The Alkaloids from Lophophora diffusa and Other "False Peyotes".
Journal of natural products August 27, 2021 Camilla B Chan, Christian B M Poulie, Simon S Wismann et al. 13 citations
The term 'false peyote' is commonly applied to Lophophora diffusa, but several other unrelated cacti also share this name due to their resemblance to true peyote (Lophophora williamsii) or similar habitats. Over 40 alkaloids have been isolated from the Lophophora genus, yet only mescaline's pharmacological effects are well-studied. The major alkaloid in L. diffusa is pellotine, a tetrahydroisoquinoline briefly marketed as a sleeping aid in the early 1900s based on reports of its hypnotic properties. Pharmacological experiments on these alkaloids occurred around 1900, with chemical synthesis achieved decades later and biosynthetic pathways reported in the late 1960s. This review outlines the relationship of false peyotes to L. williamsii regarding alkaloid content, synthesis, and pharmacology.