Hallucinogenic plants

This includes the detailed study of plants having hallucinogenic effect

1. HALLUCINOGENS OR HALLUCINOGENIC PLANTS Prepared By: Sujata Assistant Professor

2. Hallucinogens are natural and synthetic (synthesized) substances that, when ingested (taken into the body), significantly alter one’s state of consciousness. Hallucinogenic compounds often cause people to see (or think they see) random colours , patterns, events and objects that do not exist. Many types of substances are classified as hallucinogens, solely because of their capacity to produce such hallucinations. These substances are sometimes called ‘psychedelic’, or ‘mind-expanding’

3. A few hallucinogens have been used in medicine to treat certain disorders, but they must be given under controlled circumstances. The real danger of hallucinogens is not their toxicity (poison level), The actual causes of such hallucinations are chemical substances in the plants. These substances are true narcotics

4. MEDICAL USES OF HALLUCINOGENS: Hallucinogens have been studied for possible medical uses, including the treatment of some forms of mental illness, alcoholism and addiction to the drug opium. A synthetic form of the active chemical in marijuana, Tetra hydro cannabinol (THC) has been approved for prescription use by cancer patients, who suffer from severe nausea after receiving chemotherapy (treating cancer with drugs). THC is also used to reduce

5. eye pressure in treating severe cases of glaucoma. Phencyclidine (PCP) is occasionally used by veterinarians as an anesthetic and sedative for animals Some of the important plant hallucinogens are as follows : 1. Belladonna ( Atropa belladonna ) 2. Betel Nut ( Areca catechu ) 3. Donana ( Coryphantha macromeris ) 4. Henbane 5. Datura ( Datura species) 6. Marijhuana (Bhang)

6. BELLADONNA

7. Synonyms : Nightshade leaves Biological source: It consists of dried leaves and flowering tops of Atropa belladonna family Solanaceae . Geographical source: 1. India ( Shimla, areas of himachal Pradesh and western Himalayas). 2. Europe and Asia.

8. Macroscopy : 1. Colour - leaves : dull green or yellowish green. Upper side is more darken than lower. Fruits: green to brown Flowers: purple to yellowish brown 2. Odour - slight characteristic 3 . Taste - bitter and acrid

9. CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: Atropine, Hyoscyamine , Atropamine , Belladonnine and Hyoscine .

10. MEDICINAL USES: 1. Antispasmodic (Reduce spasm in case of intestinal gripping) 2. Anti- asthmetic (smooth muscle relaxant) 3. Sedative 4. Anti-cholinergic 5. Used as anti-dote in opium and chloral hydrate poisoining . 6. Used as gastric and duodenal ulcer 7. Mydriatic (which dilate the pupil of eye) 8. Atropine along with morphine injection is used as pre- anaesthetic medication

11. BETEL NUT/ARECA NUT

12. Synonyms : supari Biological source: It consists of dried ripe seeds of Areca catechu belongs to family Palmaceae . Gerographical source : Asia, East Africa, India and Shri lanka . Macroscopy : It is a droope type (single seeded) fruit. Seeds are conical shaped with flattened base. Colour : Brownish Taste: astringent

13. CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: guacine and guvacoline ( responsible for vasocontrictive property ) arecaidine arecolidine , arecaine and arecoline ( main active constituents )

14. MEDICINAL USES: 1. Aromatic and astringent 2. Sialagogue (increase salivary secretions) 3. Anthelmintic 4. Used in urinary disorders. 5. Stimulant, stroke recovery, schizophrenia, anaemia , dental cavities. 6. It is also used as alcoholism, aphrodisiac, appetite stimulant, asthma, cough, digestive aid, diphtheria and as diuretic.

15. DONANA

16. Biological source: Coryphantha macromeris family ( Cactaceae ). Geographical source: It is native to Mexico and West Texas. Macroscopy : A low, cylindrical cactus to 8-inch-tall branching at the base, covered with several inch long, soft, spine-tipped tubercles. The flowers are purple, 5 inches across.

17. Chemical Constituents: 1. It contains macromerine , normacromerine (main active constituents). 2. It also contains phenethylamines , normacromerine ( N -methyl-3- ,4-dimethoxy-beta-hydroxyphenethylamine) abundantly. Medicinal Uses: It is a strong narcotic or hallucinogenic drug.

18. HENBANE

19. HENBANE Synonyms : Poison tobacco Biological source: It consists of dried leaves and flowering tops of Hyoscymus niger family Solanaceae . Geographical source : India, Europe, Germany and Russia. Macroscopy : Colour - greyish green Odour : strong Taste: slightly acrid and bitter

20. Chemical Constituents: The main constituents are hyoscyamine , hyoscine , scopolamine and hyoscipicrin . Medicinal Uses: 1. Expectorant 2. Antispasmodic and anti-asthmatic 3. Used along with purgative to prevent gripping. 4. Sedative and mydriatic

21. DATURA

22. DATURA Synonyms: Devil’s apple Biological source: It consists of dried leaves and flowering tops of Datura metel family Solanaceae . Geographical source: India and England Macroscopy : 1. It is an annual herb, 4–5 feet tall, with ovate 7- to 8-inch leaves. 2. The flower is 7-inch long, white inside, violet and yellowish outside. 3. The fruit is a 1.25 inch diameter spiny capsule.

23. Chemical Constituents: Atropine and l- hyoscyamine ( in small quantity) 0.5 % of total alkaloids Hyoscine (main) ( it is an ester of tropic acid and tropine )

24. Medicinal Uses: 1. The whole plant, but especially the leaves and seed, is anaesthetic , antiasthmatic,antispasmodic , antitussive, bronchodilator, hallucinogenic, hypnotic and mydriatic . 2. Used in cerebrum excitement 3. Hyoscine is used in motion sickness.

25. CANNABIS

26. CANNABIS Synonyms : Indian hemp, Indian cannabis, hashish, bhang, ganja, charas ,  Cannabis indica , marihuana. Biological Source :Cannabis consists of dried flowering tops of the plants of  Cannabis sativa  Linn., belonging to family Cannabinaceae . Geographical Source : Cannabis occurs in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, Central America, United States, East Africa, South Africa, and Asia Minor.  

27. MORPHOLOGY Colour - dull green or greenish-brown bitter taste .

28. Chemical Constituents The most important active constituents present in cannabis are: cannabidiol , cannabidolic acid, cannabinol , cannabichromene . Cannabis also contains Cannabidiolic acid, cannabidiol , Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC ).

29. Uses Cannabis resin is tonic, sedative, analgesic, intoxicant, stomachic, antispasmodic, antianxiety, anticonvulsant, antitussive, and narcotic. Cannabis causes only pshycic dependence and act upon the nervous system.