Cactus lophophora

Mescaline A catecholamine hallucinogen, obtained from the peyote cactus (Lophophora williamsii). 

Peyote is a common term for two species of cactus, Lophophora williamsii and L. diffusa, native to Mexico and Texas. Archaeological specimens suggest that peyote has been used ceremonially for perhaps as many as 8,000 years. Known to the Aztecs as peyotl, the ritual use of this cactus has persisted among... 

The natural prototype for the phenylalkylamines is mescaline (Structure 1), isolated from the peyote cactus (Lophophora williamsii) by Heffter in 1896 (100) and subsequently obtained synthetically by Spath in 1919 (218). Used for many centuries in the form of peyote by Indians in Mexico and the American Southwest (3), it is often referred to as one of the classic hallucinogens, along with psilocybin, psilocin, and LSD. Little structure-activity work was directed toward mescaline or its congeners until 1955, when Peretz et al. (174) reported that a-methyl mescaline (TMA) (8), which represented a hybrid of the structure... 

The better-known and widely used hallucinogenic plants are San Isidro mushroom Psilocyhe cubensis), ergot Claviceps), soma Amanita muscaria), peyote Cactus lophophora), yage (or ayahuasca), the vision vine of the Amazon Banisteriopsis caapi), cannabis Cannabis sativa and indica) and perhaps coca Erythroxylum novo-gratense). 

Cactus Lophophora williamsii Top mescal button Mescaline Swallowed Hallucinogenic Native American Church Mexico, Texas... 

Identification of the Teonanacatl, or Sacred Mushroom of the Aztecs, with the narcotic cactus, Lophophora, and an account of its ceremonial use in ancient and modern times, an address delivered May 4, 1915, before the Botanical Society of Washington. Published as an An Aztec Narcotic (Lophophora Williamsii) in Journal of Heredity, Vol. 6, July 1915. return... 

Another naturally occurring drug that is similar to amphetamine can be found in the cactus Lophophora williamsii. Extracts are used to prepare a drink called peyote that contains 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl-ethylamine(the meth and phenyl point to a molecule that is quite lipid soluble). Known as mescaline, this compound is structurally similar to the catecholamines dopamine and norepinephrine but seems to act more directly upon serotonin receptors because of the presence of the meth-oxy groups on the molecule. This feature of the compound s structure would make the compound more fat-soluble and therefore better able to enter the brain quickly and may explain... 

Mescaline (peyote) is one such drug that has a cultural history dating from before the time of Christ as well as a separate history as a street drug. It is derived mainly from two members of the Cactaceae family—the peyote cactus (Lophophora williamsii) and the San Pedro cactus (Trichocereus pachanoi). 

Several phenethylamine conjugates with aromatic amino acids are known and are primarily found in species of the family Rutaceae (Table III). Formyl and acetyl amides have been isolated in particular from the peyote cactus (Lophophora... 

After a search for teonandcatl in specimens of Mexican mushrooms, a prestigious American botanist, Dr. William E. Safford, concluded that there simply were none. He felt that the Spanish chroniclers must have confused them with dried peyote. In a talk entitled "Identification of teonanacatl of the Aztecs with the narcotic cactus Lophophora williamsii and an account of its ceremonial use in ancient and modern times, Safford—who was known for lengthy titles—declared that the dried mescal button resembled "a dried mushroom so remarkably that, at first glance, it will even deceive a mycologist He hypothesized that the Indians may have deliberately misled the Spanish in order to protect their use of peyote. 

Carnegiae gigantea (giant cactus), Lophophora williamsii (mescal button) (Cactaceae), Cytisus scoparious (broom) (Fabaceae), Musa cavendishii,... 

An alkaloid obtained from the cactus Lophophora williamsii (= Anhalonium williamsii = A. lewinii) (Cactaceae), which grows in the northern regions of Mexico. The cactus is also known by the names peyote or peyotl and dried slices of the cactus are called mescal buttons . 

A number of plants are known to contain drugs which are subject to control. Of the less common seizures that a forensic scientist might encounter are included products of Catha edulis Forsk. (Celastraceae), which have the street names Khat , Cat , Qat , Jeff and Mulka , and of the peyote cactus, Lophophora williamsii (Lem. Ex Salm-Dyck) Coult. (Cactaceae). While not frequently met with, it is important to understand which drugs are present in such materials and how they can be analysed. 

Mescaline Peyote cactus Lophophora williamsii Mexico and Southwest U.S. Peyote... 

Peyote Mescal Mescal button Chemical/Pharmaceutical/Other Class A phe-nylethylamine derivative alkaloid hallucinogen found in the North American small, blue-green, spineless cactus Lophophora williamsii and in several South American cacti of the trichocereus species... 

Thalictrum minus, T. minus var. adiantifolium, which contains thalifoline (2)/ Trichocereus werdermamianus and T. pachanoO The peyote cactus Lophophora williamsii) deserves special mention biogenetically important mescaline derivatives have been isolated the first N-ethylisoquinoline alkaloid (3) has been characterised and pyrrole derivatives, e.g., (4), have been identified. The isolation of (4) prompted the speculation that mescaline may incorporate a-oxoglutaric acid and thus may be involved in the Krebs cycle. ... 

The use of peyotl or mescal buttons is also not limited to middle America. Mescalin-containing powder is encountered more and more in Europe, where the users are primarily members of the drug scene. However, continuity of supply of mescalin is problematical. The peyote cactus Lophophora williamsii is also grown occasionally in Germany. 

Peyote (payote, peyotl, from Aztec. nahuatl pey-otl=caterpillar). A small woolly-hairy hedgehog cactus (Lophophora williamsii, Cactaceae) widely distributed in northern central Mexico. The most important constituents responsible for the hallucinogenic activity of P. include Anhalonium or cactus alkaloids such as mescaline and the isoquinoline alkaloids iopho-phorine and pellotine (see Anhalonium alkaloids). Slices of the plant ( mescal buttons ) are eaten or extracts therefrom are drunk to achieve the narcotic state. The Christian Native Church uses P. for ritual purposes. 

FIGURE 1.5 An example of a protoalkaloid. Mescaline is the alkaloid derived from i-tyrosine and extracted from the Peyote cactus (Lophophora williamsii) belonging to the Cactus family (Cactaceae). Mesacaline has strong psychoactive and hallucinogenic properties. Peyote cactus grows in the desert areas of northern Mexico and the southwestern parts of the United States. This plant was used in Pre-Columbian America in the shamanic practice of local tribes. 

Also, comparatively simple N-containing compounds (amines), such as serotonin and histamine, are alkaloids, as are mescaline, isolated from the peyote cactus, Lophophora mlliamsii, and (+)-coniine obtained from Conium maculatum. 

In addition to marijuana (described in the last chapter), another form of plant-based drug exhibit seen in crime labs contains mescaline. This hallucinogen is obtained from the peyote (peyotl) cactus (Lophophora williamsii). Psilocyn (psilocin is also an accepted spelling) and psilocybin (psilocybine), are obtained from the mushroom Psilocybe mexicam, and are members of the indole... 

Peyote The dried top of the peyote cactus Lophophora mlliamsii used by Native Americans for religious purposes and abused for the mescaline content. Also called mescal buttons. 

This mushroom was said to have been distributed to the guests at the coronation of the emperor Montezuma in 1502 to make the ceremony seem even more spectacular. The Aztecs even had professional mystics and prophets who achieved their inspiration by eating other hallucinogenic plants, such as the mescaline-containing peyote cactus Lophophora wilUamsU). During the nineteenth century, the use of peyote cacti in tribal rituals spread north to... 

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