..i'm especially fond of Passifloras, so I wanted to round off my contribution to this thread, and era of the nexus, with an Experimental report (which is also earlier in the thread, but the info is arranged differently here for clarity) ..I'm restating it partly because in all the years since this, i have yet to hear a report of someone even attempting to replicate it
This would be my idea of a fairly under-utilised natural gift to the community...because i think anyone who actually achieves this will be very happy..
And thanks to all who contributed to this thread, some of who provide the only available Passiflora bioassy experiment reports, which are still few and far between..and of course the majority of Passiflora species remain not phytochemically studied.. wellness to all of you, and your plants
A Passionflower Experiment
Year: 1994
Participants: 2
Ages: 24, 26
Material:
Passionflower (P. incarnata) dried herb + extracted DMT/NMT
Method and Preparation:
A hypothetical guestimate dose of 333grams was established for P. incarnata based on findings of 0.1-0.2% harmala alkaloids - harmine, harmaline, harman, norharman and harmol (Hultin, Gracie & Zarkov) [see Research Note later]. This was also to allow for variation, and also that there were multiple harmalas reported , that may not all have equivalent MAOI activity to harmaline.
800grams of Passionflower herb (stem & spirals) was covered in water and boiled 3 x 45 mins. The combined liquids were reduced in volume by rapid boiling evaporation, and filtered at approx 50% volume. The liquid was reduced until one dose was equivalent to a standard coffee/tea mug worth of dark brown/purple syrup/sludge which was unfilterable at this point. Slightly over a dose was consumed at nightfall following semi fasting for the day (only yeast free bread was consumed in small amounts).
At 5 mins, approx 50mg of DMT/NMT freebase (which had been extracted from acacia previously) was swiftly swallowed with a very small amount of water. Noticeable sedative or anxiolytic effects were felt within 10mins.
Effects:
Both participants felt initial narcotic sedation and slight visual acuity changes from the Passiflora, which became strong, and pleasant unto themselves. However at 1 hour following ingestion of tryptamines there were still no obvious tryptamine effects, only some occasional faint glints or sparkles, which may have been purely the passiflora. It was discussed whether or not consume further passionflower (of which there was little left) and/or tryptamines, but the pleasant body sedation made some procrastination occur.
At 90mins fairly rapidly, distinct tryptamine visual effects, geometries, and body load began to rise over a few minutes, with a peak-plateau of 30-40mins. One participant briefly purged, the other did not. There was some full body and mind immersion in different, colourful and bright landscapes, alive, sometimes floral, and evolving/inter-twining.
The tryptamines visuals were described by both participants as among the most colourful and beautiful they had ever experienced. The passiflora playfully wove it's beautiful organic forms around the tryptamine geometries like a vine wraps around a tree. Purple and gold hues abounded, and a kind of glow or pleasing haze that permeated the space, and feminine nature.
Tryptamine effects gradually diminished over 2-3hrs. A noticeable Passiflora 'anti-depressant' and 'dreaminess' effect continued through until morning.
One participant noted that they had recently read an account (Luna) of a south American curandero being asked why they added chacruna to the caapi brew..they replied 'to make the visions more colourful'. When asked why they added a Passiflora species, the reply was 'to make the visions even more colourful'.
Research Notes:
Eskil Hultin found 0.1-0.2% harmala alkaloids (see p1) in P. incarnata, however a number of more recent published results failed to find alkaloids other than in trace amounts. This may be due to strain , or methodology of extraction. Some of these low level studies utilised room temperature short (5-30min) dilute acid extraction, probably not effective. But also Grice et al (2002) found that levels of harmalas in passiflora could vary depending on what stage of growth cycle they were harvested.
Additionally, in some instances commercial herb sold as Passionflower (P. Incarnata) has reportedly in fact been P. caerulea, which has been found to contain Harmaline at levels of 0.98mg/g, which would equate to 294mg from 300grams of plant material. (see Frye & Haustein ref at end)
It is also possible that flavonoids, which have been found at 1.5% in the plant were partly, or entirely, responsible for the apparent successful MAO inhibiton and visual modulation. As discussed in the thread some flavonoids have MAOI activity approaching the range of harmalas (in terms of IC50 values) .
If purchasing commerical dried passiflora, beware a large number of sources of dried passionflower herb are re-sellers and charge very high prices. Find true wholesalers. Those who can grow the plant can experiment with seasonal and growth stage variation.
Note also that 'passionflower' usually denotes the leaf, stem and spirals, not actually the flowers...
Obviously there is a good chance of running into variance. One method of determining the alkaloid content of Passiflora, prior to attempting a high dose oral ingestion, is to do this simple extraction experiment - Soak finely chopped dried Passiflora stem & spiral (eg 50-70grams) in ethanol for 2-7 days, then finely filter (effectively making a tincture). Then reduce to around 200ml and run an A/B extraction with acetic acid, NaOH & NP solvent. It is recommended to extract several (3-4) times at successively increasing pH between pH 8 - 12 . In fact different pHs have been used to separate different harmala alkaloids from each other. The result will give an idea if there is a level of alkaloid in the particular material which could contribute to effects. This method has successfully extracted harmala alkaloids from commercial herbalist Passiflora tincture, as well as some wild species.
Conclusions:
Passiflora, when successfully used to activate oral tryptamines, stands as a unique gate-keeper, different in quality to either Rue or Caapi. This experiment found it to be the most colourful, the most narcotic/sedative, and also the least 'serious' in tone, of the three. On its own, in higher dosages it is a strong relaxant with some visual activity. As a spirit it was said by the participants to feel younger or more faye-like, or 'angelic/devic' (said one participant), than Caapi or Rue, which added a certain kind of purity, as well as playfulness to the experience.
The effects, MAO inhibition threshold, and subjective quality will probably vary with different strains, and relative changes in alkaloid and flavonoid ratios.
References:
- given throughout the thread,
+ Extraction, Identification, and Quantification of Harmala Alkaloids in Three Species of Passiflora, Abigail Frye and Catherine Haustein, American Journal Of Undergraduate Research . 6, NO. 3 (2007)
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A truly sensual and beautiful plant, both within and without..
pictured - electron microscopic images of Passiflora incarnata pollen
..there is variation between different varieties (and sources) of P. incarnata, and some have more kampferol than others..
