Psychoactive Plants Flashcards
(56 cards)
1
Q
Hallucinogen
A
any agent that causes alterations in perception, cognition and mood as its primary psychobiological actions in the presence of an otherwise clear sensorium
2
Q
Psychedelic
A
from the greek meaning: “mind manifesting” or “mind expanding”
3
Q
psychotomimetics
A
-‘ induce psychotic states’
- compared to symptoms of schizophrenia
4
Q
Traditional use of Hallucinogenic plants
A
- used worldwide by indigenous peoples for magic, medical and religous purposes
- early societies believe that the plants are gifts from the gods
- are used to mediate between man and the supernatural
5
Q
Albert Hofmann
A
- 1949
- synthesis of LSD
6
Q
Aldous Huxley
A
- author
- documents uses
- “doors of perception” (portrayal of his mescaline experiences)
- “Brave new world” (‘soma’ is the new social drug of the future)
7
Q
Psychoplastogen
A
small molecules that produce rapid and sustained structural and functional neural plasticity
8
Q
Modern use of Hallucinogens
A
are being considered therapeutics for depression, addiction and PTSD
9
Q
Hallucinogens in clinical development
A
- MDMA: in conjunction with psychotherapy for PTSD, anxiety and eating disorders
- psilocybin: for treatment of a variety of disorders including anxiety and depression
- LSD: cluster headaches and anxiety
- ibogaine: addiction
10
Q
Monoamine Hallucinogens
A
- indole and catechol hallucinogens
- target serotonin related pathways
- vivid sensory effects
- perception is altered while maintaining contact with real world
- low toxicity (no overdose)
11
Q
Indole group
A
N-H
12
Q
Claviceps purpurea: Ergot
A
- parasitic fungus
- fungal spores grow hyphae into ovaries of grain to obtain nutrients
13
Q
symptoms of Ergotism
A
gangrene, nervous spasms, psychotic delusions, convulsions
14
Q
Salem witch trials and Ergotism
A
- suggested that the trials may have resulted from and outbreak of ergotism
- suggested that the ‘great fear’ of peasant revolt in 1789 where many ‘lost their heads’ may have occurred due to ingestion of ‘bad flour’
15
Q
Chemical compounds of Ergot effects on receptors
A
show both antagonistic and agonist effects on serotonin, dopamine and adrenergic receptors
16
Q
Ergot Compounds
A
ergoline, ergotamine, lysergic acid, ergine
17
Q
Modern Uses of Ergot
A
- uterine contractions
- treat migraine
- reduce prolactin levels resulting from pituitary tumors
- reduce postpartum hemorrhage
- treat senility and Alzeimer’s dementia
18
Q
Where is LSD derived from?
A
- is a synthetic compound derived from Ergoloids
- acts as a model for plant-derived psychedelic’s mechanism of action
19
Q
LSD characteristics
A
- most potent example of a hallucinogenic lysergic acid derivative
- odorless and tasteless
- small doses intensify perception and large doses cause hallucination
- rapid and complete tolerance develops for behavioral effects after 4-7 days, lasting for 3 days
- not addictive, no withdrawal symptoms
20
Q
LSD mechanism of Action
A
- LSD and related indole hallucinogenic alkaloids regulate serotonin pathways
- LSD binds to multiple serotonin receptor subtypes
- has both agonist and antagonist effects
- tolerance due to downregulation of certain serotonin receptors
21
Q
Good trips vs. Bad trips
A
- good trip: profound perceptual distortions and hallucinations, heightened awareness of sensations and altered sense of self
- bad trip: panic episode brought on by dislike of drug’s effects and fear that the experience will not end
22
Q
Morning Glories
A
- possess lysergic acid
- found in seeds called ololiuqui
- aztecs use these for divination
- modern use by indigenous mexicans ( ground into flour, soaked in cold water, filtered and drunk)
23
Q
Examples of Historical religous uses of Psilocybe species
A
- Mexico and Central Americla
- mushroom is called Teonancatl (God’s flesh)
24
Q
Characteristics of Psilocybe mushrooms
A
- structurally similar to serotonin
- effects similar to lysergic acid and LSD
25
Timeline of Effects of Psilocybe Compounds
- 30 min: dizziness, weakness and twitching
- 30-60 min: visual effects seen, colors, patterns, wave motions, and dreaminess, sense of euphoria develops
- 180 mins: normalcy returns
26
Indole hallucinogens
- lysergic acid
- psilocybin
27
catechol hallucinogens
- mescaline
- myristicin
28
Peyote Cactus: Lophophora williamsii
- small, spineless cactus
- over 56 difference alkaloids identified in peyote
- mescaline is the primary psychoactive alkaloid
29
Pharmacology of Mescaline
- similar to indole hallucinogens
- contains catechol group
- readily absorbed by body (poorly passes through bbb)
- hallucination lasts 6-10 hours
30
psychoactive dose of mescaline
- dilation of pupils
- increase in pulse rate and bp
- elevation in body temp
31
Cathechol Hallucinogenic structures mechanism of action
- resembles catecholamine neurotransmitters (norepinephrine and dopamine)
- effects suggested to mirror mechanism of indole hallucinogens
- pharmacological activity is very similar to LSD
32
History of Peyote
- used by Aztecs (traditionally eaten during religious ceremonies, used by priests and their congregation
- used in Texas 1760 (spread among regional indigenous tribes by 1880
- native American Church (founded in 1918, groups practice ceremonial peyote use)
33
preparation of Peyote
- only the above ground portion is edible
- crown is sliced into small discs
- mescal buttons
- can be eaten green or made into tea for drinking
- dried and then eaten
- dried mescal buttons remain psychoactive indefinitely
34
Mytistica fragrans
- nutmeg
- contains a catecholamine hallucinogen (myristicin)
35
Powdered nutmeg uses
- used as hallucinogen in Old world
- in Asia, often added to tobacco and chewed or snuffed
- aphrodisiac powers
- mace is also used
36
Myristicin
- terpenoid
- hallucinogenic effect, similar to peyote
- mix 1-6 tablespoons in water (serve hot)
- toxic compounds result in hangover
37
Plant hallucinogenic compounds that have amino acid targets and pathways
- ibotenic acid
- muscimol
38
Amanita muscaria
- fly agaric mushroom
- widespread in NA and Asia
- amino acid targets and pathways
39
historical uses of Fly agaric
- may be the oldest and most widely used hallucinogenic drug
- the soma cult of the Indus valley
- soma is a hallucinogenic plant thought to be a God
40
Compounds from Amanita muscaria
- muscimol, muscarine, ibotenic acid
41
Ibotenic Acid
- activates glutamate receptors
- glutamate is an endogenous excitatory neurotransmitter
- binds to receptors that act as ion channels or that are G-protein coupled
42
Muscimol
- thought ot be the most active compound in Fly agaric
- GABA receptor agonist
- produces state of confusion, disorientation, sensory disturbances
43
Muscarine
- does not seem to have a role in the psychoactive effects of Fly agaric
- binds to muscarinic acetylcholine receptors
44
Effects of ingesting Fly agaric
- onset is 15 min to an hour after ingestion
- derangement of senses, then manic behavior
- delirium and altered perception of size
- desire for exaggerated physical activity
- visual and acoustic hallucinations
- general inhibition of motor function
- after 12 hours, deep sleep
45
Plant hallucinogenic compounds with cholinergic targets and pathways
- scopolamine
- also atropine, hyoscyamine
46
History of scopolamine use
- used clinically by 1910 (pre-anesthetic medication)
- world was II (doctors prescribe it for American GIs to combat seasickness)
- Gauss, german doctor, early 20th century (use drug to allow for "twilgiht sleep" for women during childbirth)
- used as a tranquilizer in alcohol and drug withdrawal treatment
- used in combination with morphine as a truth serum
47
Modern Scopolamine Use
- post-operative nausea
- motion sickness
- GI spasms
- to aid in GI radiology and endoscopy
- irritable bowel syndrome
- eye inflammation
48
Scopolamine
- alkaloid
- anti-muscarinic
- hallucinogenic at higher doses
49
CNS effects of scopolamine
- as dosage increases, a behavioral pattern emerges
- delirium, mental confusion, loss of attention, drowsiness, loss of memory for recent events, death
50
What has been used as an antidote for scopolamine
phytostimine
51
Source of Scopolamine
- corkwood tree
- Australia, Queensland and north and central new south wales
- leaves have concentration of atropine and scopolamine
- aborigines submerged branches of tree into eel populated pools
- eels become lethargic and easy prey
52
Other sources of scopolamine
- other solanaceae species
- hyoscyamous niger (Henbane)
- atropa belladona
53
Production of Scopolamine
- 10 fold higher commercial demand for scopolamine than for hyoscymine and atropine combined
- plants produce less scopolamine that the other alkaloids
54
How to meet the demand for medicinal plant compounds?
- cultivation
- cell culturing approaches (callus, hairy root cultures
- genetic engineering approach
55
Hyoscyamous niger
- henbane
- high levels of H6H enzyme
- active H6H gene (transcribed at high rates, produces larger amount of H6H mRNA
- difficult to grow
56
Atropa Belladonna
- hyoscamine producer
- lower amount of H6H enzyme produced
- easy to grow, good candidate for cultivation
