Vepris ampody: Leaves and branches of this rutaceous plant were recently shown to be rich in N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). Up to 0,22% DMT has been found in this plant, making it one of the richer known sources of this valuable compound (Kan-Fan et al. 1970).

The known alkaloids, viz. N,N-dimethyltryptamine (1), kokusaginine (2), 2,4-dimethoxy 10-methyl-acridan-9-one (3), evoxanthine (4) and also phenylacetamide (5) have been isolated from the leaves and branches of Vepris ampody H. Perr. (Rutaceae). In addition, three new alkaloids belonging to 4-quinolone series have also been isolated and structures (6), (9) and (10) have been assigned to them.

Vepris ampody H. Perr. is a 15 to 20 m tall tree, with perennial foliage, often reduced to a shrub in the undergrowth of the big forest. It's a special species of Madagascar, very common in the eastern forest from sea level to 600m of altitude. Known in malagasy by the names of Ampody (Bezanozano dialect) or Malaimbovony (Betsimisaraka dialect), it provides good construction wood. It's a bitter and aromatic species in all of its parts. Crushed leaves are applied topically to concussions; bark tea is administered to treat colics and stomach aches. The studied sample was harvested in the forest of Analamazaotra, near Perinet.

Genus Vepris Comm. has 23 malagasy species. It is also represented in Africa, in the Comoros Islands, in Mauritius and counts with an indian species: Vepris bilocularis, studied by Govindachari and Sundararajan 5, who isolated from it kokusaginine, skimianine and flindersiamine. Presence of alkaloids has been signalled as well in another malagasy species: V. schmidelioides (Baker) Verdoorn, by Meyer and Pernet.

Alkaloids are extracted from V. ampody in the usual manner (yield: 2,8 g / kg), alumina chromatography and then silica chromatography. Several already known compounds are separated: N,N-dimethyltryptamine (1) (80%), kokusaginine (2) (5%), 2,4-dimethoxy 10-methyl-acridan-9-one (3) (0,5%), evoxanthine (4) (0,5%) and phenylacetamide (5) (0,001%); this last compound is not, strictly speaking, an alkaloid. It might be an artifact produced by action of ammonia upon a phenylacetic precursor.

The Malagasy people have long used a variety of plants in order to treat malaria. These include Agavaceae, in which both the bark and leaves are mixed into a drink, along with the parts of other plants including Nymphaea lotus and Vepris ampody. This treats the symptoms of malaria including muscular aches and tiredness. This treatment is not only used for malaria but also other ailments such as diarrhea, fever and dysentery.

A decoction of the leaf and bark is mixed with a selection of plants from the following list: Cinnamosma fragrans, Desmodium mauritianum, Ficus megapoda, Zanthoxylum tsihanimposa, Gambeya boiviniana, Peddia involucrata. This mixture is drunk (1 bowl, 3–4 times daily) to relieve malarial symptoms, tiredness, muscular aches and pains.

A remarkable 80% of the Malagasy flora is endemic to the island and found nowhere else. However, there is a risk that useful species will be lost due to the alarming rate of deforestation. Thus, we must now preserve the flora, hold more discussions with traditional practitioners about herbal medicine, document ethnobotanical information and evaluate scientifically ethnomedicinally used plants to bridge the gap between empirical treatment and realism.