Argyreia nervosa is a perennial climbing vine native to the Indian subcontinent and introduced to numerous areas worldwide, including Hawaii, Africa, and the Caribbean. Though it can be invasive, it is often prized for its aesthetic and medicinal value. Common names include elephant creeper, woolly morning glory and Hawaiian baby woodrose. Its seeds are known for their powerful entheogenic properties, greater or similar to those of Ipomoea species, with users reporting significant psychedelic and spiritual experiences. The two botanical varieties are Argyreia nervosa var. nervosa described here, and Argyreia nervosa var. speciosa, the roots of which are used in Ayurvedic medicine.The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, part 1, vol. 5. Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of Ayush. http://www.ayurveda.hu/api/API-Vol-5.pdf A. nervosa entry: page 16“T.L.C. of methanolic extract of the roots on precoated silica gel G plate using methanol - chloroform (20 : 80) showed a blue fluorescent spot under UV (365nm) along with number of other spots of very weak intensity. Due to the presence of very negligible amount of alkaloids in the roots these could not be isolated.” (p. 17)

Argyreia nervosa contains various ergoline alkaloids such as ergine (lysergic acid amide; LSA) and isoergine (isolysergic acid amide; iso-LSA). A study reported stereoisomers of ergine to be found in the seeds at a concentration of 0.325% of dry weight. Two modern studies from a team of researchers also revealed lysergic acid, methylergometrine (syn. lysergic acid butanolamide), methysergide, lysergylalanine, and suspected, unidentified ergopeptines. A study of the related Ipomoea tricolor showed that ergoline concentrations in the leaves are 12-fold lower than that of the seeds.

History

Despite its colloquial name of "Hawaiian baby woodrose", Argyreia nervosa is native to Asia. The popular flowering vine is often cultivated in Hawaii as climate conditions support the plants' cultivation on the island.

LSA-containing seeds have been utilized in small quantities in Ayurvedic herbal medicine. However, the seeds were not widely known to have psychoactive properties until the mid-late 20th century and have no tradition of ceremonial use for religious purposes.

Cultivation Where temperatures fall below 13 °C (55 °F), Argyreia nervosa is grown in a warm greenhouse. Elsewhere, it is grown on arbours, pergolas, walls, or trees. It is often grown professionally under glass in a loam-based potting compost (John Innes No. 3) in full light, and watered freely from spring to autumn, with a balanced liquid fertilizer applied monthly and reduced water in winter. It is grown outdoors in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Pruning is done in late winter.

Constituents In terms of total alkaloid content, the constituents of Argyreia nervosa include isoergine (31%), ergine (23%), ergometrine (8.2%), lysergic acid hydroxyethylamide (LSH) (5.8%), isolysergic acid hydroxyethylamide (iso-LSH) (4.0%), elymoclavine (3.6%), chanoclavine I (2.7%), ergometrinine (1.8%), agroclavine (1.1%), and others (19%). Other results have also been published.

Glycosides

Argyroside, (24R)-ergost-5-en-11-oxo-3β-ol-α-D-glucopyranoside, a steroidal glycoside unique to Argyreia nervosa

Ergolines Argyreia nervosa contains a variety of ergolines and lysergamides, which are shown in the tables below. It has also been reported to contain methylergometrine and methysergide, which were previously believed to be exclusively synthetic compounds.

Ergoline alkaloids of known percentage Compound name Percentage of dry seed weight constituted Chemical structure Isoergine 0.188% Ergine 0.136% Ergometrine 0.049% Lysergic acid hydroxyethylamide 0.035% Isolysergic acid hydroxyethylamide 0.024% Elymoclavine 0.022% Ergometrinine 0.011% Chanoclavine 0.016%

Ergoline alkaloids of unknown percentage Compound name Chemical structure Agroclavine Festuclavine Chanoclavine II Lysergene Lysergol Isolysergol Setoclavine Isosetoclavine

Hydroxycinnamic acids Hydroxycinnamic acids Compound name Chemical structure Caffeic acid Ethyl caffeate

Fatty acids Fatty acids Compound name Chemical structure Myristoleic acid Myristic acid Palmitic acid Linoleic acid Linolenic acid Oleic acid Stearic acid Nonadecylic acid Eicosenoic acid Heneicosylic acid Behenic acid 12-methylmyristic acid 15-methylstearic acid

Glycosides of fatty acids Fatty acid Chemical structure Palmitic acid Oleic acid Stearic acid Behenic acid Linoleic acid Linolenic acid

Entheogen

The seeds of A. nervosa contain ergot alkaloids varying considerably in concentration with ergine (LSA) weight ranging between exactly similar looking seeds from 3μg to 34μg (average 17μg). However, in its effects, ergine is about one-tenth as potent as its cousin LSD, making a threshold dose level for ergine about 500μg.“The effective dose of lysergic acid amide is 1 to 2 mg by oral application.” Albert Hofmann. 2. A Challenging Question and My Answer, p. 40 The psychoactive effects of the seeds may therefore be due to other alkaloids present in them and the safe and effective dose may be difficult to predict.

Speculations Certain New Age sources claim that, according to 'various oral histories' Huna shamans used the powdered seeds to prepare an entheogenic drink. This is unlikely to reflect an authentic practice having once formed a part of traditional Hawaiian Religion, given that Huna has been widely discredited as a culturally appropriative New Age religion invented by Max Freedom Long. The seeds of Argyreia nervosa can produce psychoactive effects, but it has not yet been demonstrated satisfactorily that their use as an entheogen predates the various countercultural movements of the 1960s. Given that A. nervosa is not native to Hawaii, having been introduced there from India, any Hawaiian practices involving it are unlikely to be of any antiquity. It cannot, however, be ruled out that the plant may have been utilised as an intoxicant in its native India at some time in the past, although evidence for this (if present) has not yet come to light.

Uses in the traditional medicine of India While he does not claim there to be any evidence for the use of the seeds of A. nervosa as a traditional entheogen in its native India, Christian Rätsch does describe some interesting traditional uses of the root of the plant in Ayurveda somewhat suggestive of effects upon the CNS:

The root is regarded as a tonic for the nerves and brain and is ingested as a rejuvenation tonic and aphrodisiac to increase intelligence. Other traditional uses are in the treatment of gonorrhea, strangury, chronic ulcers, diabetes, anemia, and cerebral disorders. The plant is also used as appetizer, brain tonic, cardiotonic, and aphrodisiac. It possesses anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal activities. Claims that alternative medicines including Ayuverdic possess proven medical qualities, such as having widespread beneficial effects such as antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal activities are not claims that satisfy the scientific requirement of medical claims. Further, since the plant is partially toxic even if there were medical benefit, which is not established, this would have to be weighed against the potential poisoning impact of the substance.

References

External links

PLANTS database entry