CHEMICAL STUDIES of the two ayahuasca vines have suff e red from the botan ical confusion surround ing them. However, it appears that both species owe their ha l l u cinogenic activity prima rily to harmine, the major ,8-carboline alkaloid in the plants. Harmaline and tetrahydroharmine, alkaloids present in m i nor amounts, may also contribute to the intoxication . Early chemica l studies isolated these several a l ka loids but did not recognize their identity. They were given names as " new " alkaloids. One of these names-telepath ine- is a n ind ication o f the widespread belief that the drink pre pared from these vines gave the Indian med icine m en telepathic powers. ·
CH30
� �
� N
CH3
Harm ine
C H ,O
Harmal ine
�
NH
CH3
Tetrahyd roharm ine Chem ical formulas of Bonisteriopsis caapi and 8. inebrians alkaloids. Indole nucleus is shown in red.
1 03