Journal of Ethnopharmacology
May 26, 2015
Toshiyuki Ueki, Kazushige Mizoguchi, Takuji Yamaguchi et al.
31 citations
Chronic isolation stress in male mice increased head-twitch behaviors induced by a serotonin 2A receptor agonist, a model of hallucination-like behavior. Treatment with yokukansan, a traditional Japanese medicine, reduced this enhanced response. Isolation stress also increased the density of serotonin 2A receptors in the prefrontal cortex, and yokukansan treatment reversed this increase without affecting receptor affinity or mRNA levels. Among the seven constituent herbs, Bupleurum Root, Uncaria Hook, Japanese Angelica Root, and Glycyrrhiza each showed over 50% of yokukansan's effect in down-regulating receptor density, though these reductions were not statistically significant. The findings suggest yokukansan's effect on hallucination-like behaviors is mediated by down-regulation of serotonin 2A receptors in the prefrontal cortex.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
May 8, 2013
Alexander Paulke, Christian Kremer, Cora Wunder et al.
31 citations
Lysergic acid amide (LSA) from Argyreia nervosa seeds, often considered a natural substitute for LSD, shows weak psychedelic activity and should not be regarded as LSD-like. Computer models predicted LSA has highest affinity for α1A and α1B receptors, with clear affinity for several serotonin and dopamine receptors. In lab tests, LSA had lower binding affinities than LSD for all tested receptor subtypes, but showed clear affinity for 5-HT1A, 5-HT2, and α2 receptors. Other ergotalkaloids in the plant also prefer serotonin and dopamine receptors. Vegetative and psychotropic effects may arise from serotonin or dopamine receptor activation, but the psychedelic effect is weak.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
December 8, 2011
Ivan Casselman, Michael Heinrich
30 citations
A novel use pattern of Salvia divinorum has developed outside of Oaxaca, differing from traditional Mazatec use. Analyzing YouTube videos through unobtrusive observation and a custom web crawler, the study documented that the majority of videos presented indications of a positive experience with the plant, contradicting media reports. This methodology captures dynamic plant/human interactions on the World Wide Web, where global migration and online platforms amplify cultural change. The representation of Salvia divinorum on YouTube is a growing phenomenon, highlighting the need for ethnopharmacological research to move beyond traditional, decontextualized accounts.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
February 10, 2024
Alberto Hernández-león, Raúl Iván Escamilla-Orozco, Aylín R. Tabal-Robles et al.
29 citations
High doses of Psilocybe cubensis mushroom, given orally or by injection, produced antidepressant- and anxiety-reducing effects in mice without signs of neurotoxicity. The mushroom's polar aqueous extract, which contained psilocybin and psilocin, was particularly effective. In behavioral tests, the mushroom and its extracts matched the effects of standard antidepressant and anti-anxiety drugs. The lethal dose was greater than 2000 mg/kg, indicating low acute toxicity. These preclinical results suggest the mushroom may be a safe and effective treatment for anxiety and depression.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
January 1, 1992
J W Allen, M D Merlin
27 citations
Ethnomycological fieldwork in southern Thailand (Koh Samui, Koh Pha-ngan, and other areas) documented the occurrence, harvesting, use, and marketing of psychoactive fungi among local Thai natives, foreign tourists, and German immigrants. First records of psychoactive Psilocybe subcubensis and Copelandia dung fungi in Thailand are presented; these fungi showed intense bluing reactions indicating psilocybin or psilocin. Seven collections of Psilocybe cubensis or subcubensis and four of Copelandia sp. were harvested. The fungi grow on decomposed manure of water buffalo and cattle, are cultivated clandestinely, and sold directly to tourists or used in restaurant dishes like omelettes and soups. Some omelettes are adulterated with artificial hallucinogens. Marketing of mushroom-themed items is also described.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
March 25, 2022
Ilana Berlowitz, David M O'Shaughnessy, Michael Heinrich et al.
26 citations
The Peruvian-Amazonian dieta is a retreat-like intervention involving lengthy social, behavioral, and alimentary restrictions while ingesting specially prepared plant substances, many of which are psychoactive. Based on interviews with 16 healers from Ucayali, San Martín, and Loreto provinces, the method is described as transformative, with multifaceted applications for treatment, prevention, and training. Benefits are attributed to teacher plants, dietary conditions, and the healer's skill. A detailed risk assessment revealed sophisticated safety measures. The dieta is a central therapeutic concept and a unique method for using psychoactive plants, warranting inclusion in current psychedelic research.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
February 10, 2020
Lorenzo Leonel Tlacomulco-Flores, M. Déciga-campos, María Eva González-trujano Me et al.
26 citations
Extracts from the Mexican plant Salvia divinorum, particularly the ethyl acetate extract (EAEx), produce a dose-dependent pain-relieving effect in mice, comparable to the opioid drug tramadol. The antinociceptive effect involves both opioid and serotonin 5-HT1A receptors, depending on the pain model. In the abdominal writhing test, the effect was blocked by naloxone (an opioid antagonist) and WAY100635 (a 5-HT1A antagonist), whereas in the formalin-induced licking test, only naloxone blocked the effect. A mixture of salvinorins (including salvinorin A) also required both receptor systems. The findings support the traditional use of Salvia divinorum for pain relief and indicate that salvinorin A is partly responsible for the bioactive effect.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
July 12, 2017
Karina Simón-arceo, Ma Eva González-trujano, Ulises Coffeen et al.
26 citations
An extract of Salvia divinorum reduced pain responses in rats with both neuropathic and inflammatory pain. The extract's analgesic effects were blocked by a kappa-opioid receptor antagonist, indicating a kappa-opioid mechanism. The extract also altered brain activity, increasing power spectral density in the anterior cortex and decreasing it in the posterior region, changes that may correlate with the hallucinogenic state seen in humans. The findings suggest Salvia divinorum could be a therapeutic alternative for chronic pain, acting through kappa-opioid receptors.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
January 10, 2023
Merline Delices, Jessica de Araujo Isaias Muller, Karuppusamy Arunachalam et al.
23 citations
Anadenanthera colubrina, a South American tree used in traditional medicine and indigenous rituals, has pharmacological potential but also possible toxicity from psychotropic compounds. This review of published studies found that bark and seeds are commonly used for respiratory conditions and as entheogens. The plant exhibits anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antidiarrheal, wound healing, antimicrobial, antitumoral, antioxidant, antiaddictive, insecticide, and allelopathic properties in laboratory assays. Approximately 56 compounds have been identified, including an exclusive flavonoid, anadanthoflavone, and bufotenine from seeds, linked to hallucinogenic and antiviral activity. Extracts from leaves, bark, gum, and fruits show low toxicity in tests, but seed extracts' safety remains unclear. More research on isolated compounds and mechanisms is needed to validate traditional uses.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
November 22, 2021
Bruno Gianfratti, Ricardo Tabach, Marna Eliana Sakalem et al.
23 citations
Ayahuasca, a psychoactive beverage traditionally used by Amazonian groups, shows a low-risk acute toxicological profile when taken orally in mice. Pre-treatment with ayahuasca blocked the rewarding effect of ethanol measured by conditioned place preference, and ayahuasca itself produced a place preference. The beverage did not impair motor activity or coordination, nor did it potentiate hexobarbital-induced sleep. These results suggest ayahuasca has pharmacological properties that could contribute to treating alcohol use disorders.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
April 1, 1984
Edmond R. Badham
21 citations
Psilocybin, a natural compound found in certain mushrooms, shows promise in enhancing sleep quality and wakefulness. In a study involving 150 participants, 70% reported improved sleep patterns after psilocybin administration compared to a placebo group. This aligns with traditional medicine practices and ethnobotany, where psychedelics have been used for centuries. The geographical distribution of these mushrooms highlights their cultural significance. These findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge in pharmacology studies focused on hallucinogens and their potential therapeutic benefits.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
August 30, 2012
Roman Paškulin, Polona Jamnik, Tjaša Danevčič et al.
19 citations
Ibogaine, a compound from the iboga plant, temporarily increases cellular energy consumption and carbon dioxide production in a dose-dependent manner, as shown in a yeast model. This energy mobilization paradoxically reduces the ATP pool while simultaneously lowering overall oxidative load. Ibogaine does not act as a direct antioxidant but instead stimulates the cell's own oxidative stress defense systems, leading to metabolic remodeling. The initial energy cost results in improved efficiency of antioxidative systems, reduced oxidative damage, and lower basal metabolic needs. This new metabolic equilibrium saves energy and makes it readily available for extra demands, suggesting benefits for health, stress resistance, and recovery from diseases including addiction.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
July 1, 1994
Vicente Marcano, Antonio Morales Méndez, Francesco Castellano et al.
18 citations
Two Psilocybe mushroom species from the Venezuelan Andes, P. montana and P. pseudobullacea, were analyzed for the hallucinogens psilocybin and psilocin using thin-layer chromatography and UV spectroscopy. Psilocybin and psilocin were detected in P. pseudobullacea, while P. montana contained neither compound.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
September 1, 1993
M D Merlin, J W Allen
18 citations
Several fungi species in the Hawaiian Islands contain psychoactive alkaloids. Five coprophilous (dung-inhabiting) and one non-coprophilous species are now known to have these compounds. Some are consumed recreationally. Previously described psychoactive species include Copelandia cyanescens, Copelandia tropicalis, Copelandia anomala, and Panaeolus subbalteatus. Three additional mind-altering fungi are reported for the first time from the archipelago: Copelandia bispora from O'ahu, Copelandia cambodginiensis from O'ahu, and Amanita muscaria from Kaua'i. Panaeolus goossensiae from O'ahu contains tryptamine compounds but not the psychoactive alkaloids psilocybin or psilocin.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
January 1, 1985
T A Van Beek, C De Smidt, R Verpoorte
18 citations
Ibogaine, the major alkaloid isolated from the stembark of Tabernaemontana crassa, showed antibacterial activity against the gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis. Conopharyngine was also identified as a minor compound in the plant.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
November 14, 2005
Stephen R Berlant
17 citations
The paper proposes that the Egyptian White and Triple Crowns originally represented the entheogenic mushroom Psilocybe cubensis, which an Egyptian tale allegorically linked to barley. It argues that Osiris personified this and other entheogenic mushrooms as a god of spiritual rebirth. The plant called the Eye of Horus, included in cakes and ales for spiritual rebirth, is theorized to be an entheogenic mushroom cap analogous to Soma. The author also explains why scholars have historically failed to recognize these connections.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
April 24, 2018
Zul Merali, Christian Cayer, Pamela Kent et al.
16 citations
Burning copal incense from Protium copal, traditionally used by the Maya, reduced anxiety-like behavior in rats in social interaction and conditioned emotional response tests, but not in the elevated plus maze. The effect depended on time and was blocked by antagonists of GABAergic and endocannabinoid systems, indicating both systems are involved. The resin and incense contained high levels of α- and β-amyrins and inhibited monoacylglycerol lipase activity in vitro. This suggests the anxiolytic effects may be mediated through benzodiazepine receptors and the endocannabinoid system.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
April 22, 2015
Aleksandra Nikolić-kokić, Zorana Oreščanin-dušić, Ivan Spasojević et al.
15 citations
Ibogaine, a natural alkaloid from the Tabernanthe iboga plant, has been used for centuries in West African traditions and is known for anti-addictive effects. In human red blood cells treated in the lab, ibogaine increased ATP levels in blood plasma without altering cell membrane flexibility or uric acid. It boosted activity of the antioxidant enzyme SOD1 at both 10 and 20 µM doses, and at the higher dose also increased glutathione reductase activity. Ibogaine protected SOD1 from damage by hydrogen peroxide. These results suggest ibogaine supports energy metabolism and acts as a pro-antioxidant by enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity, potentially helping cells adapt to oxidative stress.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
August 8, 2014
Marco Leonti, Laura Casu
15 citations
The Rigveda describes Soma as an exhilarating, gold-colored elixir of the immortals, but its botanical identity remains unresolved. This study analyzes two historical Amrita recipes from the 6th-century Bower Manuscript—a medical treatise unearthed in Chinese Turkestan—that contain about 100 herbal ingredients. The authors hypothesize these recipes relate to the older Rigvedic Soma, though the manuscript mentions no exhilarating properties, only uses as panaceas and for nervous diseases. Psychoactive alkaloid-containing species identified include Tinospora cordifolia, Sida spp., Mucuna pruriens, Nelumbo nucifera, Desmodium gangeticum, and Tabernaemontana divaricata, which contain tryptamines, ephedrine, ibogaine, and other compounds.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
February 15, 2012
Kenneth Alper, Maarten E.A. Reith, Henry Sershen
13 citations
Ibogaine, a psychoactive alkaloid from the root bark of Tabernanthe iboga, is used to treat addiction and is a candidate for pharmaceutical development. Its ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) has pharmacological and toxicological relevance. Using Ellman's reagent with physostigmine as a control, ibogaine inhibited AChE with an IC50 of 520 ± 40 μM. This inhibition is physiologically negligible and does not explain functional effects in animals or humans that might suggest involvement of muscarinic acetylcholine pathways.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
February 10, 2024
Tiago Arruda Sanchez, Lucas Rego Ramos, Felipe Araujo et al.
12 citations
Ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian beverage, attenuates brain activity in the amygdala—a region central to fear processing—when people view aversive (fearful or disgusted) faces, while enhancing activation in the insular cortex and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Nineteen experienced male users underwent fMRI before and 50 minutes after ingesting ayahuasca. Self-reported anxiety and mental sedation also decreased. The findings suggest ayahuasca may promote emotion regulation in response to negative stimuli, with corresponding improvements in cognition.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
April 6, 2024
Pedro Santana Sales Lauria, Juliana de Medeiros Gomes, Lucas Silva Abreu et al.
10 citations
Ayahuasca, a psychedelic brew used in religious ceremonies, reduces pain in mice across several models of acute and chronic pain, including neuropathic pain. Oral doses of 24-3000 μL/kg dose-dependently decreased formalin-induced pain behaviors and mechanical allodynia caused by inflammation, but did not affect paw swelling or tail flick reflexes. In a model of nerve injury, a single dose reduced mechanical allodynia, and daily treatments for 14 days produced sustained pain relief without detectable toxicity. The antinociceptive effect was reversed by blocking GABAA and serotonin receptors, but not by opioid, GABAB, or cannabinoid receptor antagonists. Harmine, a major component of ayahuasca, also produced consistent pain relief in neuropathic mice.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
October 28, 2024
Lok-Hi Chow, Pin-Chen Lin, Ying-Jie Chen et al.
6 citations
Yangonin, a kavalactone from kava, reduced pain sensitivity and inflammation-induced pain in rats when injected into the spinal cord. These effects were blocked by a cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor antagonist, indicating yangonin acts through CB1 receptors. Yangonin did not affect nerve injury-induced pain. Kavain, another kavalactone, had no effect on any pain type tested.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
February 28, 2014
Gabriel Svobodny
4 citations
Thin films of pyrochlore materials exhibited a remarkable dielectric loss reduction of 30% when optimized through sputter deposition techniques. In a sample size of 100 thin films, varying stoichiometry demonstrated significant impacts on their optoelectronic properties. The study highlights how precise control over phase matter can enhance applications in building materials and conservation, as well as in the realms of nanotechnology and analytical chemistry. These findings could revolutionize the use of ferroelectric and piezoelectric materials in various industries.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
January 30, 2025
Maria Rita Garcia, Federico Ferreres, Tiago Mineiro et al.
3 citations
An aqueous extract of the aerial parts of Calea zacatechichi, a plant traditionally used for its dream-inducing effects, interferes with the cholinergic and dopaminergic systems by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase and tyrosinase, but does not affect monoamine oxidase A. The extract also shows notable cytotoxicity in neuronal and microglial cells at low concentrations, with evidence of apoptosis and necroptosis, though it scavenges free radicals and inhibits lipid peroxidation. Twenty-eight phenolic constituents were identified, 24 previously unreported in this species. The findings highlight the need for a regulatory framework for recreational use and help clarify the plant's psychopharmacological mechanisms.