List of Acacia species known to contain psychoactive alkaloids explained

This article is a list of Acacia species (sensu lato) that are known to contain psychoactive alkaloids, or are suspected of containing such alkaloids due to being psychoactive. The presence and constitution of alkaloids in nature can be highly variable, due to environmental and genetic factors.

Acacias known to contain psychoactive alkaloids

Acacias Known to Contain Psychoactive Alkaloids
0.04-0.82% alkaloids in leaves and stems, 0.08% in ripe pods, mostly phenethylamine
DMT in bark (up to 1.6%) and in leaves (0.6-1.0%), young leaves mainly containing tryptamine;[1] 0.72% alkaloids from leaves and stems, mostly tryptamine[2]
DMT in bark (0.2-1.2%), 0.1% alkaloids from leaves (mostly NMT);[3] 1.5% alkaloids from leaves and stems, mostly tryptamine[4]
β-methyl-phenethylamine (N-methyl-phenethylamine), 2.4% in leaves; 3.2% alkaloids in aerial parts (stems, leaves, flowers) - about 70% was β-methyl-phenethylamine, with smaller amounts of phenethylamine
Published reports of DMT in the leaf derive from a misreading of a paper that found no DMT in leaves of this species. Besides this, there are independent claims of DMT in leaves and bark based on human bioassay, and traces of 5-MeO-DMT, DMT and NMT were tentatively identified by TLC in twigs. Root bark contains alkaloids that were not identified[5]
Dimethyltryptamine active levels in leaf[6]
Ash used in Pituri.[7] Ether extracts about 2-6% of the dried leaf mass.[8] Not known if psychoactive per se.
0.028% β-methyl-phenethylamine in leaves,[9] DMT (0.00012-0.00102%) and N-methyltyramine (0.00011-0.005%) in leaves;[10] DMT and 5-MeO-DMT tentatively identified by TLC from roots in one test, not detected in follow up; 5-MeO-DMT tentatively identified by TLC in seeds[11]
Has been claimed to contain tryptamine alkaloids[12] and significant amount of tryptamine in the seeds,[13] but this needs confirmation and supporting information
5-MeO-DMT tentatively identified in stem bark
0.02% alkaloids in spring (80% tetrahydroharman, 20% tryptamine), 0.028% autumn (tryptamine) and none in summer, with leaves of Californian plants;[14] traces of DMT and unidentified indoles tentatively detected in seeds
Claimed to be psychoactive,[15] but supporting information is needed. Ash used in pituri
Hordenine, tyramine and N-methyltyramine in leaves;[16] 0.28-0.66% N-methylphenethylamine in leaves. Causes stock intoxications in Texas.[17] Claims of amphetamines, mescaline, nicotine and many other alkaloids[18] are suspect[19]
0.65% alkaloids from leaves and stems, 0.58% from pods and 0.09% from seeds, mostly phenethylamine
Tryptamine and DMT N-oxide from bark
0.02-0.06% alkaloids from stems and leaves, consisting of tryptamine and phenethylamine; one screening found no alkaloids
Claims of DMT in the plant[20] have been referenced to works that do not support the claim. Needs research.
Claims of tryptamines in this species are unreferenced. Leaves of this (and/or other plants) and tobacco, are occasionally smoked with Anadenanthera seeds for psychoactive effects[21]
Claims of DMT and other tryptamines in leaf and bark are unreferenced. Needs research.
Claimed to contain up to or more than 1.8% DMT in bark, 0.2-0.6% in leaf,[22] Requires further confirmation.
0.3% N-methyl-tetrahydroharman, traces of tetrahydroharman in leaf and stem;[23] independent claims of DMT from bark[24] need confirmation
2.1% Nicotine (w/w), 1.2% calycotomine (d/w) from leaves[25] [26]
0.074% alkaloids from stems (20% DMT, 80% NMT);[27] NMT and an unidentified tryptamine alkaloid from trunk bark;[28] [29] 2.85% alkaloids from root bark (45% DMT, 55% NMT);[30] 0.005% DMT, 0.009% DMT N-oxide, 0.006% NMT and 0.007% N-chloromethyl-DMT (might be artefact of extraction) from unspecified parts[31]
0.02% alkaloids from leaves, including β-methyl-phenethylamine (tentatively identified)
Ash used in Pituri.[32] Not known if psychoactive.
May be psychoactive, as the root is used as an aphrodisiac, and may have been added to the Central American balché beverage. Claims of tryptamines in this species[33] might be speculation. Research needed.
0.02-0.07% alkaloids in leaves and stems, including tryptamine (tentatively identified) and a phenethylamine. 0.04% alkaloids in seeds and unripe seed pods;[34] [35] tentative observation of 5-MeO-DMT in leaves, stems and flowers
Has been included on a list of psychoactive plants, but requires supporting information
Has been included on a list of psychoactive plants, but requires supporting information
DMT in bark (up to 1.4%) and leaves (0.5-0.8%), young leaves mainly containing tryptamine
Psychoactive, but less than 0.02% alkaloids[36]
Tentative identification of 5-MeO-DMT and an unidentified β-carboline from immature seed pods; tryptamine in stem bark.[37] A claim of β-methyl-phenethylamine from flowers is not supported by the reference given.[38] Ether extracts about 2-6% of the dried leaf mass. Alkaloids are present in the bark[39] and leaves.[40] Others found no alkaloids.[41] Claims of amphetamines and mescaline in the tree appear to be groundless
Has been added to pulque, but its psychoactivity is unknown
Up to 0.18% alkaloids from tops, mostly tryptamine with some phenethylamine; 0.15-1.18% alkaloids from flowers, equal amounts tryptamine and phenethylamine; traces of unidentified alkaloid from bark. Recently found to actually contain mostly DMT (up to 0.1% from leaves, 0.3-0.5% from bark), with bark also containing NMT, and small amounts of tryptamine, harman and norharman
0.016% alkaloids from leaves, including (tentatively identified) N-methyl-β-phenethylamine and tyramine
0.1-0.6% alkaloids in leaves, consisting of phenethylamine and hordenine at a ratio of 2:3; 0.3% alkaloids in bark
Hordenine, 1.2% in bark
Has been claimed to be psychoactive, but this is not supported by the reference given
Claimed to be psychoactive,[42] but this requires supporting information
Putative species claimed to contain DMT and NMT, without a reference; possibly assumed due to supposed use in jurema wine
Probably psychoactive; roots used in Zimbabwe as an aphrodisiac and to treat dizziness, convulsions and body pains[43]
Used in Pituri, but not known if psychoactive.
1.3-1.88% alkaloids from leaves and stems, mostly (92%) phenethylamine; 0.9% β-methyl-phenethylamine from leaves[44]
Published reports of DMT in the leaf[45] derive from a misreading of a paper that found no DMT in leaves of this species.[46] Needs research
Tryptamine in root bark
Used in Pituri, but not known if psychoactive.
0.2-1% alkaloids from tops, 0.14-0.29% from flowers; consisted mostly of tryptamine-like alkaloids (tryptamine itself found in some flowers), with small amount of phenethylamine.[47] Some strains have been found to contain up to 0.2% DMT in unspecified parts.[48] Leaves, bark, pods, seeds and flowers all contained varying levels of histamine amides[49]
Contains alkaloids in leaves, stems and unripe seed pods but they have been poorly investigated. A claim of tryptamine in leaveand bark requires a proper reference. Several reports of DMT content unconfirmed[50]
Claimed to contain tryptamine, but without a reference. Needs research
0.13-0.71% alkaloids from bark, consisting of NMT and DMT in about a 2:3 ratio;[51] both also present in leaves. Some varieties of the species are not good alkaloid sources. Tentative identification of 5-MeO-DMT in wood and twigs, NMT in root
Rumoured to contain DMT or similar psychoactive alkaloids
Some plants may contain DMT in the bark and leaf, but may have been misidentified as most do not. Traces of alkaloids detected in bark, leaf and seed; sometimes no alkaloids
Published reports of DMT in the leaf derive from a misreading of a paper that found no DMT in leaves of this species. Needs research
DMT, NMT, tryptamine, other alkaloids [52]
One published report of DMT in the leaf may derive from a misreading of a paper that found no DMT in leaves of this species. Later analysis tentatively found 5-MeO-DMT in stems, leaves and roots; DMT, NMT and 5-MeO-DMT were tentatively observed in seeds, but follow-up tests were negative.[53] Bark contains unidentified alkaloids[54] Bark in one sample subsequently found to contain an alkaloid which has an Rf value suggesting DMT.[55]
DMT and Harmane derivatives [56]
0.15-0.6% alkaloids from bark, 0.07% from fresh tips,[57] 0.15-0.3% from dried leaves. A small population seems to contain mainly DMT in bark, with most also containing other alkaloids including NMT, tryptamine, harman and norharman; leaves may contain more NMT than DMT. Some assays showed tentative presence of 5-MeO-DMT and/or bufotenine but these are unconfirmed and other assays did not detect them[58] [59]
0.016% DMT in leaf; a claim of NMT in this species is unreferenced
Claimed to be psychoactive, but supporting information is needed. Bark and leaves have been used to poison fish[60]
0.3% DMT in leaf;[61] a claim of NMT could not be found in the reference given and needs verification. Species is rare and threatened
0.11-0.29% alkaloids in leaves and stems, 0.11% from seeds and pods, mostly tryptamine and sometimes with phenethylamine also present; a later analysis found 0.06% tryptamine from leaves (w/w)[62]
0.004%% DMT in leaf; claims of NMT and other tryptamines in leaf and bark[63] are not supported by the reference given
Up to 0.44% alkaloids from leaves and stems, mostly phenethylamine
0.17-0.65% alkaloids from stems and leaves, 1.8% from flowering tops, consisting of phenethylamine and β-methyl-phenethylamine[64]
Ash used in Pituri. Not known if psychoactive.
0.02-0.09% alkaloids from stems and leaves, 0.04% from tops, mostly tryptamine with some phenethylamine
Less than 0.01% total alkaloids in leaf, sometimes none. 0.4% DMT in single tree[65]
0.01% Nicotine was reported from leaves, but identity of the plant was not certain;[66] claims of DMT and NMT in the plant[67] require verification or a proper reference
0.025% alkaloids from leaves, including N-methyl-phenethylamine and N-methyl-tyramine (both tentatively identified). Claims of DMT, NMT, amphetamines, mescaline, nicotine and many other alkaloids[68] are suspect
0.036% alkaloids from leaves, including β-methyl-phenethylamine, tyramine and N-methyl-tyramine
Ash used in Pituri. Not known if psychoactive.
A claim of β-methyl-phenethylamine, phenethylamine, amphetamines and mescaline in this species lacks a reference and is highly dubious
β-methyl-phenethylamine in leaves, tentatively identified
0.003% DMT in leaf; claim of DMT in bark requires verification
Published reports of DMT in the leaf derive from a misreading of a paper that found no DMT in leaves of this species. Ether extracts about 1-7% of the dried leaf mass.
Published reports of DMT in the leaf derive from a misreading of a paper that found no DMT in leaves of this species. However it is rumoured that unpublished analysis has found DMT in the plant
3.6% alkaloids from leaves and stem bark (40% NMT, 22.5% DMT, 12.7% 2-methyl-tetrahydro-β-carboline, and traces of N-formyl-NMT which might be an artefact of extraction)[69]
0.21-0.35% alkaloids from leaves and stems, about 2/3 phenethylamine
Up to 0.89% alkaloids from leaves and stems, 0.05-0.17% from unripe pods, mostly phenethylamine
0.008% alkaloids from leaves including β-methyl-phenethylamine and tyramine (tentatively identified)
Published reports of DMT in the leaf derive from a misreading of a paper that found no DMT in leaves of this species. Needs research
Tryptamine, in the leaf and stem (up to 83% of total alkaloids); alkaloid content was highest in autumn and spring (0.12-0.28%), lowest in summer and winter (0.03-0.08%)
Tentative positive for DMT in aerial parts of a 1 yr old plant, and 5-MeO-DMT in roots of 2 yr old seedlings; a formal screening found no alkaloids in leaf and stem. Appears to contain DMT based on human bioassays

Acacia species having little or no alkaloids in the material sampled

Species containing a concentration of alkaloids of 0-0.02% include:

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. recent Net reports, Australian underground info
  2. White, E.P. 1957. “Evaluation of further legumes, mainly Lupinus and Acacia species for alkaloids.” New Zealand J. Sci. & Tech. 38B:718-725.
  3. name="independent assay"/>
  4. name="White1957" />
  5. Salisu, Y. et al. 2009. “Hypoglycaemic effects of Acacia albida Del. (Mimosaceae) methanol root bark extract.” Nigerian J. of Pharmaceutical Sciences 8(1):66-72.
  6. Web site: Plants & Seeds > A - E > Acacia spp. | Shaman Australis Botanicals. 25 November 2023.
  7. Web site: Entheology.org - Preserving Ancient Knowledge. www.entheology.org. 25 November 2023.
  8. http://www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/AFT/03-024.pdf Wattle Seed Workshop Proceedings 12 March 2002, Canberra March 2003 RIRDC Publication No 03/024, RIRDC Project No WS012-06
  9. Camp, B.J. & Norvell, M.J. 1966. "The phenethylamine alkaloids of native range plants." Economic Botany 20:274-278.
  10. English Title: Nutritive value assessment of the tropical shrub legume Acacia angustissima: anti-nutritional compounds and in vitro digestibility.Personal Authors: McSweeney, C. S., Krause, D. O., Palmer, B., Gough, J., Conlan, L. L., Hegarty, M. P.Author Affiliation: CSIRO Livestock Industries, Long Pocket Laboratories, 120 Meiers Road, Indooroopilly, Qld 4068, Australia.Document Title: Animal Feed Science and Technology, 2005 (Vol. 121) (No. 1/2) 175-190
  11. Trout, K. & Friends. 2007. Some Simple Tryptamines. Second edition. Mydriatic Productions, USA.
  12. Web site: Ayahuasca - Maya Ethnobotanicals. https://web.archive.org/web/20081025195522/http://www.maya-ethnobotanicals.com/product_info.phtml/herbid_340/category_ayahuasca. dead. 13 October 2023. 25 October 2008.
  13. Web site: Acacia (Polish). 25 November 2023.
  14. Repke, D.B. et al. 1973. “Alkaloids of Acacia baileyana.” Lloydia 36(2):211-213.
  15. Web site: www.bushfood.net. https://web.archive.org/web/20140804122924/http://www.bushfood.net/viewtopic.php?p=3443. dead. 4 August 2014.
  16. Adams, H.R. & Camp, B.J. 1966. “The isolation and identification of three alkaloids from Acacia berlandieri.” Toxicon 4:85-90.
  17. Camp, B.J. & Moore, J.A. 1960. “A quantitative method for the alkaloid of Acacia berlandieri.” Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association 49:158-160.
  18. Clement, B.A. et al. 1997. “Toxic amines and alkaloids from Acacia berlandieri.” Phytochemistry 46(2):249-254.
  19. Web site: Ask Dr. Shulgin Online September 26, 2001. www.cognitiveliberty.org. 25 November 2023.
  20. https://anonymshare.com/6qLx/secret-drugs-of-buddhism-mike-crowley.pdf Secret drugs of Buddhism
  21. Rätsch, C. 2005. The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants (English language edition). Park Street Press, Vermont.
  22. Web site: Dr Karl's Q&A forum. www.abc.net.au. 25 November 2023.
  23. Johns, S.R. et al. 1966. “Alkaloids of the Australian Leguminosae VII. Nb-methyltetrahydroharman from Acacia complanata A. Cunn. ex Benth.” Australian Journal of Chemistry 19:1539-1540.
  24. Web site: Acacia Complanata Phytochemical Studies . 2011-05-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081207033051/http://users.lycaeum.org/~mulga/acacia/comphy.html . 2008-12-07 . dead .
  25. Gupta, G.L. & Nigam, S.S. 1971. "Chemical examination of the leaves of Acacia concinna." Planta Medica 19:55-62.
  26. Web site: SBEPL . 2011-05-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040813031251/http://www.sbepl.com/acacia-concinna-shikakai.html . 2004-08-13 . dead .
  27. Arthur, H.R. et al. 1967. "Nb-Methylated tryptamines and other constituents of Acacia confusa Merr. of Hong Kong." Australian Journal of Chemistry 20:811-813.
  28. Lou, V. et al. 1965 . “Isolation of N-methyltryptamine from Acacia confusa bark.” Lloydia 28(3):207-208.
  29. Reference 32 may be outdated?
  30. Liu, K.-C. et al. 1977. “Studies on the constituents of the cortex radicis of Acacia confusa.” Chemistry (The Chinese Chemical Society, Taiwan) 1:15-16.
  31. http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/mrc.1959 NMR spectral assignments of a new chlorotryptamine alkaloid and its analogues from Acacia confusa
  32. Rätsch, Christian. Enzyklopädie der psychoaktiven Pflanzen, Botanik, Ethnopharmakologie und Anwendungen, 7. Auflage. AT Verlag, 2004, 941 Seiten. at Web site: DeutschesFachbuch.de : Enzyklopädie der psychoaktiven Pflanzen Botanik, Ethnopharmakologie und Anwendungen von Christian Rätsch . 2007-06-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071010154150/http://www.deutschesfachbuch.de/info/detail.php?isbn=3855025703&part=4&word= . 2007-10-10 .
  33. https://web.archive.org/web/20100105094521/http://www.naturheilpraxis.de/exclusiv/nh-online/2005/nhp05/a_nh-ff02.html Naturheilpraxis Fachforum (German)
  34. White, E.P. 1951. “Legumes examined for alkaloids – additions and corrections.” New Zealand J. Sci. & Tech. 33B:54-60.
  35. White, E.P. 1944a. “Isolation of β-phenethylamine from Acacia species.” New Zealand J. Sci. & Tech. 25B:139-142.
  36. Web site: Chemotaxonomie der Pflanzen: Band XIb-1: Leguminosae Teil 2: Caesalpinioideae und Mimosoideae. R.. Hegnauer. 30 July 1996. Springer Science & Business Media. 25 November 2023. Google Books.
  37. Ghosal, S. 1972. "Occurrence of psychodelic substances in some Indian medicinal plants." Planta Medica 21:200-209.
  38. Web site: Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases. https://web.archive.org/web/20141227143201/http://www.ars-grin.gov/duke/plants.html. dead. 27 December 2014.
  39. http://www.bpi.da.gov.ph/Publications/mp/pdf/a/aroma.pdf Aroma
  40. Web site: Acacia farnesiana. hort.purdue.edu. 25 November 2023.
  41. Collins, D.J. et al. 1990. Plants For Medicines. CSIRO Australia.
  42. Web site: Lista över hallucinogena växter, svampar och djur - Magiska Molekylers Wiki. wiki.magiskamolekyler.org. 25 November 2023.
  43. Stafford, G. et al. 2008. “Review on plants with CNS-effects used in traditional South African medicine against mental diseases.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 119:513-537.
  44. http://www.publish.csiro.au/?act=view_file&file_id=CH9640160.pdf Fitzgerald, J.S. 1964. "Alkaloids of the Australian Leguminosae III. The Occurrence of Phenylethylamine Derivatives in Acacia Species." Aust. J . Chem. 17:160-2.
  45. Shulgin, A. & Shulgin, A. 1997. TIHKAL. Transform Press, California.
  46. Khalil, S.K.W. & Elkheir, Y.M. 1975. “Dimethyltryptamine from the leaves of certain Acacia species of Northern Sudan.” Lloydia 38(3):176-177.
  47. White, E.P. 1944b. “Isolation of tryptamine from some Acacia species.” New Zealand J. Sci. & Tech. 25B:157-162.
  48. http://leda.lycaeum.org/?ID=15799 Lycaeum Acacia longifolia
  49. Repke, D.B. 1975. “The histamine amides of Acacia longifolia.” Lloydia 38(2):101-105.
  50. Internal Sydney University Bulletin 1993
  51. Fitzgerald, J.S. & Sioumis, A.A. 1965. “Alkaloids of the Australian Leguminosae. V. The occurrence of methylated tryptamines in Acacia maidenii F. Muell.” Aust. J. Chem. 18:433-434.
  52. S. Voogelbreinder Garden Of Eden 2009
  53. Heffter, B. 1996. "Ask Barney" column. Crash Collusion magazine 8:39-43. Berkeley, California.
  54. Banso, A. 2009. “Phytochemical and antibacterial investigation of bark extracts of Acacia nilotica.” J. of Medicinal Plants Research 3(2):82-85.
  55. Shakya et al 2012
  56. Medicinal Plants in Tropical West Africa, Oliver-Bever, Cambridge University Press, 1986
  57. Web site: Acacia obtusifolia Phytochemical Studies . 2011-05-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081203212552/http://users.lycaeum.org/~mulga/acacia/obtuphy.html . 2008-12-03 . dead .
  58. Mulga. 2005. "HPLC-MS analysis of Acacia obtusifolia." The Entheogen Review 14(1):113-115.
  59. Trout, K. 2005. "Some thoughts on analysis and comparisons of extracts and synthetic DMT." The Entheogen review 14(1):116-118.
  60. Hurst, E. 1942. The Poison Plants of New South Wales. Snelling Printing Works, Sydney.
  61. Rovelli, B. & Vaughan, G.N. 1967. “Alkaloids of Acacia I. NbNb-Dimethyltryptamine in Acacia phlebophylla F. Muell.” Aust. J. Chem. 20:1299-1300.
  62. Balandrin, M.F. et al. 1978. “Reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography of some tryptamine derivatives.” Journal of Chromatography 157:365-370.
  63. Web site: Hortipedia. https://web.archive.org/web/20071012181801/http://hortipedia.org/de/index.php?title=Acacia_campylacantha. dead. 12 October 2007.
  64. White, E.P. 1954. “The occurrence of N-methyl-β-phenylethylamine in Acacia prominens A. Cunn.” New Zealand J. Sci. & Tech. 35B:451-455.
  65. Nen. Talk at Intra Cortex 2002 Doon Doon, NSW
  66. Fikenscher, L.H. 1960. “Het voorkomen van nicotine in het genus Acacia.” Pharmaceutisch Weekblad 95:233-235.
  67. Web site: Pflanzentabelle APB (German) . 2011-05-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080812020052/http://www.factorey.ch/Eins.htm . 2008-08-12 . dead .
  68. Clement, B.A. et al. 1998. “Toxic amines and alkaloids from Acacia rigidula.” Phytochemistry 49(5):1377-1380.
  69. Poupat, C. et al. 1976. “Alcaloïdes de Acacia simplicifolia.” Phytochemistry 15:2019-2020.