..thanks for the input
polytrip, i think the differing effects you mention are not placebo, and there is some kind of synergy..
i think plants containing NMT (or multi-tryptamines in general) are potentially more 'advanced' teachers..there are simply more modes of action,
more 'directions' to go..A. confusa's reported oral activity could be due to flavonoids, and these can add to the depth of an orally ingested brew
..numerous acacias are flavonoid rich, and the leaves of A. confusa are known to contain some..
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..here is a rough summary of the main data in the talk "
entheogenic effects of NMT from acacia" given at the EGA conference, Australia, 4th December 2011,
i have yet to get time to actually 'pen' any kind of 'formal' paper: (i'd prefer more independent tests and 'peer' review if i did)
Background to the Research
In 1992, following a meeting with Acacia maidenii extract pioneer 'JG', a tree was misidentified by the author as Acacia maidenii, and branch bark successfully extracted to produce an extract with strong DMT-like effects. In 1994 the area was revisited by the author and Mulga and the tree was subsequently identified as Acacia obtusifolia, although later botanical work showed that the actual original single tree extracted appears to be a natural hybrid of the two species which both occur at the location.
Around this time, the author was given access to pure synthetic DMT, and was surprised to find the subjective effects were not as strong, 'deep' or 'physically involving' as the A. obtusifolia extracts. Believing other alkaloids to be responsible the author urged Mulga not to release the species name until more research had been done, however Mulga decided to post the information on the internet. This led to a sudden interest in the species which resulted in serious damage being done to the tree in national parks and other wild locations, threatening it's reproductive ability.
Whilst trying to bring about conservation awareness regarding A. obtusifolia, quiet research continued. In 1997 phyllodes and twigs of material judged 'good and strong' by the author was sent (via 'R' ) to Daniel Siebert, who determined the alkaloids consisted of approximately 2/3 NMT (N-Methyltrypamine, 'mono-methyltryptamine' or MMT)), 1/3 DMT and 2% ß-carboline (which was not identified) at 0.3% of dry weight. If NMT was 'inactive', as described in most literature, the strength of the extracts could not be explained by the amount of DMT or ß-carboline present, unless the ß-carboline was of unprecedented potency. A second test from around 50 plants (to get an average) was conducted privately by Southern Cross University in 2000, and the result was again 2/3 NMT, 1/3 DMT and trace ß-carboline, which was tentatively identified as 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline, but no reference was available, and perhaps leptocladine (2,3,4,9-Tetrahydro-1,2-dimethyl-1H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole) . The uncommon sub-tropical variety of A. obtusifolia was tested a year or so later by Mulga, and found to contain mainly DMT, with a little NMT, and a ß-carboline believed to be leptocladine.
It was decided to perform paper chromatography to separate the alkaloids from each other (see Experimental) and in 2001 a series of bio-assay experiments with NMT were conducted by 3 experienced subjects. Despite the frequent statement in literature that NMT was inactive, there was no actual data to corroborate this. It was known to be inactive orally, but so is DMT without an MAOI. There were no IV or vaporised reports. N-Methyltrypamine (NMT) was tested in 2001 by vaporisation and oral ingestion with harmalas as MAOIs.
Results of Bioassay
The entheogenic effects of NMT could be described as 'spatial sense' orientated, as well as 'memory/thought locational'. Visual effects (mainly closed eyed) occurred on larger vaporized doses (90-120mg) or when taken orally with MAOIs, and seemed directly synaesthetically related to the predominant spatial and memory/thought aspects. Larger vaporized doses also produced a 30-45 second peak of vary rapid visual phenomena beginning at 2-5 minutes, described by one subject as 'more far-out than DMT', though not overwhelming in strength. Auditory perception was greatly enhanced, without pitch or distortion effects. Music was described as sounding 'amazing' whilst apparently unchanged. There were predominantly enhanced cognitive and 'emphathogenic' effects until baseline. All subjects reported a feeling of enhanced 'clarity' afterwards, and said that they would try it again. Lower doses were found to be an effective meditation tool by some, with no visual activity. It was noticed that retention of spatial memory in darkness navigation tests seemed improved, though it was not possible to conduct formal experiments at the time.
Here are some notes taken by a subject following 90mg NMT by vapour: (see Experimental Reports for more)
"...immediate recceding from ordinary 4D space
very 'tryptamine' vibe, but ...nothing much..almost inactive, then
2-3 minutes, very rapid 'direct addressing of the organism'
descending 'semi-entity' visuals for about 45 seconds
feeling increasingly 'high' for want of a better word
sound sensitivity..relates to spatial detection
how do you feel space? what is it?
you feel it because it is continuous with yourself
where mind becomes space
ever slightly increasingly stimulating at 15-45mins
rhythmic or cyclic compression/dilation of space = alternate form of 4D geometry
light becomes brighter then halo like, as if slowed down = the space of light within light
...not so much a visual or auditory entheogen, although there were some visuals, but rather a 'Spatial hallucinogen'...imagine you could 'feel' but not see an Escher world..."
.........................
Known Biochemical Activity
NMT is found as a natural trace component of human urine, along with DMT, 5HT (serotonin), bufotenine and 5methoxy-tryptamine.
Therefore, as is said of DMT, it plays an as yet unknown role in ordinary and essential perceptual, cognitive and conscious function.
It was a potent agonist of 5-Hydroxytryptamine (Serotonin) Receptor Subtype 1A (5HT1A).[2] It showed weak binding affinity to the (5HT2B) receptor, for which more visually orientated hallucinogens such as LSD and psilocybin have greater affinity. DMT differs from these two classic psychedelics in having a much greater binding affinity to the 5HT-7 receptor, for which I'm not sure if NMT has been tested. As I'll mention in a moment, though, all these compounds bind to multiple receptor sites.
NMT is also a strong inhibitor of the enzymes Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1A1) and
Histone Lysine Methyltransferase G9a,
A recent Journal of Medical Chemistry (2010) paper found that Protein lysine methyltransferase G9a inhibitors inhibit cancer cell growth.[3]
Going back to 5HT-1 agonists, such as NMT, interestingly psilocin (but not psilocybin or LSD), ergotamine and yohimbine also show strong affinity here.5-HT1A receptor agonists decrease blood pressure and heart rate via a central mechanism, by inducing peripheral vasodilation, and by stimulating the vagus nerve.These effects are the result of activation of 5-HT1A receptors within the rostral ventrolateral medulla.[4]
"Effects of 5-HT1A activation include decreased aggression or increased serenic behavior,increased sociability,decreased impulsivity, inhibition of addictive behavior,facilitation of sexual behavior and arousal,inhibition of penile erection,decreased food intake or anorexia,prolongation of REM sleep latency, and enhanced breathing or hyperventilation and reversal of opioid-induced respiratory depression."
When taken orally with MAOIs NMT showed some somatic effects, occasional muscle tremoring (not unpleasant).
The general feeling of 'clarity' most subjects felt afterwards (even following smaller doses) suggested various possible theraeputic actions.It is in a list of compounds which 'prove' a patent application for methods of therapeutic treatment of chronic back pain.
Endogenous Tryptamines also play a range of physiological actions. DMT for instance induces smooth-muscle tremor, amongst other things. Smooth-muscles tremor usually occurs during sleep and helps digestion. A molecule like DMT binds to many different receptor points, it's function cannot be simplified to dreams or death or a concept like that. Whatever it, and NMT, do, it is a vital part of our normal daily functioning..
Chemistry
The form of the freebase when crystalized: mp90*Manske 1931 reports stellar aggregates of needles with some individual crystals having a rectangular form. Prior to reading that perfect description I termed the crystal pattern 'curved diamonds' radiating outwards from a point. It can be initially a clear or white oil crystalizing slowly, becoming yellow/orange crystals, rapidly darkening with exposure to air. Sometimes, due to other trace compounds, it remains an oil. In the freebase form it is more polar than DMT, meaning it has greater water solubility, though it is not soluble in cold H20.
There is no NMT-N-oxide. N-Oxides can only be formed from tertiary amines, and NMT is a secondary amine. There may be N-hydroxy-N-methyltryptamine, but I have no information regarding it's formation. I have been told: "In the case of NMT, oxidation and cyclization would give 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline." This ß-carboline is found in other plants including Phalaris arundinacea.
The ß-carboline fraction of A. obtusifolia showed mild activity at 10mg vaporised, but not enough to create MAO inhibition. The author only know 5-6 people having tried NMT on it's own...more data is vitally needed.[5]
Synergy and DMT
I found this lone comment on a 2006 net forum discussion:
Quote:
"I think *NMT's effects work best when combined with DMT. Try extracting a plant that has high levels of both, I've tried one and it was pretty intense, more so than normal DMT xtal. Have not tried it alone so cannot comment." [
http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/showthread.php?t=283967]
I would agree entirely that an NMT/DMT combination is more 'forceful' in some way, or at least 'different'/'expanded', changing with the relative ratio of compounds. Could it have somehow not been NMT that was tested? It was suggested by somebody the that the NMT was demethylising into Tryptamine through pyrolisis, and that tryptamine was described as "a very fast acting psychedelic when injected at relatively large doses", but the MAOI tests suggest this is not the case.
So, a little NMT may go a long way toward expanding the 'vocabulary' of the tryptamine experience. It may be a subtler compund than dimethyltryptamine, but it's unknown full potential in neurophysiological, medical and consciousness research remains tantalizing and mysterious...
Experimental and Experimental Reports
[To be completed] Much of the information is in the dmt-nexus thread "entheogenic effects of NMT".
References:
1. Stafford, P. "Psychedelics Encyclopedia" 1986; Ott, J. "Pharmacopeia"; Foye, W.O., Lemke, T.L., Williams, D.A. "Foye's principles of medicinal chemistry"
2. "Primary HTS assay for 5-Hydroxytryptamine (Serotonin) Receptor Subtype 1a (5HT1a) agonists."
The Scripps Research Institute Molecular Screening Center
3. Liu F, Chen X, Allali-Hassani A, Quinn AM, Wigle TJ, Wasney GA, Dong A, Senisterra G, Chau I, Siarheyeva A, Norris JL, Kireev DB, Jadhav A, Herold JM, Janzen WP, Arrowsmith CH, Frye SV, Brown PJ, Simeonov A, Vedadi M, Jin J.
"Protein lysine methyltransferase G9a inhibitors: design, synthesis, and structure activity
4. Dabiré H. (1991). "Central 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptors in blood pressure regulation". Therapie. 46 (6): 421–9. PMID 1819150.relationships of 2,4-diamino-7-aminoalkoxy-quinazolines." J Med Chem. 2010 Aug 12;53(15):5844-57.
5. see "entheogenic effects of NMT" and related threads, DMT-nexus.me
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