I'd lost this thread for a while, was looking in another sub-forum!
I have been going over the Wikipedia active Acacias list and providing a critique and offering some corrections, as a prelude to giving that page a well-needed revision and update. If the page has changed much in the last month or so, I may have missed it.
My Word version of this featured more extensive and selective underlining (to show acceptable listings), but I found when I pasted it here I had to re-do all the underlining manually, so in cases where the some but not all of an entry is accurate, I haven't always put in the selective underlining.
“Acacias Known to Contain Psychoactive Alkaloids”
Wikipedia version as of July 2011 – Critique and corrections by wira
Underlined entries are those accepted as more or less accurate. As far as validity of information, if someone one the internet claims they extracted DMT from a species, I will accept that though leave it open for verification or falsification by further studies. Properly referenced entries are preferred, in cases where the information has been published. [In that regard, this Wikipedia list is in terrible shape, as hardly any primary references are given.] If a species is simply included on a list with no supporting information, then it will be discounted. I haven’t corrected spelling mistakes in the ‘references’ section, but left them as is for now – they’re included here just so you can see what references are given. I will properly update the Wikipedia page in the near future, including primary references, most of which I have copies of. I haven’t added here the new reports or other species that are not so far listed on Wikipedia. I also haven't tackled the list of other species that have given positive tests for traces of unidentified alkaloids.
Note that the psychoactivity in humans of various simple phenethylamines is poorly known, but I have underlined entries for Acacias containing only such alkaloids, if they are from an accurate source (so that means the psychoactivity of, say, β-methyl-phenethylamine, in humans is still in question, so perhaps they shouldn’t be on the list, but the info is accurate).
Note that β-phenethylamine is the same as 2-phenylethylamine, and it’s generally the form people mean when they refer to just phenethylamine. N-methyl-phenethylamine is the same as β-methyl-phenethylamine.
Acacia acuminata Up to 1.5% alkaloids, mainly consisting of dimethyltryptamine in bark, 0.6% leaves[1]
Acacia adunca β-methyl-phenethylamine, 2.4% in leaves[2]
*As it is not actually known whether β-methyl-phenethylamine is psychoactive, this should probably not be on the list. Another study found 3.2% alkaloids in aerial parts (stems, phyllodes, flowers); about 70% was β-methyl-phenethylamine, with smaller amounts of phenethylamine (White 1957).
Acacia alpina Dimethyltryptamine active levels in leaf[3]
*This still needs some confirmation and clarification, but otherwise is based on a definite report from bioassay. However, recent communications with the source reveal that the plant in question may have been a hybrid between alpina and phlebophylla, and could not be located for further investigation following fires at Mt Buffalo a few years back.
Acacia aneura
Ash used in Pituri.[4] Ether extracts about 2-6% of the dried leaf mass.[5] Not known if psychoactive per se.
*Accurate enough, but not found to contain psychoactive alkaloids as far as we know.
Acacia angustissima β-methyl-phenethylamine,[6] NMT and DMT in leaf (1.1-10.2 ppm)[7]
Acacia aroma
Tryptamine alkaloids.[8] Significant amount of tryptamine in the seeds.[9]
*Can’t find any verification for this. Ref 9 is simply a list summarising known studies (and not doing a great job as far as accuracy, also giving no references), and there is no reason to think it represents new studies done by a Polish herbarium as has been suggested.
Acacia auriculiformis 5-MeO-DMT in stem bark[10]
*This is tentative. Should be ref’d to Trout & Friends.
Acacia baileyana 0.02% tryptamine and β-carbolines, in the leaf, Tetrahydroharman[3]
Acacia beauverdiana
Psychoactive,[11] ash used in Pituri.[4]
*The ash is used in pituri, but can find no verification for it being psychoactive.
Acacia berlandieri
DMT, amphetamines, mescaline, nicotine[12]
*The paper this stems from is highly suspect. Leaves HAVE been found to contain tyramine, N-methyl tyramine, N-methyl phenethylamine and hordenine (Adams & Camp 1966; Camp & Moore 1960).
Acacia catechu
DMT[13] and other tryptamines in leaf, bark
*As far as I can find, there is no literature reporting these alkaloids from this species. A Michael Crowley has reported the Vedic use of an ayahuasca-like beverage containing A. catechu (his ‘evidence’ is highly speculative), and claims it is a rich source of DMT (generally ref’d to Trout, falsely; can find no other source to support this). See
http://earthrites.org/ma..._drugplants_crowley.htm
Acacia caven
Tryptamines
*Leaves of this and other plants, including tobacco, are occasionally smoked with Anadenanthera seeds, but I can find no trustworthy source for it containing tryptamines, and no reference is provided here.
Acacia chundra
DMT and other tryptamines in leaf, bark
*Can find no trustworthy source for this info. Perhaps an assumption, as it has been classified as a variety of A. catechu (A. catechu var. sundra). However, the references to DMT and other tryptamines in catechu aren’t good anyway.
Acacia colei Up to 1.8% DMT in bark, 0.2-0.6% leaf[14]
http://www.abc.net.au/sc...mp;a/notes/051027-9.htm
This needs confirmation, and the original source of this info is unknown (other than ‘Ryan’). I have a suspicion this may be correct but have lost the notes to support it; awaiting a communication from an associate.
Acacia complanata 0.3% alkaloids in leaf and stem, almost all N-methyl-tetrahydroharman, with traces of tetrahydroharman, some of tryptamine[15][16][17]
*Not aware of any finding of tryptamine in the published literature; having trouble connecting to the pages cited.
Acacia concinna Nicotine[18]
Acacia confusa DMT & NMT in leaf, stem & bark 0.04% NMT and 0.02% DMT in stem.[3] Also N,N-dimethyltryptamine N-oxide[19]
*This is an incomplete simplification of the known chemistry of this species, but it’s basically accurate.
Acacia constricta β-methyl-phenethylamine[6]
* As it is not actually known whether β-methyl-phenethylamine is psychoactive, this should probably not be on the list. Also, the identification of the alkaloid present was tentative.
Acacia coriacea
Ash used in Pituri.[4][20] Not known if psychoactive.
*The ash is used in pituri, but can find no verification for it being psychoactive, so shouldn’t be on the list.
Acacia cornigera Psychoactive,[20] Tryptamines[21]
* Rätsch speculated that it may contain tryptamines such as DMT, but this remains speculation. The root is used as an aphrodisiac (this being the presumed source of claims of psychoactivity) and may have been added to balche.
Acacia cultriformis Tryptamine, in the leaf, stem[3] and seeds.[9] Phenethylamine in leaf and seeds[9]
*There is also a tentative observation of 5-MeO-DMT in phyllodes, stems and flowers (Trout & Friends).
Acacia cuthbertsonii
Psychoactive[11]
*This has been posted online in a list of Australian psychoactive plants, but I can find no further supporting info.
Acacia delibrata
Psychoactive[11]
*This has been posted online in a list of Australian psychoactive plants, but I can find no further supporting info.
Its seed pods are known to contain a toxic saponin (Hurst 1942).
Acacia falcata
Psychoactive,[11] but less than 0.02% alkaloids[22]
*This has been posted online in a list of Australian psychoactive plants, but I can find no further supporting info, except for the fact that the bark has been used to poison fish. It’s unclear whether the fish are stunned, or killed.
Traces of unidentified alkaloids (and sometimes none) were observed in alkaloid screening.
Acacia farnesiana Traces of 5-MeO-DMT[23] in fruit. β-methyl-phenethylamine, flower.[24] Ether extracts about 2-6% of the dried leaf mass.[5] Alkaloids are present in the bark[25] and leaves.[26] Amphetamines and mescaline also found in tree.[21]
*Here’s a messy one! The 5-MeO-DMT report (as well as an unidentified β-carboline) from immature seed pods is attributable to Trout & Friends. Ghosal (1972) reported tryptamine from stem bark; most other researchers have found no alkaloids throughout the plant. I’m not aware of any finding of β-methyl-phenethylamine from this species, and the reference doesn’t support it. The report of amphetamines and mescaline is surely a confusion with the similar dubious reports from berlandieri and rigidula.
Acacia filiciana
Added to Pulque, but not known if psychoactive[20]
* Not known to be psychoactive, so shouldn’t be on the list.
Acacia floribunda Tryptamine, phenethylamine,[27] in flowers[9] other tryptamines, phenethylamines[28]
*There’s no reports of other phenethylamines, as far as I know. Tryptamine and phenethylamine were also found in ‘tops’, ie. stem tips with phyllodes. There have been independent findings from phyllodes and bark of DMT, NMT, tryptamine, harman and norharman, with the DMT being a definite from bark and phyllodes.
Acacia greggii N-methyl-β-phenethylamine,[6] phenethylamine
* As it is not actually known whether β-methyl-phenethylamine is psychoactive, this should probably not be on the list. The same study (Camp & Norvell 1966) observed tyramine as well, though the identification of both was tentative.
Acacia harpophylla Phenethylamine, hordenine at a ratio of 2:3 in dried leaves, 0.6% total[2]
*0.6% was the higher range found; the lowest was 0.1%. Bark contained 0.3% alkaloids (also see CSIRO 1990).
Acacia holoserica Hordenine, 1.2% in bark[2]
*Proper spelling is holosericea.
Acacia horrida
Psychoactive[20]
*Can’t find this listed in the reference source, and am otherwise unaware of any reports of this species being psychoactive.
Acacia implexa
Psychoactive[29]
*I wouldn’t trust the source given for this info, and can find nothing else to support it. Roots were once mistakenly reported to have given a tentative positive for 5-MeO-DMT by Trout; this was an error due to a mix-up of plants.
Acacia jurema
DMT, NMT
*I can find no supporting info for this. Perhaps an assumption based on the vague report that it is used to make ‘jurema wine’, which is in itself requiring better supporting info. It’s apparently named because it grows near a town called Jurema in Brazil.
Acacia karroo
Psychoactive
*I can find no supporting info for this.
Acacia kempeana
Used in Pituri, but not known if psychoactive.[20]
*Not known to be psychoactive; shouldn’t be on the list.
Acacia kettlewelliae 1.5[2]-1.88%[30] alkaloids, 92% consisting of phenylethylamine.[2] 0.9% N-methyl-2-phenylethylamine found a different time.[2]
*N-methyl-2-phenylethylamine is β-methyl-phenethylamine, or N-methyl-phenethylamine. The lower range of alkaloid yield was actually 1.3% from White 1957, and 1.5% from Fitzgerald 1964.
Acacia laeta
DMT, in the leaf[3]
*This is an error introduced by Shulgin in TIHKAL. It was listed in an article that tested some African Acacias, finding DMT in some; however, this was one of the negatives. Its mention there is probably the source of the error.
Acacia lingulata
Used in Pituri, but not known if psychoactive.[20]
*Not known to be psychoactive; shouldn’t be on the list. Correct spelling is ligulata.
Acacia longifolia 0.2% tryptamine in bark, leaves, some in flowers, phenylethylamine in flowers,[27] 0.2% DMT in plant.[31] Histamine alkaloids.[22]
*This is a big simplification of the published studies for this species, but basically accurate. There is no published paper reporting finding DMT in this species, though many people have been confused by a thesis (Nichols 1983) which listed DMT, NMT, and other tryptamines, phenethylamines, beta-carbolines and histamines, but the reference was to another thesis (Rovelli 1967), which only reported finding the histamines. Perhaps the confusion ultimately comes down to the listing of all of these alkaloids as reference standards, and hasty mis-reading of the data. HOWEVER, some strains of longifolia certainly have been found to contain DMT by independent psychonauts (as confirmed by bioassay of extracts).
Acacia longifolia var. sophorae Tryptamine in leaves, bark[9] Several reports of DMT content unconfirmed[32]
*I’m not aware of any finding of tryptamine in this plant. As with longifolia var. longifolia, histamine derivatives were found by Rovelli (1967), and Nichols (1983) mis-reported it as also containing the alkaloids listed for longifolia, as well as nicotine.
There exists an unpublished analysis of California-grown sophorae, claimed to have found DMT, bufotenine, 5-MeO-DMT, gramine and histamine-derivatives (0.6% in bark, 0.15% in phyllodes), though DMT was apparently a minor component.
Acacia macradenia
Tryptamine[9]
*Can’t find any good reference for this claim.
Acacia maidenii 0.6% NMT and DMT in about a 2:3 ratio in the stem bark, both present in leaves[3]
*Alkaloid content is known to be variable, with only some strains being relatively alkaloid-rich (independent research).
Acacia mangium Psychoactive[20]
*Rätsch made no such statement in his book. The species is referred to as having ash that’s high in minerals and salts, including sodium, and that’s it. Are people assuming stuff is psychoactive just because the name appears in the index of a book on psychoactives?
This species may well turn out to contain psychoactive alkaloids, and there have been some independent reports that it does, but these are not in Rätsch’s encyclopedia.
?Acacia melanoxylon DMT, in the bark and leaf,[33] but less than 0.02% total alkaloids[22]
The claim of DMT in this species was only recently clarified by nen888 in this discussion thread; until then, I could find no primary mention of this on the net. Regardless, it only applied to some examples of the species, and I have no idea how good the sources were at identifying their plant material – the few positives may have been another species. This needs more clarification. The reference link for 33 is dead.
Acacia mellifera
DMT, in the leaf[3]
*See Acacia laeta for explanation.
Acacia nilotica
DMT, in the leaf[3]
*See Acacia laeta for explanation. However, later independent analysis tentatively observed traces of 5-MeO-DMT in stems, roots and leaves. DMT, NMT and 5-MeO-DMT were tentatively observed in seeds, but follow-up tests were negative (Heffter 1996; Trout ed. 1997).
Acacia nilotica subsp. adstringens
Psychoactive, DMT in the leaf
*A. nilotica and nilotica ssp. subalata, as well as other Acacia species, have intoxicating use by the Masai, but I’m not aware of this particular subspecies being used in the same way. This doesn’t mean it hasn’t been, however. I’m also not aware of any reference finding DMT in the plant, and that may be an assumption due to the often repeated claim of DMT from nilotica.
Acacia obtusifolia Tryptamine, DMT, NMT, other tryptamines,[34] 0.1-0.5% in dried bark, 0.07% in branch tips, variable[35]
*Beta-carbolines, probably harman and norharman, have been observed in traces in independent analysis. Reports of bufotenine and/or 5-MeO-DMT being present are uncertain, as they have not been observed in some tests. It is well known that the alkaloid levels and makeup in this species are highly variable over seasons, different times of day and different populations. However, DMT is generally the major alkaloid present.
Acacia oerfota
Less than 0.1% DMT in leaf,[36] NMT
*Still searching for any supporting info on this one.
Acacia penninervis
Psychoactive[11]
* This has been posted online in a list of Australian psychoactive plants, but I can find no further supporting info, except for the fact that the leaves and bark have been used to poison fish. It’s unclear whether the fish are stunned, or killed.
An alkaloid screening detected alkaloids in leaves and bark.
Acacia phlebophylla 0.3% DMT in leaf, NMT[3]
*I’m not aware of any reports of NMT from this species and couldn’t find any searching the reference.
Acacia podalyriaefolia
Tryptamine in the leaf,[3] 0.5% to 2% DMT in fresh bark,
phenethylamine, trace amounts[27]
*Various studies on stems and leaves (and seeds and pods) have found tryptamine and phenethylamine in various yields and proportions, sometimes with one absent (White 1944, 1951, 1957). As far as I know the claim of DMT being present is a mistake, and is not supported by reference 27.
Acacia polyacantha
DMT in leaf[3] and other tryptamines in leaf, bark
*As far as I know the parent species has never been analysed for alkaloids, and this is perhaps a confusion with the report of polyacantha ssp. camplyacantha as listed below.
Acacia polyacantha ssp. campylacantha Less than 0.2% DMT in leaf, NMT; DMT and other tryptamines in leaf, bark[37]
*I am only aware of a finding of 0.004% DMT from leaves. Hortipedia is hardly a good reference to trust for this.
Acacia prominens Phenylethylamine, β-methyl-phenethylamine[2][27]
* As it is not actually known whether β-methyl-phenethylamine is psychoactive, this should probably not be on the list. Phenethylamine is psychoactive, but not in a practical way.
Acacia pruinocarpa
Ash used in Pituri.[4][20] Not known if psychoactive.
*Not known to be psychoactive; shouldn’t be on the list.
Acacia pycnantha Ash used in Pituri,[20] but less than 0.02% total alkaloids.[22] Recent findings of 0.4% DMT in single tree[38]
*Also, phyllodes collected from a variety of trees in Eltham, Victoria, gave small traces of crude alkaloidal material that appeared to be DMT.
Reference 38, according to the source, should be talk at Exodus Festival 2002, NSW.
Acacia retinodes DMT, NMT,[39]
nicotine,[21]
but less than 0.02% total alkaloids found[22]
One study (Rovelli 1967) found a main alkaloid in phyllodes that did not appear to be nicotine, and was not identified. The claim here of DMT and NMT may be related to Rovelli’s listing of them amongst the reference compounds, but he did not report finding them in this species. It’s worth noting that Fikenscher 1960, the original report of nicotine, stated that they weren’t certain of the identity of the plants used, because they weren’t in flower. There is a recent report on these forums of a species allied to retinodes, growing introduced in Bolivia that may be provincialis yielding alkaloidal material that appeared to contain tryptamines of some kind.
Acacia rigidula
DMT, NMT, tryptamine, amphetamines, mescaline, nicotine and others[40]
*See A. berlandieri for explanation. Earlier, more believable studies tentatively identified N-methyl-tyramine and N-methyl-phenethylamine as the main alkaloids of leaves (Camp & Norvell 1966).
Acacia roemeriana β-methyl-phenethylamine[6]
*Also reported in the same study (original ref – Camp & Norvell 1966) were tyramine and N-methyl-tyramine (all from leaves, 0.036% combined).
Acacia salicina
Ash used in Pituri.[4][20] Not known if psychoactive.
*Not known to be psychoactive; shouldn’t be on list.
Acacia sassa
Psychoactive[20]
* Can’t find this listed in the reference source, and am otherwise unaware of any reports of this species being psychoactive. Has previously been classified under Albizzia, Inga, Mimosa and Zygia.
Acacia schaffneri
β-methyl-phenethylamine, Phenethylamine Amphetamines and mescaline also found.[21]
*Not aware of references for any of this. Report of amphetamines and mescaline is surely a confusion with the similar dubious reports from berlandieri and rigidula.
Acacia schottii β-methyl-phenethylamine[6]
*This alkaloid was only tentatively identified.
Acacia senegal Less than 0.1% DMT in leaf,[3] NMT, other tryptamines. DMT in plant,[24] DMT in bark.[9]
*Only 0.003% DMT was found in leaf. I’m not aware of any other studies, or of any finding of NMT or tryptamine. Reference 24 only lists DMT and does not mention NMT or other tryptamines.
Acacia seyal
DMT, in the leaf.[3] Ether extracts about 1-7% of the dried leaf mass.[5]
*See Acacia laeta for explanation.
Acacia sieberiana
DMT, in the leaf[3]
*See Acacia laeta for explanation.
Acacia simplex DMT and NMT, in the leaf, stem and trunk bark, 0.81% DMT in bark, MMT[3][41]
*The currently accepted name for this species of simplicifolia. The study in question (Poupat et al. 1976) looked at phyllodes and stem bark, but not trunk bark per se. Total alkaloids yielded 3.6% (40% NMT [MMT], 22.5% DMT, 12.7% 2-methyl-tetrahydro-beta-carboline, traces of N-formyl-NMT [artefact of extraction?]).
Acacia taxensis β-methyl-phenethylamine[6]
*Correct name is texensis. Tyramine and N-methyl-phenethylamine were tentatively identified, amongst 0.008% alkaloids from leaves (Camp & Norvell 1966).
Acacia tortilis
DMT, NMT, and other tryptamines[34]
*See Acacia laeta for explanation.
Acacia vestita Tryptamine, in the leaf and stem,[3] but less than 0.02% total alkaloids[22]
*Alkaloid content was highest in May (0.28%) and October (0.12%), and lowest in January (0.03-0.04%) and July-August (0.08%); up to 83% of the total alkaloid was tryptamine (White 1957). Reference 22 does not support the claim made here.
Acacia victoriae Tryptamines, 5-MeO-alkyltryptamine[9]1.2% approx DMT in bark[42]
*Trout & Friends reported a tentative positive result for DMT in aerial parts of a 1 year old plant, and 5-MeO-DMT in roots of 2 year old seedlings, though this requires confirmation. Previous alkaloid screenings were inconclusive (one found no alkaloids from leaf and stem, another got a weak positive from phyllodes). Trout [in ref. 42] gave no mention of yielding 1.2% DMT from this plant, and according the Entheogen Review index, this species wasn’t mentioned in any 2001 issue.