Piper angustifolium Ruiz et Pavon-matico
pepper
It is not known whether this American pepper
species has psychoactive effects by itself. Because
of the disinfectant properties of its fresh leaves, the
plant is also known as soldier’s herb. Its leaves and
inflorescences are an ingredient in various Aztec
cacao recipes (see Theobroma cacao) and have a
mild stimulating effect because of the essential oil
that is present (R~itsch 1991a, 185*). Some authors
regard Piper angustifolium as a synonym for Piper
elongatum, which is also known as matico pepper.

Piper cubeba L. [syn. Cubeba officinalis Miq. (or
Raf.)]-cubeb pepper
This climbing shrub, which is indigenous to the
Sunda Islands and eastern Asia, grows
preferentially on Erythrina indica [syn. E.
variegata] (cf. Erythrina spp.) and is the source of
the fruit that is sold under the names cubeb, kubeb,
cubeb pepper, pimenta cubeba, and fructus cubebae
(Macmillan 1991, 415*; Norman 1991, 54*). The
fruits contain 10 to 20% essential oil, 2.50/0
cubebin (C2oH2006)’ and amorphous cubeb acid.
Large doses of the essential oil can induce
irritation in the urinary tract as well as headaches,
which is why one of the fruit’s folk names is dizzy
corns. Such typical CNS symptoms as anxiety
states and delirium have also been reported. Two
grams has been given as a well-tolerated single
dosage, while the daily dosage should not exceed
10 g (Roth et al. 1994, 570*). Hildegard von
Bingen described the psychoactive effects as well
as an anaphrodisiac effect that is difficult to
understand:
The cubeb is warm, and this warmth in itself
is of the proper mixture, and it is also dry. And
when someone eats cubeb, then any unseemly
desires that are within him are moderated. But
it also makes his spirits cheerful and his reason
and knowledge pure, for the useful and
moderate warmth of the cubeb extinguishes
the unseemly flames of desire in which the
stinking and slimy liquids are hidden, and it
makes the spirit of man and his reason
illuminatingly clear. (Physica 1.26)
Cubeb is used in folk medicine in cases of
weakness of memory and to increase the sexual
appetite (aphrodisiac) (Gottlieb 1974, 26 f. *; Halzl
et al. 1993, 196). In Yemen, where they are known
as kebab, the fruits are regarded as an aphrodisiac
and nerve tonic (Fleurentin and Pelt 1982,92 f.*).
In former times, cubeb was often used as a spice.
Today, it is used only in Asian cusine (e.g., as an ingredient in curries). It is one of the primary
ingredients in the Moroccan spice mixture ras el
hanout, which also contains cardamom (Elettaria
cardamomum), nutmeg fruits and flowers (Myristica
fragrans) , galanga (Alpinia sp.; cf. Kaempferia
galanga), long pepper (Piper longum), cinnamon
(Cinnamomum verum), cloves (Syzygium aromaticum)
, ginger (Zingiber officinale) , rose buds
(Rosa sp.), lavender flowers (Lavandula angustifolia
Mill.) , Spanish fly (Cantharides), ash berries
(Fraxinus sp.?), paradise corns (Amomum
melegueta), black pepper (Piper nigrum), peanuts
(Arachis hypogaea 1.), turmeric (Curcuma longa),
cassia (Cinnamomum cassia), fennel seeds (Nigella
sativa), monk’s pepper (Vitex agnus-castus) ,
belladonna (Atropa belladonna), and violet root
(Viola odorata 1.) (Norman 1991, 96f.*). The
consumption of large quantities of this spice
mixture is said to produce psychoactive and
aphrodisiac effects. Cubeb pepper is also an ingredient
in Oriental joy pills and was once used as an
additive to wine (see Vitis vinifera).

Piper elongatum Vahl [syn. Artanthe elongata
(Vah!) Miq., Piper angustifolium RUlz et Pavon,
Piper purpurascens D. Dietr., Steggensia elongata
(Vah!) Kunth]-matico pepper
The matico or soldiers’ pepper comes from the
Central and South American tropics and has a
long history of use as a medicine and as an agent
of pleasure. The leaves contain 0.3 to 60/0 essential
oil, in which asarone and parsley apiol are present
alongside the primary component, dillapiol (cf.
Acorus calamus, Petroselinum crispum). Matico
pepper is used in Panama as an aphrodisiac and
stimulant (Holzi et al. 1993, 198). In Mexico, it is
one of the traditional spices for cacao (see
Theobroma cacao). It is possible that mild psychoactive
effects can result from the consumption of
high doses of the leaves.

Piper longum 1. [syn. Chavica roxbhurgii Miq.,
Chavica sarmentosa (Roxb.) Miq., Piper
latifolium Hunter, Piper sarmentosum Roxb.Jlong
pepper, pippali
In Asia and Arabia, the unripe fruits of the long
pepper are used as a spice, an aphrodisiac, and a
medicine (Fleurentin and Pelt 1982, 92 f. *; Ratsch
1995). They contain approximately 1% essential oil
with sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and p-cymene,
dihydrocarveol, terpinoles, and a-thujene as well
as amides (piperidine and others). The drug has
vasodilatory properties (Holzi et al. 1993,200). In
Asia, long pepper has been used as a spice for
much longer than black pepper (Norman 1991,
52*). While black pepper has been regarded as an
aphrodisiac in Europe since ancient times, long
pepper has an even greater reputation. Long
pepper is a principal ingredient in numerous
recipes for the aphrodisiac preparations used in
tantric rituals (cf. Oriental joy pills). It is regarded
as an "inciter" in Ayurvedic medicine. Its qualities
are pungent, heating, and sweet, which is why it
strengthens the functions of the genital system
and is said to provide the organs of desire with a
warming energy (Lad and Frawley 1987, 249*).
The Ananga-Ranga, an ancient Indian book on the
art of the love, lists a tantric "secret agent"possibly
with psychoactive effects-that awakens
the lingam (= phallus) to life:
Take a few corns of black pepper [Piper
nigrum], seeds of the thorn apple [Datura
metel], one pod of pinpalli (Piper longum,
which yields the pepper that works slowly, or
betel powder [Areca catechu]) with lodhra
peel or Morinda citrifolia, which is used for
dyeing; rub this with light honey and [rub it
on the lingam]. This agent is unsurpassable.
(Johann Wolfgang von Goethes, AnangaRanga
1985, 65)
The spice mixture trikatu, “three spices;’ which
is widely known in India, consists of equal parts of
long pepper, black pepper, and dried pieces of
gingerroot (Zingiber officinale). This mixture is
considered to be the most important Ayurvedic
stimulant. Trikatu is a rejuvenator for agni, the
inner fire. At the same time, it is important as an agent that is taken together with other medicines;
its stimulating effects potentiate or improve the
assimilation of all kinds of active substances.

Piper plantagineum Schlecht.
This Caribbean species was once allegedly used in
the West Indies (Mexico) in a similar manner to
Piper methysticum; it may be identical to Piper
auritum.

Piper sp.-syryboa
In his book Der Orientalisch-Indianische Kunstund
Lustgartner [The Oriental-Indian Art and
Pleasure Gardener] (1677), George Meister, who
traveled to the East Indies, described a species of
Piper that was used in a similar manner to or as a
substitute for betel pepper (Piper betle):
On Foliis Syryboae. These run lengthwise up
the trees in the same way as folia bettele or
pepper. The fruit is almost that of a long
pepper species, pungent taste, looking like the
so-called aments that hang on the hazel nuts
in the spring, but somewhat thicker and
longer, almost a span in length. These are cut
from one another and eaten along with filled
bettele leaves and the fruit areca [cf. Areca
catechu] . In addition, they also take the flower,
known as canange, which has yellow petals,
with this, so that it has not just a pleasant
scent but also a good taste. (Ch. 9, 20)
Unfortunately, the species of pepper described
here as an additive to betel quids cannot be
determined with certainty. The “canange flower” is
very likely the blossom of the ylang-ylang tree
(Cananga odorata; cf. essential oils).

Piper spp.-masho-hara
The Tanimuka and Yucuna Indians of the Rio
Miritiparana (Amazonia) boil the very aromatic
leaves of one Piper species to prepare a drink that
is said to invigorate the elderly (Schultes 1993,
135*). Other species of Piper that are also known
as masho-hara or yauardi-hena are used as ritual
snuffs in Amazonia. The Muinane from the region
of La Pedrera make a snuff from the dried leaves of
a Piper species and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum).
Shamans chew or smoke various Piper species to
track down cases of witchcraft. The Cane10 use a
Piper species that they call guayusa (cf. Ilex
guayusa) as a stimulant (Schultes and Raffauf
1990,367 f.*). One Piper species endemic to Papua
New Guinea that has not yet been botanically
described contains kavalactones (cf. keu).

Literature
See also the entries for Piper auritum, Piper betle,
Piper methysticum, and Macropiper excelsum.
Atal, C. K., K. 1. Dhar, and J. Singh. 1975. The
chemistry of Indian Piper species. Lloydia
38:256-64.
Avella, Eliseo, Pedro P. Diaz, and Aura M. P. de Diaz.
1994. Constituents from Piper divaricatum.
Planta Medica 60:195.
Costa, Mirtes, Luiz C. di Stasi, Mizue Kirizawa, Sigrid
1.J. Menda<;:olli, Cecilia Gomes, and Gustaf
Trolin. 1989. Screening in mice of some
medicinal plants used for analgesic purposes in
the state of Sao Paulo. Journal of
Ethnopharmacology 27:25-33.
Goethes, Johann Wolfgang v., ed. Ananga-Ranga.
1985. Orientalische Liebeslehre. Munich:
Goldmann.
Holzl, Josef, S. Wiltrud Juretzek, and Elisabeth StahlBiskup.
1993. Piper. In Ragers Randbuch der
pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5th ed., 5:52-59. Berlin:
Springer.
Ilyas, M. 1976. Spices in India. Economic Botany
30:273-80.
Raisch, Christian. 1995. Piper longum, der
ayurvedische Scharfmacher. Dao 6/95:68.

Rubiaceae (Coffee Family)

Most of the approximately 1,200 to 1,400

Psychotria species that have been described are

found in the tropical zones of Central and South

America, although a few species occur in the rain

forests of Malaysia and in New Caledonia

(Standley 1930). In the Caribbean, the seeds of

some species, e.g. Psychotria nervosa, are referred

to as wild coffee and drunk as a coffee substitute

(cf. Coffea arabica). The fruits of many Psychotria

species (P. involucrata Swartz, P. nudiceps Standley)

are regarded as poisonous (Schultes 1969, 158;

1985). N,N-DMT has been demonstrated to be

present in several species. Some contain the

alkaloid psychotridine, and others indoles (Lajis et

a1. 1993). Some species (Psychotria poeppigiana

Muel1. Arg., Psychotria ulviformes Sterm.) appear

to contain opium-like constituents (Elisabetskyet

a1. 1995, 78). The Yucatec Maya regard the Central

American species Psychotria acuminata Benth. (ixanal)

and Psychotria tenuifolia Sw. (x’anal) as

«male” and «female” counterparts and use them to

treat nervousness and sleeplessness (Arvigo and

Balick 1994, 45, 105*). In Europe, Psychotria

emetica (1. fi1.) Mutis, the Peruvian vomit plant,

was known in particular as a counterfeit for ipecac

(Cephaelis ipecacuanha [Brot.] Tussac [syn.

Psychotria ipecacuanha (Brot.) Stokes]) (Ratsch

1991a, 136f.*; Schneider 1974, 3:135f.*). The

vomit-inducing substance emetine is said to occur

in numerous Psychotria species (Fisher 1973, 231).

Psychotria brachypoda (Muell. Arg.) Britton

This Psychotria is used traditionally as a pain

medicine. The species contains active constituents

with opium-like, analgesic effects (Elisabetsky et

a1. 1995).

Psychotria carthaginensis Jacquin-sameruca

According to information provided by the

Colombian Makuna Indians, eating the fruit of

this bush will induce perceptual alterations that

can persist for days, nausea, weakness, and fever

(Schultes 1969, 158). The leaves, which contain

some N,N-DMT, are used as an ayahuasca additive

(Schultes 1985, 118).

Psychotria colorata (Willd. ex R. et S.) Muell. Arg.

This bush is known as perpetua do mato in the

Brazilian Amazon, where it is used in folk medicine

to treat ear and lower abdominal pain. The

Caboclos produce eardrops by heating the flowers

in banana leaves on hot ashes. A decoction of the

roots and fruits is drunk to treat abdominal pains.

The leaves and flowers have been found to

contain alkaloids with opium-like effects whose

structures have not yet been determined

(Elisabetsky et a1. 1995).

diablo (Spanish, “clevil’s ear”)

In Amazonia (Ecuador), the nectar of this species

is used as a traditional ear medicine. The leaves are

rich in N,N-DMT and are evidently well suited for

use as an ayahuasca additive (ayahuasca analogs)

(Rob Montgomery, pers. comm.). In the Putumayo

region of Colombia, the roots are used to treat

lung ailments (Schultes 1985, 119; Schultes and

Raffauf 1990, 395*).

Among the Ka’apor, Psychotria poeppigiana

Muel1. Arg. is called yawaru-ka’a, «black jaguar

plant;’ or tapi’i-ka’a, «tapir plant” (Balee 1994,

303*). These names suggest that the plant may

be used for shamanic purposes (animal

transformation) .

Psychotria psychotriaefolia (Seem.) Standley

In the Colombian Putumayo region, the leaves of

this species are used together with Banisteriopsis

caapi to produce ayahuasca. In Ecuador, both the leaves and the fruits are used for this purpose

(Schultes 1969, 158). The addition of this plant to

the mixture is said to deepen and prolong the

visions. The leaves contain N,N-DMT. The Kofan

Indians call the plant oprito. They use this same

name to refer to the “heavenly people” that they

contact while under the influence of ayahuasca

(164). This species may be synonymous with

Psychotria viridis.

Psychotria spp.

Among the many members of the genus

Psychotria, there are certainly other species that

contain N,N-DMT and may be suitable for use as

ayahuasca additives. We already know of some as

yet undescribed members of the genus that are

used to make ayahuasca and are often called by

the name chacruna.

Literature

See also the entries for Psychotria viridis, ayahuasca,

and N,N-DMT.

Elisabetsky, Elaine, Tania A. Amador, Ruti R.

Albuquerque, Domingos S. Nunes, and Ana do

C. T. Carvalho. 1995. Analgesic activity of

Psychotria colorata (Willd. ex R. et S.) Muell. Arg.

alkaloids. Journal ofEthnopharmacology

48:77-83.

Fisher, H. H. 1973. Origin and uses of ipecac.

Economic Botany 27:231-34.

Lajis, Nordin H., Zurinah Mahmud, and R. F. Toia.

1993. The alkaloids of Psychotria rostrata. Planta

Medica 59:383-84.

Schultes, Richard Evans. 1969. De Plantis Toxicariis e

Mundo Novo Tropicale Commentationes IV.

Botanical Museum Leaflets 22 (4): 133-64.

—. 1985. De Plantis Toxicariis e Mundo Novo

Tropicale Commentationes XXXIV: Biodynamic

Rubiaceous plants of the Northwest Amazon.

Journal ofEthnopharmacology 14:105-24.

Small, John K. 1928. Psychotria sulzneri. Addisonia

13:47-48.

Standley, Paul C. 1930. The Rubiaceae ofColombia.

Botanical Series, vol. 8, no. 1. Chicago: Field

Museum of Natural History.

Rubiaceae (Coffee Family)

Forms and Subspecies

It is possible for white thorns (domatia) to develop

along the central nerve on the underside of some

chacruna leaves. South American ayahuasqueros

distinguish different forms of the plant on the

basis of the number of these thorns. Plants with

three thorns per leaf are considered to be particulady

potent, medicinal, and well suited for the

production of ayahuasca. A form with nine thorns

is regarded as the highest quality.

Synonyms

Psychotria psychotriaefolia (Seem.) Standley may

be a synonym (cf. Psychotria spp.).

Folk Names

Amirucapanga, cahua (Shipibo-Conibo), chacrona,

chacruna, chagropanga, chalipanga, hor6va

(Campa), kawa (Cashinahua/Sharanahua), oprito

(Kofan, “heavenly people))), sami ruca

History

It is not known when the use of chacruna in

Amazonia first began. It is presumably as old as the

use of Banisteriopsis caapi and ayahuasca. But it

was only in the 1960s that the American ethnobotanist Homer Pinkley (a student of Schultes)

first observed and described the psychoactive use

of the plant among the Kofan Indians of Colombia,

who use it as an ayahuasca additive (Pinkley 1969).

Linnaeus, who provided the first botanical description

of the genus Psychotria, derived the name

of the genus from Psychotrophum (Patrick Browne),

a term that had already been circulating in the

literature. Unfortunately, he did not provide any

reason for this action. It is quite possible that the

genus name means that it “influences the psyche))

(cf. Pinkley 1969).

Distribution

The tropical bush is at home primarily in the

undisturbed forests of the Amazon lowlands but

has spread from Colombia to Bolivia and into

eastern Brazil as a result of extensive cultivation. It

is said to occur also north of the Amazon region

and into Central America (Pinkley 1969, 535).

Today, there are also plantations in Hawaii and

northern California.

Cultivation

The plant is difficult to propagate from seed. The

seeds can require sixty days to germinate. Sometimes,

only one seed in a hundred will germinate.

In contrast, cultivation from cuttings is much

easier and more successful. A small branch needs only to be set in the ground and watered thoroughly.

Plants can be grown even from a branch

piece having only two leaves, and it is possible for

individual leaves and leaf pieces to develop into

plants. It has been claimed that a young plant once

developed from a piece of leaf that was accidentally

covered with soil. The plant requires moist,

humus-rich soil. It can survive an occasional flooding

of its location, as occurs in Amazonia (Pinkley

1969).

Appearance

The evergreen bush can grow into a small tree

with a very woody trunk, but in cultivation it is

usually maintained at a height of 2 to 3 meters. It

has long, narrow, ovate leaves that are light green

to dark green in color and whose upper side is

shiny. The flowers have greenish white petals and

are attached to long stalks. The red berry fruits

contain several small ovate-oval retuse seeds

(approximately 4 mm in length). The convex side

is streaked with three parallel grooves with

irregular edges.

Psychotria viridis is easily confused with other

Psychotria species. Psychotria psychotriaefolia in

particular is very similar in appearance and may in

fact be a synonym (see Psychotria spp.).

- LeavesPreparation and Dosage

The leaves must be collected in the morning and

are used both fresh and dried to manufacture

ayahuasca and ayahuasca analogs. The dried leaves

are coffee brown in color. The leaves also can be

used to produce an extract that thickens to a

tarlike mass and can be smoked.

As little as 1 ml of the juice pressed from the

fresh leaves is said to contain some 100 mg of N,NDMT

(cf. Russo 1997,6).

Ritual Use

See ayahuasca.

Artifacts

See ayahuasca (“Ayahuasca Music-A Discography;’

on page 711).

Medicinal Use

The Machiguenga use juice that has been freshly

pressed from the leaves of Psych0 tria viridis or

another Psych0 tria species (Psychotria spp.) as

eyedrops for treating migraine headaches (Russo

1997, 5). While Psychotria viridis does have a

reputation as a medicinal plant, such use has been

little studied to date (see also ayahuasca).

Constituents

The leaves contain 0.1 to 0.61% N,N-DMT along

with traces of MMT and MTHC (= 2-methyltetrahydro-~-

carboline). The DMT content is

typically around 0.3%. Psychotria leaves appear to

contain the highest concentrations of DMT in the

early morning, which is why they should be

collected at that time (Dennis McKenna, pers.

comm.).

Effects

The Kofan Indians say that by mixing Psychotria

viridis leaves into their yage (= ayahuasca; cf.

Banisteriopsis caapi), they are able to see the

oprito, the small “heavenly people” that bear the

same name as the plant (Pinkley 1969, 535). When

used as an ayahuasca additive, the leaves manifest

typical DMT effects (see ayahuasca).

Commercial Forms and Regulations

The dried leaves are occasionally available from

sources specializing in ethnobotanical products.

The legal situation with respect to the raw plant

material has not been clarified.

Literature

See also the entries for Psychotria spp., ayahuasca,

and ayahuasca analogs.

Der Marderosian, Ara H., et al. 1970. The use and

hallucinatory principles of a psychoactive

beverage of the Cashinahua tribe (Amazonia

basin). Drug Dependence 5:7-14.

Pinkley, Homer V. 1969. Etymology of Psychotria in

view of a new use of the genus. Rhodora

71:535-40.

Prance, G. T., and A. E. Prance. 1970. Hallucinations

in Amazonia. Garden Journal 20:102-7.

Russo, Ethan B. 1992. Headache treatments by native

peoples of the Ecuadorian Amazon: A

preliminary cross-disciplinary assessement.

Journal ofEthnopharmacology 36: 192-206.

—. 1997. An investigation of psychedelic plants

and compounds for activity in serotonin receptor

assays for headache treatment and prophylaxis.

MAPS 7 (1): 4-8.

Leguminosae: Papilionideae (Legume Family);

Subfamily Fabodeae

Forms and Subspecies

The genus consists of some three hundred species

that are found in the tropical and subtropical

regions of both hemispheres (Schultes and

Hofmann 1980,338*).

Synonyms

Dolicholus phaseoloides Sw.

Rhynchosia phaseoloides (Sw.) DC.

Folk Names

Ah rna’ ak’ (Lacandon, “ara parrot vine”), antipusi,

atecuixtle, atecuxtli, bejuco culebra, bird’s eyes,

casanpulgas, chanate pusi, cha’pak’ (Mayan),

colorin chiquito, colorincito, colorines (cf.

Erythrina americana), coralito, frijol de chintlatlahua,

frijolillo, guarecitas, gun-ma-muy-tio-fia

(Chinantec), krebsaugenbohne, liucai-nofal (Chontal),

negritos, ojitos de picho (Spanish, “little eyes

of the dove”), ojo de cangrejo (Spanish, “crab’s

eye”), ojo de chanate (Mexico, “eye of the thrush

[Cassidix mexicanus]“), ojo de culebra (Spanish,

“eye of the snake”), ojo de pajarito (Spanish, “eye

of the little bird”), ojo de zanate (Mexico, “eye of

the thrush [Cassidix mexicanus]“) , pega palo,

peonia, perico, peyote (see Lophophora williamsii) ,

pipilzintli, piule, pulguitas, puren-sapicho, saltipus,

senecui1che (see Heimia salicifolia), shasham

wupu’ar (Pima), sinicuiche, xenecui1che

Plants and Fungi Known in Mexico as Piule

(from Martinez 1987, 757*; Ott 1993,419*; Santesson 1938; supplemented)

History

The Aztecs may have used the striking seeds of this

plant for ritual purposes (Schultes and Hofmann

1980,340*). The red-black seeds, which are known

by the name piule (Santesson 1938), were or are

used ritually in the village of San Pedro Nexapa,

on the slopes of Popocatepetl (Mexico) (Wasson

and Wasson 1957, 306 f.). In Mexico, the name

piule has been used as a catchall term for psychoactive

plants since the twentieth century

(Martinez 1987, 757*; cf. Psilocybe mexicana, Turbina

corymbosa). The word piule may have been

derived from the Nahuatl peyotl (= Lophophora

williamsii). Accordingly, piuleros are those people

who use a psychoactive substance (piule) to divine

and/or heal (Santesson 1937a, 1937b). Some

species, e.g., Rhynchosia longeracemosa Mart. et

Gal., are now also known by the name peyote

(Schultes 1966,296*).

Distribution

This climber is found throughout the tropical and

warm regions of Mexico and on many islands of

the Caribbean (Cuba) (von Reis and Lipp 1982,

139*). It usually grows at the edge of forests and in

clearings. It is frequently found in fallow milpas

(slash-and-burn gardens).

Cultivation

The seeds are best pregerminated in a mixture of

soil and moss. The seedlings must be planted in

topsoil and watered well as soon as the seeds have

opened and the young shoots have become visible

(Grubber 1991, 56*). The plant requires a moist,

warm climate and in northern zones can thus be

grown only as a houseplant.

Appearance

The vine, which can grow to a length of several

meters, has the typical leaves of the Legume

Family, in which three leaves sit upon each stalk.

The greenish flowers are arranged in long racemes.

The bean-shaped seedpods are constricted

between the two small, red-black, almost spherical

hard seeds (4 to 6 mm long).

The kidney-shaped seeds of the closely related

Rhynchosia longeracemosa are “mottled light-and

dark-brown” (Schultes and Hofmann 1992,55*).

Rhynchosia pyramidalis is often confused with

Abrus precatorius 1. (jequirity, rosary pea), which

is widely feared as a poisonous plant. It too

produces red-black seeds, although they are

somewhat larger (6 to 7 mm long). Jequirity can

be recognized by its smaller, pinnate leaves. The

seeds of Abrus precatorius contain abrin, a lectin mixture that is unstable when heated and one of

the most potent of all known toxins, along with

several alkaloids (Ghosal and Dutta 1971; Nwodo

1991; Nwodo and Alumanah 1991; Roth et al.

1994, 83 f. *). In Mexico, the seeds of Abrus

precatorius are known as colorines (see Erythrina

spp.). They are associated with the mescal bean

cult (see Sophora secundiflora); ashes from the

leaves are used as a coca additive (see Erythroxylum

coca).

- Seeds (semina rhynchosiae phaseoloides, bird’s

eyes, colorines)

- StalksPreparation and Dosage

In entheogenic rituals in the high valleys of

Mexico, twelve untreated seeds were ingested with

six pairs of Psilocybe aztecorum per person

(Wasson and Wasson 1957,306).

Ritual Use

To date, the only description that is available

pertains to the ritual use of the seeds in connection

with the ingestion of mushrooms. The

ingestion of the seeds is presumably more symbolic

in meaning, for the red-black seeds represent

bodiless, free-floating eyes, a symbol of psychedelic

and prophetic vision.

The Zapotec of Miahuatlan are said to have

used the seeds of the closely related species

Rhynchosia minima (1.) DC. [syn. Dolicholus

minimus] in magical rituals (Dfaz 1979,87*).

Artifacts

The small, durable seeds are made into amulets

and chains (cf. Erythrina americana, Erythrina

spp., Sophora secundiflora).

Wall paintings at Teopantitla (near Teotihuacan)

allegedly show the seeds falling out of the

hand of the rain god TIMoc (D. McKenna 1995,

102*). The red-black coloration is said to be an

indication of the seeds’ hallucinogenic use

(Schultes 1970c; Schultes and Hofmann 1980,

340*).

Medicinal Use

The seeds are regarded as a narcotic and poison in

Mexican folk medicine (Jiu 1996, 254*). The

Yucatec Maya use the root along with other herbs

to produce a medicine to treat pellagra284 (Pullido

S. and Serralta P. 1993,37*). The Pima of northern

Mexico grind the seeds on a mortar and strew the

powder into the eyes of those who are suffering

from the “evil eye” (Pennington 1973,223*).

In the Dominican Republic, the stalks are used

to prepare an aphrodisiac drink (Dlaz 1979,87*).

Constituents

The chemistry of the constituents has not yet been

clarified. Reports about the alkaloids are

contradictory (Santesson 1937a). The seeds

apparently contain alkaloids similar to those in

Sophora secundiflora and Erythrina spp. (D.

McKenna 1995, 102*). The root may possibly

contain niacin or nicotine amide, for it is used in

the Yucatan as a folk medicine to treat pellagra

(maidism). Whether the flavonol rhynchosin

(Adinarayana et al. 1980) occurs in the plant is

unknown.

Effects

In Mexico, it is commonly believed that the seeds

cause “imbecility” or “madness” (Diaz 1979, 87*;

Jiu 1996, 254*). There are as yet no reports of

actual psychoactive effects. An extract of the seeds

is said to have curare-like activity (Schultes and

Hofmann 1980,340*).

Commercial Forms and Regulations

The seeds are sometimes available through the

international seed trade. Mexican Indians

sometimes sell necklaces with beads of Rhynchosia

seeds.

Literature

See also the entries for Erythrina spp. and Sophora

secundiflora.

Adinarayana, Dama, Duvvuru Gunasekar, Otto

Se1igmann, and Hildebert Wagner. 1980.

Rhynchosin, a new 5-deoxyflavonol from

Rhynchosia beddomei. Phytochemistry 19:483-84.

Ghosal, S., and S. K. Dutta. 1971. Alkaloids of Abrus

precatorius. Phytochemistry 10:195-98.

Grear, J. W. 1978. A revision of the New World

species of Rhynchosia (Leguminosae-Fabodeae).

Memoirs ofthe New York Botanical Garden 31

suppl. (1): 1-168.

Nwodo, O. F. C. 1991. Studies on Abrus precatorius

seeds. I: Uterotonic activity of seed oil. Journal of

Ethnopharmacology 31 (3): 391-94.

Nwodo, O. F. C., and E. O. Alumanah. 1991. Studies

on Abrus precatorius seeds. II: Antidiarrhoeal

activity. Journal ofEthnopharmacology 31 (3):

395-98.

Ristic, S., and A. Thomas. 1962. Zur Kenntnis von

Rhynchosia pyramidalis (Pega Palo). Archiv fur

Pharmakologie 295:510.

Santesson, C. G. 1937a. Notiz tiber piule, eine

mexikanische Rauschdroge. Etnologiska Studier

(Goteborg) 4: 1-11.

—. 1937b. Piule, eine mexikanische

Rauschdroge. Archiv fur Pharmazie: 532-37.

—. 1938. Noch eine mexikanische “Piule”Droge:

Semina Rynchosiae phaseoloidis DC.

[sic!]. Etnologiska Studier 6: 179-83.

Wasson, R. Gordon, and Valentina P. Wasson. 1957.

Mushrooms, Russia, and history. New York:

Pantheon Books.