"Cactus Alkaloids, LXI. Identification of Mescaline and Related Compounds in Eight Additional Species Using TLC and MS/MS"

Ma, W.W. Jiang, X.Y., Cooks, R.G. McLaughlin, Gibson, A.C. Zeyemaker, F. and Ostolaza, C.N.

Apartado 5545, Lima 100, Peru

"The well-known catus alkaloid mescaline (3,4,5-trimethoxy-beta-phenethyamine) is present in lophophora and some species of trichocereus in sufficient concentrations to impart hallucinogenic activity upon ingestion by humans. It is less well known that additional cactus species, representing all three catus sub-families, can also contain this hallucinogen although in lesser concentrations. "

"The detection of small traces of mescaline were reported in eight additional species: opuntia acanthocarpa, opuntia basilaria, opuntia echinocarpa, polaski chende, pterocereus gaumeri, stenocereus beneckei, stenocereus stellatus, and stenocereus treleasei"

In 1986...

Source 1: Cactus Ranchito, Tarzana, California.
Source 2: purchased from Abbey Garden, 4620 Carpinteria, California 93013.
Source 5: cuttings from plants grown at the Huntington Botanical Garden, 1151 Oxford road, Marino, California 81108.

"This was a report of the detection of mescaline in polaskia, pterocereus, and stenocereus."

"Quantitative tlc estimated the maximum concentration in the richest of the reported species (stenocereus stellatus) to be at the level of 0.01% of the dry weight, an isuficient amount to cause hallucinations upon ingestion."

"'Neoraimondia macrostibas' is an ingredient, with 'Trichocereus pachanoi' and several noncactaceous plant species of the Peruvian hallucinogenic drink 'cimora' ; the absence of mescaline in Neoraimondia arequipensis var. roseiflora, formerly treated as a variety of N. macrostibas, leaves unexplained this folkloric use."

Brief Report Jul-Aug 1986.