Botanical Stimulants

Wakeups, Kickers, and Bad Boys!

ITMN Plant Family Study Group

21 March 2019

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Major Botanical Stimulants By Plant Family

Aquifoliacea - Holly Family (Ilex paraguariensis, I. guayusa, I. vomitoria)

Arecaceae - Palm Family (Areca catechu)

Cactaceae - Cactus Family (Lophophora williamsii)

Campanulaceae - Bellﬂower Family (Lobelia sp.)

Celastraceae - Bittersweet Family (Catha edulis)

Ephedraceae - Ephedra Family (Ephedra nevadensis, E. viridis, E. sinica)

Erythroxylaceae - Coca Family (Erythroxylum coca)

Fabaceae - Pea Family (Acacia berlanderii, Piptadenia peregrina, Sophora scundiﬂora)

Malvaceae - Mallow Family (Theobroma cacao, Cola acuminate, C. nitada)

Loganiaceae - Logan family (Strychnos nux-vomica)

Sapindaceae - Soapberry Family (Paulina cupana)

Solanaceae - Nightshade Family (Nicotiniana tabacum, N. rustica, Datura stramonium)

Rubiaceae - Madder Family (Coffea arabica, C. canephora robusta)

Theaceae - Camelia Family (Camelia sinensis)

ITMN Plant Family Study Group

21 March 2019

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Everyday Wakeups

1. Caffeine, Theophylline,

and Theobromine (adenosine

antagonists)

Most commonly used

stimulants …global annual

caffeine consumption

estimated at 120,000 tons.

Coffee - Coffea arabica,

C. canephora (aka robusta) - Rubiacea (Madder family)

Native to Africa and Asia; infusion of ground dried and roasted beans.

Robusta 2x caffeine as arabica, but with environmental loss.

Tea - Camelia sinensis - Theacea (Camelia family)

Native to China and India; infusion of dried young leaves.

Chocolate - Theobroma cacao - Malvaceae (Mallow family)

Native to tropical America; beans in fruit prepared in many ways.

Kola - Cola acuminata, C. nitada - Malvaceae (Mallow family)

Native to tropical Africa; seeds prepared as infusion.

Yerba Mate - Ilex paraguariensis, I. guayusa, I.

vomitoria - Aquifoliacea (Holly family)

Native to Americas; leaves prepared as infusion.

Also called "the black drink" in SE US and

Caribbean. I. vomitoria (Yaupon holly) is the only

native North American plant containing caffeine.

Fruit important food for armadillos, fox, raccoon,

skunks, and birds. Species name is a European

misnomer.

Guarana - Paulina cupana - Sapindaceae (Soapberry family)

Native to the Amazon basin; seeds prepared as infusion. Split fruit

resemble eyeballs. Commonly used in South America as soft-drink

additive. Seeds contain twice the caffeine as coffee beans.

ITMN Plant Family Study Group

21 March 2019

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Caffeine in Common Drinks

below are concentrations in about 12 ounces

Root Beer, Ginger Ale, Sprite 0 mg

Hot Chocolate 5

Twining’s Earl Grey Tea 25

Sodas, Black Teas 40

Red Bull 110

Starbucks K-cups 130

McDonald’s Brewed Coffee 145

Monster Energy Drink 160

Rockstar Energy Drink 160

5 Hour Energy Drink 200

Dunkin’ Donuts Brewed Coffee 210

Starbucks Pike Place Brewed Coffee 235

Starbucks Plus K-cups 260

7-Eleven Brewed Coffee 280

Death Wish Coffee 728

ITMN Plant Family Study Group

21 March 2019

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Mostly Stimulants, But Sometimes Depressants, Very

Addictive

2. Nicotine - third most commonly-used drug after caffeine and ethanol

Tobacco - Nicotiniana tabacum, N. rustica -

Solanaceae (Nightshade family)

Native to Americas; dried leaf is smoked,

chewed, snorted. Nicotine itself is not

carcinogenic, it’s the other toxins in the smoke

(carbon monoxide, cyanide, organic tars)

which poison lung tissue. Nicotine’s addictive

action interferes with the brain’s natural reward

system in a manner similar to cocaine.

Nicotine is a good natural pesticide but harmful

to pollinators. Synthetic commercial versions

banned in US wildlife refuges in 2014; ban

reversed in 2018. Banned completely in EU in

2108 because of effects on bees.

Betel Nut - Areca catechu - Arecaceae (Palm family)

Native to East Asia; active ingredient is nicotine-like Arecaidine.

Palm seeds wrapped in betel pepper leaves (Piper betel) and chewed.

The bright red spit ejected by chewers is considered a public nuisance in

some countries.

Puke Weed, Indian Tobacco - Lobelia inflata

and other Lobelias - Campanulaceae

(Bellflower family).

Native to North America; active ingredient is

nicotine-like Lobeline. Leaves are smoked.

Presumably too much makes you puke…!

ITMN Plant Family Study Group

21 March 2019

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The Kickers

When Caffeine Isn’t Enough….

1. Cocaine

Coca - Erythroxylum coca - Erthroxylacea (Coca family)

Native to South America; dried leaves are chewed in a wad with slaked

lime (calcium hydroxide). With Cola nut (caffeine) part of the original

formula for Coca-Cola. Processed leaves (no cocaine) are still used as a

flavorant in Coke. Used in South America to keep folks awake and alert,

suppress appetite, and protect against altitude sickness. Commonly sold

on the streets in Andean cities and towns. Mild euphoria.

2. Cathionine

Khat - Catha eduis - Celastraceae (Bittersweet family)

Native to Arabia and Africa; chewed like Coca leaves, effects like Coca

and caffeine.

3. Ephedrine

Mormon Tea - Ephedra nevadensis, E. viridis,

E. sinica - Ephedraceae (Ephedra family)

Native to China (E. sinica) and Western US (E.

nevadensis, E. viridis ); dried leaves taken as

infusion. In use in Chinese herbal medicine for

5000 years. Chemically, ephedrine is an

amphetamine analog and a used to make

synthetic amphetamines (speed). Used as

decongestant; sales of cold medicines

containing ephedrine are controlled due to use

in the production of methamphetamine. Use in

diet pills with caffeine (“trucker speed”) is illegal

in US. !

ITMN Plant Family Study Group

21 March 2019

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The Bad Boys

Hallucinogens and CNS Poisons

1. Mescaline

Peyote - Lophophora williamsii - Cactaceae

(Cactus family)

Native to Mexico and Big Bend Region;

"buttons" taken as chew or brewed as a tea.

Mescaline triggers rich auditory and

distinctive colored geometric visual

hallucinations.

Acacia - Acacia berlanderii and A.

rigidula (Blackbrush).- Fabaceae (Pea family)

Native to US southwest, contains trace

amounts of mescaline and nicotine, also

natural amphetamine and methamphetamine.

Toxic to livestock. Bees on its flowers make

really good honey. Some sources consider

alkaloid claims in Acacia sp. suspect.

2. Bufotenine

Cohaba - Piptadenia peregrina - Fabaceae

Native to Andean South America; dried seeds are smoked or snorted.

Bufotenine originally isolated from frog skin. Hallucinogenic effects similar

to mescaline.

ITMN Plant Family Study Group

21 March 2019

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3. Cysticine

Texas Mountain Laurel, Mescalbean, Red

Bean - Sophora secundiflora - Fabaceae

Native to SW US; seeds are used. No

mescaline, never mind the common name.

Predates peyote use. 6-ft string of beans buys

you a pony in some places… Cysiticine is

related to nicotine and is hallucinogenic.

4. Atropine and Scopolamine

Jimsonweed (aka Thornapple, Moonflower,

Zombie Cucumber) - Datura stramonium -

Solanaceae (Nightshade family)

Native to North America; leaves are smoked.

Extremely toxic, easily fatal in small amounts.

Used in herbal medicine as anesthetic and to

treat asthma. Active ingredients cause delirium

and hallucinations. Plants from this genus are

used as poisons in some cultures. Datura is a

member of the “witches weeds”, along with

deadly nightshade, henbane, and mandrake.

5. Strychnine

Strychnos nux-vomica is a tree native to southern Asia; its seeds are

the source of strychnine and brucine, powerful central nervous system

stimulants causing convulsions in small doses. Strychnine is commonly

used as a pesticide. It has no known medicinal uses. In the 19th Century

it was thought to be similar to coffee and was used as a recreational

stimulant.

ITMN Plant Family Study Group

21 March 2019

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