Seeds of species reported to contain beta-carbolines :
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Grewia flava `Brandy Bush' :
The Klaarwater Hottentots distill a spirit from the berries.
The Bushmen from Botswana use the fruits to make a beer. Fruit often appears in their folktales.
Khadi (the name of a native drink) appears to involve multiple plants including the fruits of Grewia species.
Grewia species have been reported to contain many alkaloids including traces of B-carbolines.
The production of the brew khadi is known to have arisen after the introduction of sugar by the Europeans but there is a distinct possibility that the plants involved reflects a prior ethnomedicinal familiarity to indigenous people.
While the primary intoxicant of khadi appears to be alcohol, the complex of plants involved and the potential pharmacological interactions is an area in serious need of in-depth study.
(We have several other Grewia species' seeds available.)
Grewia bicolor :
The flowers contain farnesol, which is antagonistic to the excitant effects of caffeine and potentiates the hypnotic effect of barbiturates without being hypnotic itself. It has also been found to have psycho-sedative action.
Mimosa nilotica :
The Maasai of east Africa use a drug called Olkiloriti which is obtained from the preparation of the root and bark of the Mimosa nilotica tree. It is used as a narcotic, excitant, stimulant, and to prevent hunger and thirst. Warriors use Olkiloriti prior to battle in order to enter a state of frenzy, and to prevent fear & fatigue.
Medicinally, Olkiloriti is used by the Maasai to aid digestion, treat dysentery, tuberculosis and impotence.
In East Africa the bark is used as a stimulant. The root is also used as an aphrodisiac and to treat impotence.
Mimosa nilotica is also a source of antioxidants. Some crude extracts seem to have stronger antioxidant properties than either vitamin C or vitamin E.
Compounds found in the leaves include N,N-dimethyl-tryptamine, and tetrahydroharmane (Bhakuni et al. 1969).
Phyllanthus reticulatus :
Called `potato bush' because the plant smells of baked potatoes in the afternoon.
The root-bark is used to ensure visions.
Froth from rootbark, stirred in water, gives native diviners clear and penetrating vision.
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The bark is burnt and the ashes are rubbed onto the body as a stimulant and tonic.
The alkaloid phyllabine has been isolated from the rootbark (Foussard-Blanpin et al. 1967). Phyllabine chloride slightly inhibits monoamine oxidase (MAOI), and stimulates the suprarenal glands, producing secretion of adrenaline (Quevauviller et al. 1965, 1967).
Strychnos spinosa :
Narcotic effects are reported from Mauritius.
Roots are used as an aphrodisiac in Zimbabwe.
Root and leaf decoctions are used as analgesics in central Africa.
Potentially contains a MAOI.
Strychnos usambarensis :
The alkaloid harmin has been found in the bark and leaves.
Stembark and leaves are used for local pain relief, general weakness and as a tonic.
Zanthoxylum capense :
Roots are used for impotency.
Roots are also used for chest pains, while dried ground rootbark is directly applied for toothache.
Bark is used as a tonic and blood purifier.
Potentially contains a MAOI.
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Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitory Coumarin from Zanthoxylum schinifolium :
A methanol extract of Zanthoxylum schinifolium stems at a concentration of 250 mg/ml showed potent inhibitory activity against monoamine oxidase (MAO) in a mouse brain. Activityguided separation and purification of the extract yielded lacinartin (1) as an active coumarin compound. Lacinartin showed sig- nificant inhibitory effects on MAO in a dose-dependent manner. The lC50 value on MAO activity was 9.2mM. The MAO-A (IC50 value, 5.7 mM) sensitivity to lacinartin was greater than that of MAO-B (IC50 value, 28.6 mM). An enzyme kinetic study revealed that lacinartin inhibited MAO activity by a non-competitive mode.
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