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About some of the Bolivian drugs used in the home country. 1. Chemical investigation 2. Botanical-pharmacognostic examination.


Pages: 373 - 390

Abstract

While the works of L. Lewin, O. Wofes and K. Rumpf were still under way, the creation of an alkaloid Banisterine from Banisteria Caapi was isolated specified, which according to the analyses has the formula C13H12N20 and is identical to harmine. This banisterine behaves qualitatively as well as our base, except for the reaction with Caroscher acid, which gives banisterine a deep blue, our base a blue violet color. Furthermore, the melting points of the bases and the hydrochlorides do not match. After the investigations by Duke (s, Part II), our drug is not identical to B. Caapi, so that there is the possibility that our alkaloid is very close to the banisterine, but is not identical to it. The poor state of our drug may be due to the very low yield in relation to Lewin's data, unless the various types of Banisteria have alkaloid content from the outset. Ayahuasca therefore contains iron-precipitating tanning agent, fat and, as the most important component, an alkaloid which, after its behavior, must be at least very close to the banisterine or harmine. One of the most interesting drugs in this collection is a liane whose chemical and pharmacological properties we find in details indicated above. Their specific definition was quite unmovable because of lack of leaves and flowers Only so much was it clear from the construction of the rugged wooden pieces that it was a Malpighiacee, because of individual constructions of the branches structure, probably the genus Banisteria.