Brunfelsia chiricaspi / Chiricaspi / Solanaceae (Nightshade family)

Information

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Description

In the Colombian, Ecuadorian and Peruvian Amazon, several species of Brunfelsia are traditionally used as visionary plants. Brunfelsia is added to a hallucinogenic drink called Yage made from the giant forest liana Banisteriopsis caapi (Malpighiaceae). Scopoletin has been isolated from Brunfelsia, but this may not be the only psychoactive compound present. Scopoletin is a phenolic lactone (C10H8O4) that is found in many solanaceous plants, including species of Scopolia and the deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna). According to Richard Evans Schultes and Albert Hofmann, a sensation of chills follows the ingestion of Brunfelsia, an effect which has given rise to the name "Chiricaspi" or "Cold tree".

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