Lecture #19-Psychoactive plants Ch 20

1. Definitions
   1. Psychoactive-alter mental state
   2. Hallucinogenic-perceiving or sensing things that has no reality
   3. Most are illegal
2. History
   1. Associated with religion/magic/medicine
   2. Used to communicate with the spirit world
3. Chemistry
   1. Alkaloids
   2. cannibinols
4. Major Psycoactive plants
   1. Peyote- small gray green cactus native to southwestern US
      1. use goes back 3000 years-Native americans and Aztecs
      2. mescaline and peyonine active compounds-
      3. visual hallucinations, nausea tremors
   2. Ergot-fungus (Claviceps purpurea) infects grains –Rye
      1. St Anthony’s Fire- raises body temperature
      2. maybe the basis for witch/werewolf trials
      3. induces abortions, feeling of being on fire
      4. ergotamine
      5. source of LSD
   3. Amanita muscaria- muschroom
      1. one of the first used hallucinogens
      2. can cause death
      3. muscimole
   4. Marijuana (Cannabis sativa)
      1. 8500 years ago cultivated for hemp fibers
      2. 13th century-hasheesh
      3. 1918-1939 extensive use in US
      4. 1937 Federal law
      5. many forms
      6. Medical controversy
   5. Opium(Papaver somniferum)
      1. 26 alkaloids- morphine, codeine and papaverine
      2. Used for 5000 years as direct treatment of pain
   6. Coca (Erythroxylon coca)
      1. Native of Andes in South America
      2. use 3500 years
      3. Cocaine one of 14 alkaloids
   7. Catnip (Nepeta cataria)
5. Other-Psilocybin (Psilocybe spp) Nutmeg