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Old 07-22-2008, 02:13 AM
ol'cs ol'cs is offline
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Join Date: Sep 2006
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ol'cs ol'cs is offline
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 629
15 yr Member
Default tryptamines..

a "tryptamine", specifically an "aromatic ring hydroxylated tryptamine", more specifically the "5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin;commonly abreviated as 5-HT)" is the natural (made inside the body from the amino acid tryptophan [(similar to dopamine being made from the amino acid L-Dopa)], that we get in our diet) ligand that is the neurotransmitter of the "serotonin pump". When 5-HT is present in the proper concentrations, and acting just the right way at the various serotonin receptor subtypes, this has a great effect on keeping a "healthy" mood in people. Low concentrations and other factors delimited to 5-HT is one of the root causes of clinical depression.
But there is a very great difference, when these tryptamines are dimethyated on the terminal nitrogen atom of the ethylamino side chain on the "indole" aromatic (aromatic in the chemical sense, nothing to do with odor) nucleus of this molecule.
As "nitrogen unsubstituted" (non-methylated) molecules, tryptamines act to regulate the serotonin system that affects and controls ,in part, our moods. As "N-methylated" tryptamines, the molecule has very different effects on the mind. These "N-methylated" tryptamines, are now potent hallucinogenics, for instance, 5-hydroxy-NN-dimethyltryptamine is "psilocin", the active metabolite of hallucinogenic "magic" mushrooms. This has been explained as the fact that this molecule resembles 5-HT, but acts mostly at the 5-HT2 receptor, creating an imbalance in the action of normal 5-HT receptor workings, throwing a real "monkey wrench" into the working of the serotonin transporter system. Other NN-dimethylated tryptamines that are hallucinogenic are dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and various indole ring hydroxylated and methoxylated NN-dimethyltryptamines, found in the "cane toad poison" and certain south american vines of the "banisteriopsis" family (yopo snuff).
There are very small amounts of these tryptamines produced by many genera of plants, few, including mucuna, produce enough of them to be hallucinogenic, so you only have a few sources of potent NN-dmt's in nature.
So don't worry about hallucinogenics in your mucuna product. Concern yourself with the fact that there are no natural peripheral decarboxylase inhibitors in mucuna, so mucuna is more likely to give you dyskinesia.
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