SWIM knows how to use thin layer chromatography to tell if his sample is relatively pure, but has no way of identifying the compound other than it’s melting point. What’s the best, cheapest method of identifying compounds?

SWIM knows that most cebil seeds contain bufotenine and almost no other alkaloids in active amounts, but the bufotenine present is often a mix of bufotenine and bufotenine N-oxide, and I’ve seen reports stating that as much as 50% of the bufotenine can be present as bufotenine N-oxide.

Bufotenine itself has side effects but they are minor and last only 1-2 minutes when smoked, and then are followed by definite psychoactive effects somewhat similar to psilocybin. When the sticky amber alkaloid (or whatever it is) is removed from the bufotenine, smoking it produces only long lasting side effects (nausea, head tension) and no psychoactive effects. I’m pretty confident that this amber alkaloid is bufotenine N-oxide. Judging by the XlogP of bufotenine N-oxide, it should produce much more side effects than bufotenine and not be able to cause psychoactive effects.