ABSTRACT
Twelve indole alkaloids have been detected in the genus Anadenanthera. The distribution of these compounds in the various organs and vegetative parts of the plants is not uniform. Some are confined to the roots, bark, or leaves, others to the seed pods, still others to the seeds; many are found only in trace amounts (see Appendix). A l l 12 alkaloids have not been found in any single individual of any species of the genus. Although many of these compounds have exhibited biological activities in animals, this chapter reviews only the pharmacology of bufotenine, consistently detected as the major alkaloidal component of the seeds of every species in the genus, with a concentration ranging from 1 percent to over 12 percent of fresh weight. In most instances, Anadenanthera preparations used in traditional healing practices consist only of finely ground seeds. Occasionally, admixtures of other plants have been described and verified by chemical analysis. Other parts of Anadenanthera such as leaves or pods are rarely added to such preparations. Although D M T and 5-hydroxy-Af-monomethyltryptamine also occur in these seeds, their concentrations are so low relative to bufotenine that it is unlikely they are of pharmacological significance in these preparations. One cannot overlook the possibility of synergism, however.
