Correlation of mescaline concentrations in Lophophora williamsii (Cactaceae) with rib numbers and diameter of crown (U.S.A.)
R. Newbold, Sohan de Silva, Martin Terry
Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas July 15, 2020 DOI: 10.17348/jbrit.v14.i1.901 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 39 |
| Population | Lophophora williamsii (peyote) cactus specimens: 30 wild-collected and 9 greenhouse-grown |
| Topics | Mescaline |
| Keywords | Crown dentistry Correlation coefficient Botany Animal science Horticulture |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | No statistical correlation was found between mescaline concentration and either crown diameter or rib number in peyote cactus tissue. |
Abstract
Lophophora williamsii, peyote, is a small cactus growing to approximately 10 cm in diameter with a flat to dome-shaped spineless crown with fissures or ribs that develop following the Fibonacci series and whose numbers indicate relative degree of maturing. In this study crown tissue of 30 wild-collected specimens was analyzed to determine whether there was a correlation between the concentration of the primary alkaloid mescaline in crown tissue with the average diameter of the crown. We also compared mescaline concentration in three groups of ten individuals: 5 ribs (juvenile stage), 8 ribs (intermediate), and 13 ribs (elder/mature stage), since these Fibonacci numbers are the most stable and long-lasting on L. williamsii. This was designed to test the hypothesis that there is a positive correlation between mescaline concentration and both diameter and rib number. Nine greenhouse-grown specimens were likewise analyzed to serve as a control group for the study. All 39 tissue samples were subjected to an alkaloid extraction procedure followed by an acid-base washing procedure. Mescaline was identified using liquid-chromatography and mass spectroscopy and then quantified using reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. The Pearson’s Chi-squared test showed no statistical correlation between increasing mescaline concentration and increasing rib numbers for field-collected samples and greenhouse?raised control samples. Field-collected samples: P-value of 0.392; greenhouse control samples: P-value of 0.313. Similarly, field and greenhouse samples showed no statistical correlation between mescaline concentration and average diameter of the crown. Field-collected samples: P-value of 0.251; greenhouse control samples: P-value of 0.229. This study contributes to the understanding of this vulnerable species and to approaches to its overall conservation and the preservation of Native American culture.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on mescaline, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychedelics not linked to mental health problems or suicidal behavior: A population study Randomly selected United States adults | 2015 | Observational cohort | n = 135,095 |
| Long-lasting subjective effects of LSD in normal subjects Healthy participants | 2017 | Observational cohort | n = 16 |
| Psychological and cognitive effects of long-term peyote use among Native Americans. Navajo Native Americans aged 18-45 | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 176 |
| Mescaline-induced psychopathological, neuropsychological, and neurometabolic effects in normal subjects: experimental psychosis as a tool for psychiatric research. Normal men who were volunteers | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 12 |
| 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-methyl-amphetamine (STP): A New Hallucinogenic Drug Normal control volunteers | 1967 | Observational study |