View source for Voacango Bush

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<td valign="top" width="50%">The bark and seeds of the African species Voacanga

africana Stapf339 contain up to 10% indole

alkaloids of the iboga type (cf. Tabernanthe iboga,

ibogaine) and reportedly induce stimulating and

hallucinogenic effects (Bisset 1985b; Oliver-Bever

1982, 8). The principal alkaloid is voacamine.

African sorcerers are said to use the seeds to

produce visions. In West Africa, the bark is utilized

as a hunting drug and stimulant (Schuldes 1995,

77*). It also is regarded as a potent aphrodisiac.

The bark of Voacanga bracteata Stapf is used in

Gabon to get "high" (most likely as a marijuana

substitute; cf. Cannabis indica). It contains 2.460/0

alkaloids (voacamine, voacamine-N-oxide, 20epi-

voacorine, voacangine) that, although closely

related to the compounds found in Tabernanthe

iboga, apparently produce only mild depressant

effects.(de Smet 1996, 145*; Puiseux et al. 1965).

Voacanga dregei E. H. Mey. is also said to

produce hallucinogenic effects (Schultes and Hofmann 1980, 366*). West African sorcerers

ingest the seeds of Voacanga grandiflora (Miq.)

Rolfe for visionary purposes. Unfortunately, the

details of this use are still unknown, as the

sorcerers keep their knowledge secret.</td>
<td valign="top" width="53%"><strong>Literature</strong>

Bisset, N. G. 1985a. Phytochemistry and

pharmacology of Voacanga species. Agricultural

University Wageningen Papers 85 (3): 81-114.

---. 1985b. Uses of Voacanga species. Agricultural

University Wageningen Papers 85 (3): 115-22.

Bombardelli, Ezio, Attilio Bonati, Bruno Gabetta,

Ernseto Martinelli, Giuseppe Mustich, and Bruno

Danieli. 1976. 17-0-acetyl-19,20dihydrovoachalotine,

a new alkaloid from

Voacanga chalotiana. Phytochemistry 15:2021-22.

Oliver-Bever, B. 1982. Medicinal plants in tropical

West Africa I: Plants acting on the cardiovascular

system. Journal ofEthnopharmacology 5 (1): 1-71.

Puiseux, E, M. P. Patel, J. M. Rowson, and J. Poisson.

1965. Alcaloides des Voacanga: Voacanga africana

Stapf. Annales Pharmaceutiques Fran~aises

23:33-39.</td>
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[[Category:Ethnobotanical]]