Envoy at 11:08, 30 November 2007

2007-11-30T11:08:16Z

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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Mimosa tenuiflora''
| image = Mimosa Hostilis.jpg
| image_caption = ''Mimosa tenuiflora''
| image_width = 256px
| regnum = [[Plantae]]
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Fabales]]
| familia = [[Fabaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Mimosoideae]]
| genus = ''[[Mimosa]]''
| species = '''''M. tenuiflora'''''
| binomial = ''Mimosa tenuiflora''
| binomial_authority = ([[Willd.]]) [[Poir.]]<ref>[http://www.ildis.org/LegumeWeb?sciname=Acacia+tenuiflora ILDIS LegumeWeb]</ref>
| range_map = Mimosa-tenuiflora-range-map.png
| range_map_width = 256px
| range_map_caption = Range of ''Mimosa tenuiflora''
| synonyms =
* ''Acacia hostilis'' [[Mart.]]
* ''Acacia tenuiflora'' Willd.
* ''Mimosa cabrera'' [[H. Karst.]]
* ''Mimosa hostilis'' ([[C. Mart.]]) [[Benth.]]
* ''Mimosa limana'' [[Rizzini]]
}}

== Description ==
'''''Mimosa tenuiflora''''' is a perennial evergreen shrub native to the northeastern region of [[Brazil]] and found as far north as southern [[Mexico]]. It is one of scores of ''[[Mimosa]]'' species and cognates; as a medicinal plant this particular species has acquired a variety of colloquial names as well as several synonym
[[Latin binomial]]s- including ''M. hostilis'' in reference to the plant having significant spines.

The white, fragrant [[flower]]s occur in loosely cylindrical spikes. The [[fern]]-like branches have [[Leaf|leaves]] that are finely pinnate, growing to 5 cm long. The brittle [[fruit]]s average 3 cm long. The plant itself grows to 4 meters in height.

== Uses ==
=== Entheogenic uses ===
The '''''Mimosa hostilis''''' tree is known locally as ''Jurema'', ''Jurema Preta'', ''Black Jurema'', and ''Vinho de Jurema''.
The root-bark of the plant contains concentrations of [[phytoindole]] [[tryptamine]]s including [[Dimethyltryptamine|DMT]]; and is the part traditionally used in north-eastern Brazil in a [[psychoactive]] [[decoction]] also called '''Jurema'''- or '''Yurema'''. Analogously the traditional Western Amazonian sacrament [[Ayahuasca]] is brewed from indigenous ''[[Banisteriopsis caapi|ayahuasca]]'' vines.
However- to date no β-[[carbolines]] such as [[harmala alkaloids]] have been detected in ''M. hostilis'' decoctions; yet the root bark is consistently used without added [[Monoamine oxidase inhibitor|MAOI]].

This presents challenges to the pharmacological understanding of how DMT from the plant is rendered orally active as an entheogen.
It has even been reported in the literature that beverages using ''M. hostilis'' likely have no true psychoactive effects.
In this view, if MAOI is neither present in the plant nor added to the mixture, the [[enzyme]] [[MAO]] will break apart DMT in the human gut, preventing the active molecule from entering blood and brain.

However the isolation of a new compound 'Yuremamine' from ''M. hostilis'' as reported in 2005 represents a new class of phyto-indoles<ref>Vepsäläinen, J. J.; Auriola, S.; Tukiainen, M.; Ropponen, N. & Callaway, J. (2005). "Isolation and characterization of [[Yuremamine]], a new phytoindole". ''Planta Medica'' '''71'''(11): 1049-1053.</ref>- which may explain an apparent oral activity of DMT in Jurema.

=== Medicinal uses ===
[[Image:Mimosa hostilis rootbark.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''Mimosa tenuiflora'' rootbark]]
In [[Mexico]], where the bark of the tree is used under the name [[tepezcohuite]], this plant is an external remedy for healing skin with problems including burns.
It is now used in commercial hair and skin products promoted to rejuvenate skin. 
Research supports the traditional uses. The bark is known to be rich in [[tannin]]s, [[saponin]]s, [[alkaloid]]s, [[lipid]]s, [[phytosterol]]s, [[glucoside]]s, [[xylose]], [[rhamnose]], [[arabinose]], [[lupeol]], [[methoxychalcone]]s and [[kukulkanin]]s. [[In vitro]] studies have shown three times more bacteriocidal activity on bacterial cultures than [[streptomycin]], although [[in vivo]] studies have not been as positive.

=== Other uses ===
The wood of the tree is also used in fence construction and for other purposes, such as a source for the plant growth hormone, [[gibberellic acid]] ('''C'''19'''H'''22'''O'''6), which is known to cause exponential growth in plants and some flowering bodies of fungi.

==References==
<references/>

==See also==
*[[Dimethyltryptamine]]
*[[Psychedelic plants]]

==External links==
* [http://images.google.com/images?lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=Mimosa%20tenuiflora&um=1&sa=N&tab=wi ''Mimosa tenuiflora'' (Google Images)]
* [http://www.erowid.org/plants/mimosa Erowid mimosa page]
* [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11487939&query_hl=3&itool=pubmed_docsum Description, distribution, anatomy, chemical composition and uses of Mimosa tenuiflora(Fabaceae-Mimosoideae) in Mexico]
*[http://www.redpav-fpolar.info.ve/fagro/v13_14/v134m020.html ''Mimosa tenuiflora'' (Spanish) Article with good drawings]
*[http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?24430 ''Mimosa tenuiflora'' USDA]

[[Category:Mimosoideae]]
[[Category:Trees of Brazil]]
[[Category:Ayahuasca]]
[[Category:Entheogens]]
[[Category:Herbal and fungal hallucinogens]]
[[Category:Psychedelic tryptamine carriers]]
[[Category:Trees]]

Mimosa hostilis - Revision history

Envoy at 11:08, 30 November 2007