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Some ethnopharmacological notes on African hallucinogens
1Drug Information Center, Royal Dutch Association for the Advancement of Pharmacy, The Hague, The Netherlands.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
|March 1, 1996
Summary
This study reviews ritual African hallucinogens, identifying five additional plants with potential psychoactive properties. These findings expand the known ethnobotanical uses of African flora in traditional rituals.
Area of Science:
- Ethnobotany
- Pharmacognosy
- African Traditional Medicine
Background:
- Ritualistic use of psychoactive plants is a significant aspect of many cultures.
- Previous research has documented various African hallucinogens.
- A comprehensive understanding of these substances is crucial for ethnobotanical and pharmacological studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of ritual African hallucinogens.
- To identify and document additional African botanicals with alleged or proven hallucinogenic potential.
- To supplement existing classic texts on the subject.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of existing ethnobotanical data.
- Identification of plant species based on reported or suspected psychoactive properties.
- Cross-referencing with established databases and classic texts.
Main Results:
- The paper identifies five additional plant species from Africa with hallucinogenic potential: Boophane disticha, Alchornea floribunda, Monadenium lugardae, Mostuea spp., and Voacanga bracteata.
- These species are presented in addition to those previously documented in seminal works.
- The findings highlight the rich ethnobotanical diversity of African hallucinogens.
Conclusions:
- Several African plant species, including Boophane disticha and Alchornea floribunda, possess significant hallucinogenic potential for ritualistic use.
- This research expands the known pharmacopoeia of African traditional medicine.
- Further pharmacological and ethnobotanical research is warranted for the identified species.