Chemicals in Cacti ... 1/3

Introduction

Like most plants, Cacti contain chemicals - some also found in other plants, some present in just a few (related) plant families and even some exclusive just to cacti.

Mescalin and other Alkaloids

Mescalin is perhaps the most famous (or infamous) hallucinogenic alkaloid or psychoactive drug found in cacti, especially Lophophora williamsii (peyote), but also Trichocereus pachanoi (San Pedro) and ariocarpus species. Also Opuntia, Stenocereus, Cereus and Pereskia contain mescalin, but only in trace amounts.

In total about 56 alkaloids (eg. Tyramine and Peyonine to name a few more) have been found in Lophophora, mostly unique to that genus. Alkaloids have also been found in many of the Mexican columnar cacti like the Pachycereinae subtribe e.g. Lophocereus and Pachycereus genera.

Alkaloids are synthesised from tyrosine, a common amino acid, via L-Dopa through a series of chemical reactions to an alkaloid.

Many alkaloids are drugs that act on animals, especially the nervous system including altering brain chemicals and leading to hallucinary effects.

Peyote was known to the Chichimeca and Toltec Indian Tribes at least 1890 years before the arrival of the Europeans, still other studies (from cave drawings and remains) show the use of Peyote may actually be 3000 years old.

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