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1
Antiquity Antiquity
First explored scientifically by German chemist Arthur Aldous Huxley publishes The Doors Of Perception
Heffter who isolated alkaloids from mescal buttons: in 1954: integrated the psychedelic experience
self-experimentation for the sake of science into mainstream culture; enormous advocate of
American psychologist Heinrich Kluver detailed the drug which he viewed as infinite in its
mescaline phenomenology in 1928: published book significance
entitled Mescaline which contained experiential data of Native American Church (1918): Preservation of
the effects: proposed that the drug be used as a peyote rituals instituted through intertribal
research tool for uncovering the depths and
unconscious dynamics of the human psyche organization to allow members to legally ingest
1930s anthropologist Weston La Barre writes thesis on
peyote for religious purposes: one-quarter of a
peyote, noting that the essential goal of the native million members today.
American Indian is to obtain visions for prophecy, Apart from the above use, peyote is a Schedule 1
curing, and inner strength controlled substance that is illegal in all 50 states.
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Mescaline Comparative
Classification: Hallucinogen Structural Resemblance
13 14
15 16
Active Compounds of
Mescaline Chemical Specifics
NAME :Mescaline
3,4,5 Trimethoxyphenylethylamine CHEMICAL NAME :3 ,4,5-Trimethoxyben zeneethanamine
3,4,5 - trimethoxyphenylacetic acid: ALTERNATE CHEMICAL NAMES :3,4 ,5-
trimethoxypheneth ylamine; mezcaline
main metabolite: similar to diamine CHEMICAL FORMULA: C11H17NO3
oxidase MOLECULAR WEIGHT: 211.26
MELTING POINT: 183-186 C (Sulfate dih ydrate)
Suggested that there exist 30 other LD50: crystals : 212 mg/kg i.p.(mice)
LD50: crystals : 132 mg/kg i.p. (rats)
psychoactive chemicals in peyote: LD50: crystals : 328 mg/kg i.p.(guinea pigs)
inconclusive Fr om the Merck Index 12th Edition
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Ontology of Drugs Admonishment
Data extrapolation renders conclusion and
even speculation about specific drug action
Biobehavioral changes are preceded unreliable
by a combination of biochemical It is not easy to establish relationships
alterations and interaction with among psychedelic drugs,
neurotransmitters, brain activity, and states
external environment, which of consciousness. The brain is complex and
essentially defines the experiential role inaccessible to delicate experimental
of psychoactive drugs manipulation by chemical means
Lester Grinspoon
19 20
Pharmacokinetics Pharmacokinetics
Ingested orally: absorbed rapidly and Maximum concentration in brain: 30 to 120
minutes
completely in gastrointestinal tract
Effects persist for up to 9 to 10 hours
Hallucinations: 300 - 600 mg Between 3.5 and 4 hours after ingestion,
20 mescal buttons: 600mg mescaline produces an acute psychotomimetic
state
10-30 times lowest dose producing Hallucinations persist for about 2 hours depending
behavioral effects may be lethal upon dose
Death in animals results from convulsions About half the dose is excreted unchanged after
six hours
and respiratory arrest
Others suggest that it is not metabolized at all
Mescaline is 1000 - 3000 times less potent before excretion
than LSD and 30 times less potent that
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psilocybin
4
Pharmacokinetics Brain Imaging
5
Pharmacodynamics:
Hallucinogenic Contingency Psychopharmacology
Placebo Effects: significant reaction Medial forebrain bundle in mesolimbic
depending upon environment/ mental set: system: neurobiological site of action
Mechanisms: conditioning, expectancy, Catecholamine neurotransmitters:
self-liberation of endogenous facilitative effect mediated by
norepinephrine and dopamine systems
neurotransmitters, particularly endorphins &
adrenaline-like catecholamines. Nucleus accumbens
Evidence for the inhibition of cholinergic
Psychophysiological self-regulation transmission by blocking release of
induced by powerful hallucinogens. acetylcholine.
Glutamatergic transmission altered
31 32
Catecholamine (Phenethylamine)
Psychedelics Implicated Neurotransmitters
Structural resemblance NE, DP, and the amphetamines:
contain basic phenyl ring, an ethyl side chain with attached Norepinephrine: alpha and beta
nitrogen or amine ring
As variant as they are, these groups confer psychedelic Serotonin: 5-HT2a; 5-HT2 receptor 6
properties: methoxylation of the benzene ring e xerts
amphetamine-like psychostimulant actions, presumably on
dopaminergic and 5-HT2a receptor subtypes
Dopamine
Psychedelic actions: full agonist action at post-synaptic
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Norepinephrine Action:
Alpha1-Receptors Serotonin Action
More direct approach: rather than the typical Mescaline: indirect agonistic action; increased
synaptic excitation of tens of milliseconds, affinity
excitation lasts for hundreds of milliseconds
5-HT2a stimulation promotes glutamate release
Once NE activates the A1-receptors; however, indicated by increase in EPSPs in the cerebral
these long-lasting A1 responses are not
sufficient in prompting the next nerve cell to cortex: causing cognitive, perceptual, and affective
fire: no (EPSP) activation distortions produced by hallucinations
Rather than initiating this system of action, NE acts Selectivity for 5-HT2 receptor 6
on its A1 receptor as a neuromodulator on the Activation of 5-HT2a receptors causes a
target cell (which receives major excitatory input transient increase in intracellular Ca+2
concurrently), thereby amplifying some other
major transmitter function which is already going K+ conductance may also be affected
on
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LSD/ Mescaline Juxtaposition..
LSD/ Mescaline Juxtaposition.. Alternate Mechanisms of Action?
Hallucinogens share action on second messenger LSD stops the firing of ST nerve cells in the
systems; however, not all psychoactive drugs act in
and on the same receptor mechanisms raphe nuclei: hypothesized mechanism of
For example, LSD does stimulate the enzyme action (hallucination)
which makes cyclicAMP, but mescaline and
psilocine do not However, general inhibition of ST cells of
LSD has additional properties as a dopamine the raphe nuclei shows no direct
agonist, neither psilocine nor mescaline acts as a relationship with LSD-induced behaviors
direct DA agonist
However, mescaline does release some DA from Tolerance to LSD results quickly in humans,
DA nerve terminals and indirectly suppresses the no longer producing psychic changes after
firing of ST nerve cells, without acting directly on
them the fourth daily dose
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LSD/ Mescaline Juxtaposition..
Possible Regional Structures? LSD/ Mescaline Juxtaposition..
In primates, dense networks of NE terminals So what is actually occurring??
envelop most sensory pathways, so whichever ST
mechanism causes more NE to be released can Largely uncertain specific action
soon go on to influence perceptual functions
throughout many vital regions
Increased release of NE in regions such as the
pulvinar, lateral posterior thalamic nuclear group,
caudal parietal cortex, superior colliculus, and the
reticular nucleus of the thalamus could contribute
to the remarkable sensate phenomena caused by
LSD or mescaline
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Salvia Salvia
Low potential for abuse: No CSA Schedule status
thus far: no substantial similarity to other illicit
Traditionally employed by Mazatec molecular compounds
Indians in medico-magical divination Salvinorin As chemical structure entirely
unique among psychoactive molecules:
ceremonies: numerous demonstrated diterpenoid agent devoid of nitrogen
therapeutic applications Precise neurotransmitter receptor with affinity for
salvinorin A discovered in August of 2002: Kappa
E.g.- Administered for diarrhea, Opioid receptors
headache, rheumatism, and anemia Psychoactive effects are inconsistent and
evanescent: individual differences/ sensitivity
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SalviaPharmacokinetics SalviaPharmacokinetics
Ingested orally: chewed leaves: juice held Dosages: Leaf Potency: smoked
in mouth: intense bitterness: slower onset
Smoked: extracts 5x, 6x, and 10x Light: .25g; Common: .5g; Strong: .75g
concentration most efficient
Dosages: 5x extract: smoked
Single inhalation of concentrated extract
may produce transient effects Light: 1/20 1/10g
Steep learning curve: psychoactive Common: 1/15 1/10g
effects associated with large doses aversive
No cases of dependency: few repeat Strong: 1/10 1/4g
experience
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Salvia Conclusions References
Her mle, Leo; Gousoulis- Mayfrank, E.; Spitzer M. (1998) Blood flow
Education aimed at raising awareness and cerebral laterality. Phar macopsychiatry. Vol. 31 (2) Jul. 1998, 85-
91.
of the plants unpredictable and Oepen, G.; Fuenfgeld, M.; Harrington, A.; Her mle, L. (1989) Right
hemisphere involvement in mescaline-induced psychosis. Psychiatry
occasionally upsetting psychoactive Research Vol. 29 (3) Sep. 1989, 335-336.
Tacke, U.; Ebert, M. (1991) Hallucinogens. Clinical Manual of
effects, rather than criminal prohibition, chemical dependence. P.259-278
Winter, J.C.; Fiorella, D.J.; Timineri, D.M.; Filipink, R.A.; Henlsley,
is the key to reducing individual and S.E.; Rabin, R.A. (1999) Serotonergic receptor subtypes and
hallucinogen-induced stimulus control. Phar macology, Biochemistry,
social harm with respect to S.
& Behavior Vol. 64(2) Oct. 1999, 283-293.
Marek, G.J.; Aghajanian, G.K. (1998) Indoleamine and the
divinorum and its active principle phenethylamine hallucinogens: mechanisms of psychotomimetic
action. Drug & Alcohol Dependence Special Issue: Neurobiology of
Addiction Vol. 51(1-2) Jun-Jul. 1998, 189-198.
Executive Summary (2003)
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Aghajanian, G. K.; (1980) Mescaline and LSD facilitate the activation United States Department of Justice: U.S. Drug Enforcement
of locus coeruleus neurons by peripheral stimuli. Brain Research Vol Administration Peyote & Mescaline.
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of human nature. Macmillian Publishing Co., Inc. New York 414 p.
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Aghajanian G and Marek G. Serotonin model of
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Executive Summary: Salvia divinorum: information concerning
the plant and active principle. 04/10/2003
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Julien, R.M. (2001) A Primer of Drug Action. 9th Ed . Worth
Publishers. New York 617p.
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