Mururé
GENERAL
Mururé (Brosimum acutifolium) is a tree species that grows up to 25 meters high and is found not only in Brazil but also in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and the Guyanas. Mururé is also the special name for the bark of Brosimum acutifolium, which in Brazilian folk medicine is considered an anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic agent (see Takashima et al. 2005: 654). In addition, the milky sap extracted from the scratched bark of the tree is allegedly used as a hallucinogen by shamans in French Guyana, Suriname and in the region east of the state of Pará in Brazil [1].
TRADITIONAL USES
Duke et al. (2009) state that certain Amazonians use the bark of Brosimum acutifolium for arthritis and rheumatism. Furthermore, in Brazil, the bark of the tree is considered anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, aphrodisiac, laxative, and tonic, and thus is used for arthritis, stomach ulcers, pain, rheumatism, skin ulcers, and syphilis. Some Brazilians also use the bark as an analgesic for muscle pain, for example, and also in baths for rheumatism and skin ulcers.
In Colombia, the effect of the tree bark is considered anti-asthmatic, digestive, laxative and also tonic.
In Guyana, the milky sap is also said to be added to ayahuasca, but is also used for muscle pain. In Guyana, the bark of Brosimum acutifolium is used in baths for fever, and a decoction of the root is also used there for headaches and to improve memory.
The Palikur and Wayapi reportedly inhale the dried milky sap in ritual initiations for hallucinogenic effects.
In Peru, the bark is used as an analgesic, for stomach ulcers, muscle pain, to regulate the nervous system, for dizziness, as a vermifuge, as a tonic, and to stimulate the appetite. A decoction of the bark or a tincture is considered in Peru to be antianemic, anti-inflammatory, a cure for syphilis, an aphrodisiac, a laxative, also a remedy for arthritis, exhaustion, diabetes, worms, loss of balance, rheumatism, against yeast infections and fever.
The Shipibo-Conibo use a bark decoction for gastrointestinal ailments, for purifying the blood, and to regulate the nervous system.
The Tikuana use a bark decoction for menstrual pain and pain during pregnancy.
The Wayapi, on the other hand, also use the milky sap as protection against spells and witchcraft (see Duke et al. 2009: 120).
In addition, the wood of Brosimum acutifolium is used as a building material, for furniture, as flooring and for packaging or boxes [2].
PHARMACOLOGY
Flavans, flavonoids, lignans, phenylpropanoids, benzenoids and steroids have been detected in the bark of Brosimum acutifolium. Many of the compounds contained in Brosimum acutifolium are completely new to scientists [3].
Among the flavonoids contained are brosimacutins A-M. In one study, 27 compounds contained in B. acutifolium were tested for cytotoxic activity. It was found in the tests on leukemia cells that brosimacutin K and luteolin in particular have cytotoxic activity (see Takashima et al. 2005: 657).
Furthermore, new flavans such as acutifolin A-F and brosimin A-B have also been isolated (see Takashima et al. 2001: 1493; Torres et al. 2000: 1047).
In addition, flavolignans christened mururine A, B, and C were found, the substance mururine C having been previously detected in Salvia miltiorrhiza. In addition, mururin A and B showed activity against protein kinase A and protein kinase C and were able to inhibit them to some extent. Protein kinases can be responsible for diseases under certain circumstances: "If a protein kinase is dysregulated, it contributes to tumor growth in cancer, for example, or provides a constant inflammatory stimulus in autoimmune diseases." [4].
Correira et al. (2008) reported that Brosimum acutifolium has activity against bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus ATCC Strain (see Correira et al. 2008: 369).
SIDE EFFECTS & TOXICITY
Unknown.
Due to the language barrier, important and interesting articles on this topic were not accessible, as they are not available in English or German, but only in Portuguese.
TAKINI - A HALLUCINOGENIC TREE SAP?
According to Moretti et al. (2006), the Palikur, the Wayapi and Kali' na use the milk sap of Brosimum acutifolium as a hallucinogen. Among the Palikur, this milk sap is called "tauni," the Wayapi refer to it as "takweni," while among the Kali' na the tree sap is called "takini" (see Moretti et al. 2006: 198). According to Moretti et al. in 1968, anthropologist Peter Kloos identified the "takini" of the Kali' na as Heliocostylis tomentosa and/or Heliocostylis pedunculata. In 1972, however, botanist C. C. Berg stated that Takini clearly corresponds to Brosimum acutifolium. Specimens collected by Moretti et al. were also unambiguously identified by Berg as Brosimum acutifolium (see Moretti et al. 2006: 199).
Moretti's research revealed that the terms "takini" (Kali' na), "takweni" (Wayapi), and "tahini" (Tiriyo) all refer to the same drug, which is used as a hallucinogen by shamans. In this context, the Palikur and Wayapi may drink the milky sap or smoke the bark of Brosimum acutifolium. A closer examination of the samples collected in French Guyana showed that it was a subspecies, namely Brosimum acutifolium subsp. acutifolium. The distribution of this particular subspecies is reportedly restricted only to Suriname, French Guiana, and the area east of Pará. In addition, chromatographic analyses of the material confirmed the presence of bufotenin, which, according to Moretti et al. is thought to be responsible for the hallucinogenic effects (see Moretti et al. 2006: 200).
Schultes et al. report in their book Plants Of The Gods (2001) on a sacred tree in Guyana, with Schultes naming said tree as Heliocostylis pedunculata:
"Takini is a sacred tree of the Guianas. From the red "sap" of the bark a mildly poisonous intoxicant is prepared. Extracts from the inner bark of two trees elicit central nervous system depressant effects similar to those produced by Cannabis sativa. The two species responsible for this hallucinogen are H. pedunculata and H. tomentosa. These two species of trees are similar. Both are cylindrical or very slightly buttressed forest giants 75 ft (23 m) tall with grayish brown bark; the latex is pale yellow or cream-colored. The leathery lanceolate-elliptic leaves attain a length of 7 in. (18cm) and a width of 3 in. (8cm). The fleshy, pistillate flowers are borne in gbbose cauliflorous heads. Very little is known about these trees and they are rarely studied. The hallucinogen could theoretically originate from either of the related genera Brosimum or Piratinera. Extracts from the inner bark of both trees have been pharmacologically studied; they have a softening or dampening effect, similar to Cannabis sativa.“ (Schultes et al. 2001: 44).
BUFOTENINE
Moretti et al. believe that the hallucinogenic effect of the tree Brosimum acutifolium subsp. acutifolium is due to the bufotenine contained in the milky sap.
Bufotenine is a tryptamine and structurally related to the neurotransmitter serotonin. It is also present in other plant species such as Anadenanthera peregrina and Anadenanthera colubrina, as well as in reed species such as Phragmites australis, and also in the secretions of certain toad species. These Bufo species are "chemical factories" whose secretions contain only small amounts of bufotenine. Toad secretions also contain toxic cardioactive steroids, such as bufogenine and bufotoxin (see Torres et al. 2006: 171).
Berger states that bufotenine does not approach the action profile of related substances such as DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, etc. and has mainly physical effects. Side effects such as nausea, vomiting, anxiety, increased blood pressure and other symptoms may occur (see Berger 2017: 44).
EFFECTS OF BUFOTENINE
According to Torres et al (2006), the first report of a "clinical" trial in humans with pure bufotenine was published by Fabing and Hawkins in 1956. This was a study using very questionable methods, with bufotenine being administered intravenously to 4 healthy prisoners at doses ranging from 1mg to 16 mg. The effects reported by the prisoners included: a feeling of tightness in the chest and throat, nausea, vomiting, change in facial color to purple, a feeling of pressure and heaviness throughout the body, tingling in the face, accelerated breathing, etc. Visual effects occurred at the higher doses, such as seeing red and black dots and colors moving around (see Torres et al. 2006: 175). During the tests, one "subject" apparently suffered a respiratory arrest. Despite this circumstance and the "purple" facial color, which could possibly be the result of oxygen deprivation and vasoconstriction, Fabing and Hawkins continued to administer bufotenine to the inmates (see Torres et al. 2006: 177).
Jonathan Ott (2001), among others, conducted a self-experiment with orally ingested bufotenine. Ott reported the occurrence of tinnitus, tryptamine-typical bodily sensations, "mild psychoptic effects" but without colored patterns when taking a capsule containing 100mg of bufotenine (see Ott 2001: 277).
NOTE - A CRITICAL LOOK
The data collected are for information purposes only and are in no way intended to incite experimentation. Furthermore, the data, especially the research results of Moretti et al. are to be questioned critically. Furthermore, there seems to be no consensus in the literature on hallucinogenic effects with respect to Mururé/Takini. Moretti et al. relate the term "mururé" to Brosimum utile, while Matos Vieira et al. point out that bufotenine is contained in Brosimum utile (see Moretti et al. 2006: 201; Matos Vieira et al. 2019). It is also doubtful whether hallucinogenic effects already occur by drinking in about 500ml of milk juice (about 12.5mg bufotenin) (see Moretti et al. 2006: 201). Thus, many questions remain unanswered, such as whether "Takini" was actually botanically correctly determined by Berg, or which substance is responsible for the effects, should it not be bufotenine? More research in this regard would be necessary.
Sources:
Berger, Markus (2017): DMT. Forschung, Anwendung, Kultur. Aarau und München: AT-Verlag.
Correira et al. (2008): Amazonian plant crude extract screening for activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria. In: European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences 12: 369-380.
Duke et al. (2009): Duke´s Handbook of Medicinal Plants of Latin America. Florida: CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group.
Matos Vieira et al. (2019): Mururé (Brosimum acutifolium Huber) in the Treatment of Syphilis in Colonial Amazonia. In: Ethnobotany. Local Knowledge and Traditions. Florida: CRC Press.
Moretti et al. (2006): Identification of 5-hydroxy-tryptamine (bufotenine) in takini (Brosimum acutifolium Huber subsp. acutifolium C.C. Berg, Moraceae), a shamanic potion used in the Guiana Plateau. In: Journal of Ethnopharmacology 106: 198-202.
Ott, Jonathan (2001): Pharmanopo-Psychonautics: Human Intranasal, Sublingual, Intrarectal, Pulmonary and Oral Pharmacology of Bufotenine. In: Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 33 (3): 273-281.
Takashima et al. (2001): Acutifolins A-F, a New Flavan-Derived Constituent and Five New Flavans from Brosimum acutifolium. In: Journal of Natural Products 64: 1493-1496.
Takashima et al. (2002): Mururins A-C, Three New Lignoids from Brosimum acutifolium and their Protein Kinase Inhibitory Activity. In: Planta Med 68: 621-625.
Takashima et al. (2005): Brosimacutins J-M, Four New Flavonoids from Brosimum acutifolium and their Cytotoxic activity. In: Planta Med 71: 654-658.
Torres et al. (2000): Flavonoids from Brosimum acutifolium. In: Phytochemistry 53: 1047-1050.
Torres et al. (2006): Anadenanthera. Visionary Plant of Ancient South America. New York-London-Oxford: The Haworth Herbal Press.
Hyperlinks:
[1]: Duke´s Handbook of Medicinal Plants of Latin America
[2]: Technical Information on Bolivian Wood Species
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