Morning Glory Seeds Research Articles

Wasson's alternative candidates for soma.

Citing recently published challenges to R. Gordon Wasson's identification of Vedic soma as the psychoactive mushroom Amanita muscaria (fly-agaric), this article reviews unpublished letters by Wasson in which he considered and rejected other psychoactive plants as candidates, including the mint Lagochilus inebrians, Convolvulaceae (morning glory) seeds, the fungal parasite Claviceps purpurea (ergot), and especially the psilocybin mushroom Stropharia cubensis, known also as Psilocybe cubensis. Apart from their historical interest, these letters--from the Tina and Gordon Wasson Ethnomycological Collection at the Harvard Botanical Museum--demonstrate that Wasson remained open to refinements of his theory.

Ergot alkaloid and chlorogenic acid content in different varieties of morning glory (Ipomoea spp.) seeds

Ergot alkaloid and chlorogenic acid content in different varieties of morning glory (Ipomoea spp.) seeds

ERGOT ALKALOID CONTENTS OF Ipomoea lacunosa, I. hederaceae, I. trichocarpa, AND I. purpurea SEED

Total ergot alkaloids extracted from seed of native, wild-type morning glories (i.e, pitted morning glory (Ipomoea lacunosa L.), ivyleaf morning glory (I. hederaceae (L.) Jacq.), cotton morning glory (I. trichocarpa Ell. var. torreyana (Gray) Shinners) and tall morning glory (I. purpurea (L.) Roth)) and quantified by spectrophotometry as ergonovine maleate equivalents were 0.001–0.004% (i.e., −2.1 to 7.8%) of the total alkaloids present in a horticultural cultivar (I. tricolor Cav ’Heavenly Blue’) which contained 0.052% total alkaloids in the seed. Thus, negligible psychotomimetic hazard exists from these levels of alkaloids in the wild-type morning glory seeds. Major alkaloids found in these native species were separated and identified by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography and co-chromatography with authentic standards. Major alkaloids were chanoclavine, elymoclavine, penniclavine, agroclavine, ergonovine, ergonovinine, ergosine, and ergosinine. Alkaloids varied between morning glory species.Key words: Morning glory, chanoclavine, elymoclavine, pennicalvine, agroclavine, ergonovine

The effect of morning glory seeds upon extinction of a classically conditioned response in fish (Tilapia mossambica)

Twenty-four fish were classically conditioned to a CS of 4-sec light-off paired with a UCS of 0.5-sec shock for 10 trials per day over 10 days. In a double-blind procedure, extinction trials of 10 trials per day for 4 days were given to fish receiving either their normal feeding or that of ground morning glory seeds. The effect of the morning glory seeds was to significantly increase resistance to extinction.

3 Psychotomimetics of the Convolvulaceae

Publisher Summary One of the most interesting facets of the story of the mind-modifying drugs is that of the so-called “Magic Drugs of the Aztecs.” These drugs played a significant part in the lives of these people and in those of other tribes indigenous to this part of Central America. The three best known examples of these drugs are Peyotle, Teonanacatle, and Ololiuqui, derived from a cactus, a mushroom, and a climbing vine, respectively. This chapter discusses Ololiuqui together with another pre-Columbian Central American drug, Tlitliltzin, which was also derived from a climbing plant. The chemistry, pharmacology and psychopharmacology of some products extractable from certain of the Convolvulaceous plants, in particular those now known as “morning glories”, has been considered in this chapter. The fact that a state of intoxication can result from the ingestion of some readily available morning glory seeds was rediscovered in the past decade by certain groups in Western society, leading to the potential danger of a new form of drug abuse. Investigations in this area have led to some significant advances in the phytochemistry of the Convolvulaceae and pharmacology and psychopharmacology of the compounds isolated from their seeds.

An obsessive neurosis following morning glory seed ingestion treated by aversion relief

Obsessive neurosis developed following ingestion of morning glory seeds. Failure of other treatments—pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy and EST—to effect any lasting improvement led to treatment with aversion relief therapy. A total of seven sessions eliminated the symptoms. At a 4-yr follow-up he remains symptom-free.

Biological activities of gibberellins and their glucosides in Pharbitis nil

Growth-promoting effects of gibberellins and their glucosides isolated from immature seeds of Japanese morning glory ( Pharbitis nil) were compared in six bioassay systems. GA 3 glucoside exhibited much less activity than GA 3 in the dwarf rice (under aseptic conditions), dwarf maize ( d 1, d 2 and d 5), cucumber and dwarf pea assays. GA 8, GA 26, GA 27 and GA 29 showed low activities in all the bioassay systems, while their glucosides were even less active. Thus gibberellin glucosides do not appear to be active in growth regulation.

Drugs for Kicks

This paper is a review of drugs that are being abused by chil dren and adolescents. The format includes subheadings of "General Information," "Effects," "Techniques of Administra tion," "Habit Description," "Clinical Findings," "Association with Crime, Sex, Antisocial Behavior," "Personality Dynamics," "Treatment," and, where applicable, "Preventive Measures." The paper is summarized in a table and includes a comprehensive bibliography of some ninety references. Inhaling noxious vapors of toluene, gasoline, etc., results in an acute brain syndrome that resembles alcohol intoxication but has more serious side effects, including hallucinations and delusions. The deterioration of judgment accompanying this intoxication sometimes results in serious accidents and even fatal conse quences. The possibility of chronic physical and psychological morbidity is accepted. More serious is the problem of the adolescent narcotic addict who is under compulsion to obtain drugs (usually by crime) to feed his physical and psychic craving. Of the hallucinogenic drugs, LSD and marijuana are by far the most commonly abused. Though neither has been shown to be addictive, both produce physiologic and psychic manifesta tions that can be rather severe, and both can precipitate psychotic breaks. LSD has been shown to cause "chromosomal breaks" in the cells of the users and their offspring. Other hallucinogenic drugs such as morning-glory seeds, nutmeg, etc., give essentially the same reactions but are less frequently used. The paper conjectures that usage of LSD, STP, and other psychedelic drugs (but not marijuana) will eventually drop off but that other modes of getting "kicks" or "acting out" will quickly spring up to take their place.

Drug-motivated behavior: The effect of morning glory seeds on motor activity of chicks

Chicks exhibited a higher rate of motor activity in an open-field situation after ingesting morning glory seeds than did a control group that did not receive the seeds. It is felt the increased activity is due to the psychomimetic compounds contained in morning glory seeds.

Chromatographic separation of lysergic acid amide and isolysergic acid amide in Morning Glory seeds

Chromatographic separation of lysergic acid amide and isolysergic acid amide in Morning Glory seeds

Studies on Lysergic Acid and Clavine Alkaloids in the Seeds of Convolvulaceae

Lysergic acid and clavine alkaloids in the extracts of 68 kinds of Convolvulaceae seeds were investigated by fluorophotometry, thin-layer chromatography, column chromatography and infrared spectrophotometry. Lysergic acid amide, isolysergic acid amide, lysergol and elymoclavine were identified as the alkaloidal components in nine morning glory seeds of horticultural varieties which were commercially available. The total alkaloid contents in these seeds determined by the colorimetric method with Van Urk reagent were 0.0003 to 0.0206% as lysergic acid amide.

Fate of Radioactive Gibberellin A1 in Maturing and Germinating Seeds of Peas and Japanese Morning Glory

Radioactive gibberellin A(1) ((3)H-GA(1)) was injected into excised fruits of peas and Japanese morning glory. These were then grown in sterile culture to maturity and the label was followed in the seeds during further development and subsequent germination. During development of both pea and morning-glory seeds a large part of the radioactivity became associated with the aqueous fraction, while another part of the (3)H-GA(1) was converted into 2 new, acidic, biologically active compounds, designated X(1) and X(2). A relatively small part of the neutral compounds could be converted back to (3)H-GA(1), X(1), and X(2) by means of mild acid hydrolysis. During germination of pea and morning-glory seeds, part of the bound compounds was released in the form of (3)H-GA(1), X(1) and X(2) while, particularly during rapid seedling growth, a further conversion of (3)H-GA(1), mainly to X(1), took place. In pea seedlings, growth during the first 2 to 3 days after imbibition was not affected by Amo-1618, an inhibitor of gibberellin biosynthesis. This, in conjunction with the findings on the interconversions between free and bound (3)H-GA(1) suggests that, at least in peas, early seedling growth may at least partly be regulated by gibberellins released from a bound form which was formed during seed development.

Dimethyltryptamine, A Do-It-Yourself Hallucinogenic Drug

To the Editor:— Almost immediately after the hallucinogenic effects of drugs such as mescaline, LSD, and peyote were made known, legal and medical restrictions were applied. Those nonmedical individuals who were determined to experience the hallucinatory effects sought illegal supply channels. As restrictions became more effective, the availability of these substances decreased and the price in the illegal market increased. In accordance with economic principles, substitute drugs were eagerly sought. Such exotic preparations as morning glory seeds and desiccated banana peelings have been used. Up to the present a much more effective though less obvious substance has been neglected. There are only fragmentary reports of the presence of this drug, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), appearing in nonmedical channels and being used for kicks. It is hoped that a brief discussion of its availability and effects will result in recognition of its dangerous potential and will encourage appropriate control measures. Dimethyltryptamine is found

Dynamics of psychedelic drug abuse. A clinical study.

THE PUBLIC has become aware of the increasing use of the major psychedelic substances (lysergic acid diethylamide [LSD], peyote, psilocybin, morning glory seeds) by certain individuals outside the contexts of supervised therapy and research.^1,2Several excellent clinical studies have firmly documented the hazards of this Practice.^4,5At a time when the scientific community has been gathering information necessary for regulating the traffic of these substances, the phenomenon itself has to some degree been put aside. Nevertheless, the use of Psychedelic substances by these individuals and groups poses a number of interesting theoretical questions. We emphasize at the outset our assumption that the unsupervised use of psychedelic substances and their effects are complex phenomena with a wide variety of personal and social determinants. Although a certain number of these individuals come to psychiatric attention as a direct result of their use of

Morning Glory Seed Psychosis

Three cases of psychosis following the ingestion of morning glory seeds have been presented in this paper. The similarity of these reactions to those following the ingestion of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25) has been noted and related to the fact that morning glory seeds contain chemically related substances.We have reviewed our findings in relation to the structural theory, indicating changes seen in id, ego, and superego functioning. Our findings indicate that these drugs have their most marked action upon the synthetic function of the ego and that the long lasting effects appear due to disturbances in this group of ego functions rather than organic changes.

Some effects of hallucinogenic morning-glory seeds on the behavior of rats.

Certain varieties of morning-glory seeds are recognized hallucinogenic agents for humans. A preliminary series of studies was conducted to examine whether these seeds affected the behavior of rats. The Experimental and Control conditions were i.p. injections of an infusion from the seeds or of distilled water, respectively. Both activity and discrimination measures were used. The data showed a clear reduction in activity level in all tests under experimental conditions. There was no evidence of difference between the groups in the acquisition of a perceptually based discriminative response.

Alkaloids and lipids ofIpomoea, Rivea andConvolvulus and their application to cshemotaxonomy

Taxonomia problems encountered with the genera,Ipomoea, Convolvulus andRivea have been discussed. The toxicological and pharmacological properties of the psychotomimetic principles contained in some morning glory seeds were reviewed. Sixty-five seed samples of morning glory seeds were examined for lysergic acid-type alkaloids and fatty acid patterns for these samples were established. It has been shown that chemical data, in particular those for the 18-fatty acids, are useful taxonomically.

A direct densitometric method on thin-layer plates for the determination of lysergic acid amide, isolysergic acid amide and clavine alkaloids in morning glory seeds

A new method for the determination of lysergic acid amide, clavine alkaloids and isolysergic acid amide in extracts of morning glory seeds is described. The method is based on direct automatic densitometry of spots after chromatography on thin-layer plates. The method is more accurate and less time-consuming than existing ones. Several types of alkaloidal patters were found from the investigation of various varieties of the genus Ipomoea.

Ramulosin: Inhibitory effect against plant seeds and various fungi

Ramulosin, a new fermentation product reported recently from this laboratory, was tested for biological activity. The compound inhibited germination of wheat and oats at 10 p.p.m.; tomato and grass seeds at 100 p.p.m.; and corn, clover, sorghum and morning glory seeds at 1000 p.p.m. No appreciable activity was noted in tests with Pinto and soy beans. Ramulosin also inhibited the germination of conidiospores of Aspergillus niger and Fusarium moniliforme; ascospores of Chaetomium globosum; and sporangiospores of Rhizopus stolonifer and Mucor rouxii. Although it did not exhibit antibacterial activity, ramulosin did retard the growth of several basidiomycetes and ascomycetes.

Germination of Seeds in Soil Containing 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid

1. 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid was mixed in various amounts with batches of soil which were then stored, some air-dry and others moist, for different periods of time. Seeds of mustard, barley, and annual morning glory were planted in aliquots of the various soil mixtures at intervals during the storage periods and the effect of the acid-soil mixtures on the emergence of the seedlings observed. 2. One-tenth milligram of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid per pound of soil significantly reduced the percentage of emergence of mustard planted in the acid-soil mixture that had been stored air-dry for 1 month, and concentrations of 1-14 mg. reduced its emergence by 80-90% below that of plants in untreated soil. 3. Although tests with mustard showed that 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid was slowly inactivated when mixed with air-dry soil, mixtures that contained 1 mg. or more per pound of soil still reduced the emergence of the plants by a significant amount after a storage period of 18 months. 4. The rate of emerg...