Translated from our German original by AI. The German text was researched, written, and edited by the Psychedelia Foundation team and remains the authoritative version.
Plants have always served as a basis for medicines. Compounds such as alkaloids are especially important for healing traditions and for the production of drugs. A scientific review now takes a fresh look at the plant group Psychotria.
Following reclassifications in botany, many species were removed from this group. According to the current state of knowledge, only seven species of the genus still produce alkaloids: Psychotria calocarpa, Psychotria adenophylla, Psychotria malayana, Psychotria henryi, Psychotria milnei, Psychotria pilifera and Psychotria viridis. The last of these is known as the DMT-containing ingredient of the pan-Amazonian ayahuasca brew.
Since an overall account of the healing potential of these remaining species was missing, the review brings together the existing knowledge. It also describes laboratory techniques for obtaining the useful compounds, above all DMT, in a targeted way and in larger quantities:
- In-vitro cultivation: plant tissue is propagated in the laboratory to produce compounds without farming.
- Targeted elicitation: plant cells are stimulated to produce defense compounds in higher amounts.
- Genetic modification: targeted interventions are meant to improve the production of the desired compounds.
These techniques help produce the relevant active compounds and protect wild plant populations. The findings point to paths for future compound production and gentler manufacturing processes.
