Extraction and Characterization of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine from Mimosa tenuiflora: A Multivariate Approach

N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a plant-derived alkaloid, shows therapeutic potential for mental health disorders. An efficient method was established to extract, isolate, and characterize DMT from Mimosa tenuiflora, comparing root bark and stem bark. The stem bark method (sample 2C) yielded 3.45% pure DMT (0.172 g from 5.0003 g powder) and a robust phytochemical profile with alkaloids, tannins, and flavonoids. Characterization confirmed DMT identity via FTIR, HPLC-DAD (retention time 11.81 min), and GC-MS (retention time 16.4 min, 88% spectral similarity). Thermogravimetric analysis showed thermal stability up to 135 °C. Cellular viability exceeded 85% at therapeutic concentrations, with reduction only at 100 μg/mL (53 ± 21%), possibly due to overexposure. Sample 2C is a promising candidate for standardized DMT pharmaceutical formulations.

Study at a glance

Abstract

N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a plant-derived tryptamine alkaloid, has attracted growing interest due to its therapeutic potential in treating mental health disorders resistant to conventional pharmacological interventions. This study aimed to establish an efficient methodology for the extraction, isolation, and characterization of DMT, and to identify the most viable portion of the Mimosa tenuiflora plant (root bark vs stem bark) through a multianalytical approach to assess the biomedical applicability of the isolated compound. Samples were subjected to various characterization techniques and methodological analyses. Among the tested samples, sample 2Cobtained using methodology 2, which employed the stem barkyielded 3.45% (calculated from 5.0003 g of powdered stem bark, corresponding to approximately 0.172 g of pure DMT) and exhibited a robust phytochemical profile, with a significant presence of alkaloids, tannins, and flavonoids. Morphological characterization by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a heterogeneous, amorphous surface, whereas recrystallization produced well-defined prismatic crystals. Elemental composition, evaluated by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF), revealed a high proportion of carbon (76.03%) and nitrogen (23.97%), along with trace elements typical of plant matrices, such as calcium and iron. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed characteristic absorption bands of indole functional groups, confirming the presence of DMT. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) demonstrated thermal stability up to approximately 135 °Ca critical parameter for pharmaceutical processing. DMT identification was confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD), showing a retention time of 11.81 min and absorbance peaks at 275, 280, and 288 nm, consistent with this alkaloid. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) further validated the identity, yielding a retention time of 16.4 min and 88% spectral similarity with the NIST library, including characteristic fragments at m/z 58, 130, and 188. The cellular viability of the isolated DMT exceeded 85% at therapeutic concentrations, with a significant reduction observed only at 100 μg/mL (53 ± 21%), possibly due to experimental overexposure. These findings identify sample 2C as a promising candidate for the development of standardized pharmaceutical formulations containing DMT and provide robust analytical support for future standardization, scale-up, and clinical application within the framework of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.