The Alkaloids from Lophophora diffusa and Other "False Peyotes".
Camilla B Chan, Christian B M Poulie, Simon S Wismann, Jens Soelberg, Jesper L. Kristensen
Journal of Natural Products August 27, 2021 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.1c00381 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Mescaline |
| Citations | 13 |
| Key findings | The review discusses the relationship of various false peyote cacti to Lophophora williamsii, focusing on their alkaloid content, synthesis, and pharmacology. |
Abstract
Commonly, false peyote refers to Lophophora diffusa. However, several other unrelated cacti go by this colloquial name. They either resemble "true" peyote, Lophophora williamsii, or are found in similar habitats. To date, over 40 different alkaloids have been isolated from the Lophophora genus. Of these, only the pharmacological actions of mescaline (1) have been extensively investigated. The major alkaloid in L. diffusa is pellotine (2), a tetrahydroisoquinoline (THIQ), which was briefly marketed as a sleeping aid around the beginning of the 20th century, following reports of its hypnotic properties in humans. Pharmacological experiments with the Lophophora THIQs were performed at the turn of the 20th century, whereas the chemical synthesis was not realized until several decades later. The biosynthetic pathways of the main Lophophora alkaloids were reported at the end of the 1960s. In this review, the relationship of the different "false peyotes" to L. williamsii, in regard to their alkaloid content, the bio- and chemical synthesis of the most relevant alkaloids, and their corresponding pharmacology will be outlined and discussed.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on mescaline, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study of a New Schizophrenomimetic Drug—Sernyl | 1959 | Review | |
| Hallucinogens and Serotonin 5-HT2A Receptor-Mediated Signaling Pathways | 2017 | Review | |
| Hallucinogens in Mental Health: Preclinical and Clinical Studies on LSD, Psilocybin, MDMA, and Ketamine | 2020 | Review | |
| Legal highs: staying on top of the flood of novel psychoactive substances | 2015 | Review | |
| Psychedelic Drugs in Biomedicine | 2017 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 6
- Discovery of β-Arrestin-Biased 25CN-NBOH-Derived 5-HT2A Receptor Agonists. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry September 22, 2022
- Elucidation of the mescaline biosynthetic pathway in peyote (Lophophora williamsii). The Plant Journal November 1, 2023
- An Overview on the Hallucinogenic Peyote and Its Alkaloid Mescaline: The Importance of Context, Ceremony and Culture Molecules December 5, 2023
- Breaking bad buttons: mescaline biosynthesis in peyote The Plant Journal October 20, 2023
- Of shrub, cactus, vine and toad: psychedelic species of conservation concern Frontiers in Conservation Science September 29, 2025
and 1 more in the library
Cites 13
- The Hallucinogen N,N -Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) Is an Endogenous Sigma-1 Receptor Regulator Science February 13, 2009
- Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. Pharmacology & Therapeutics May 1, 2019
- Receptor interaction profiles of novel N-2-methoxybenzyl (NBOMe) derivatives of 2,5-dimethoxy-substituted phenethylamines (2C drugs). Neuropharmacology December 1, 2015
- Prehistoric peyote use: alkaloid analysis and radiocarbon dating of archaeological specimens of Lophophora from Texas. Journal of Ethnopharmacology October 3, 2005
- Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Aspects of Peyote and Mescaline: Clinical and Forensic Repercussions Current Molecular Pharmacology October 15, 2018
and 8 more in the library