponins, and flavonoids. Preclinical research confirms anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, antidiarrheal, and wound-healing effects, especially in bark extracts. Seed alkaloids have potent psychoactive properties but also potential cardiotoxic and neurotoxic effects. The gum, composed of high-arabinose heteropolysaccharides, shows wound-healing and antidiarrheal potential with low toxicity. This review synthesizes the species' ethnobotany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology, identifying knowledge gaps for future research.