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Science

ISSN 0036-8075; 1095-9203;

57 papers in the library · 13,974 citations · publishing 1954-2026

Papers

Peyote Alkaloids: Identification in the Mexican Cactus Pelecyphora aselliformis Ehrenberg

Science June 9, 1972 J.m. Neal, Patricia Sato, William N. Howald et al. 16 citations

Alkaloid extracts from the Mexican peyote cactus Pelecyphora aselliformis Ehrenberg contain hordenine, anhalidine, pellotine, 3-demethyltrichocereine, mescaline, 3,4-dimethoxy-β-phenethylamine, and the N-monomethyl derivatives of mescaline and 3,4-dimethoxy-β-phenethylamine. This is the first report of mescaline and several other alkaloids occurring in a North American cactus outside the genus Lophophora.

Psilocybin: Reaction with a Fraction of Rat Brain

Science January 13, 1967 L. P. Gilmour, R. D. O’brien 7 citations

Psilocybin, a hallucinogenic compound, produced a blue color when mixed with a specific subfraction of rat-brain mitochondria that likely contains nerve-ending particles. The color formation intensified with higher pH, did not need oxygen, and involved an insoluble component. Chemically related neuroactive substances like bufotenine and serotonin did not cause this effect, and only tyramine or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid blocked the reaction.

Psychedelic research at a crossroads

Science September 19, 2024 Stacey B. Armstrong, Alan K. Davis 6 citations

Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) combines hallucinogenic drugs like psilocybin and MDMA with psychotherapy, showing potential for treating mental health conditions that affect one in eight people worldwide. Clinical trials in the US and Europe suggest PAT may offer shorter treatment times and stronger effects than existing therapies. However, the field faces significant controversy due to unanswered questions about safety and effectiveness, highlighted by the FDA's recent decision against approving MDMA therapy for PTSD and the retraction of several MDMA trial papers due to unethical therapist conduct and data integrity issues. The research community must address these obstacles to transition from exploratory trials to established, evidence-based treatments.

Serotonin Release from Brain Slices by Electrical Stimulation: Regional Differences and Effect of LSD

Science September 22, 1967 Thomas N. Chase, George R. Breese, Irwin J. Kopin 1 citation

Slices of rat brain that had taken up radioactive serotonin, either in a living animal or in a laboratory dish, were washed and then electrically stimulated. This caused a substantial release of the added serotonin, and to a smaller degree its breakdown products. The amount released depended on which brain region was tested, and the release was blocked by lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD).