CEBIL an American hallucinogenic plant in Botany books by
different authors
Dra Ariadna VIGLIONE SEDRONAR Buenos Aires
Prof Nelly VALLEJO Researcher Tucumaacuten
40th International Congress for the History of Pharmacy
Berliacuten
September 2011
Since the times of the American conquest in numerous Pharmacobotany textbooks by
American and European authors Cebil has been described as a hallucinogenic species
broadly used by indigenous peoples in different regions of South America
Let us start by citing what Prof Amorin used to say in his Botany classes ldquoLet us start
by a taxonomic identification of the specimen
Name Anad nanthera colubrina (Vell) Brenan
Origin of the scientific name Anadenanthera means without anther glands
SYNONIMS Acacia cebil Griseb
Acacia colubrina Mart
Acacia grata Willd
Anadenanthera colubrina var cebil (Griseb) Altschul 1964
Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell) Brenan var Colubrina 1988
Anadenanthera macrocarpa (Benth) Brenan
Mimosa colubrina Vell
Piptadenia cebil (Griseb) Griseb
Piptadenia hassleriana Chodat
Piptadenia hassleriana Chodat var fruticosa Chodat amp Hass
Piptadenia grata (Willd) JFMacbr
Piptadenia macrocarpa Benth
Piptadenia macrocarpa Benth var cebil (Griseb) Chodat amp Hass
Piptadenia macrocarpa Benth var genuina Chodat amp Hass
Piptadenia macrocarpa Benth var plurifoliata Hoehne
Piptadenia macrocarpa Benth var vestita Chodat amp Hass
Piptadenia microphylla Benth
Superkingdom Eukaryota
Kingdom Plantae
Division Magnoliophyta
Class Magnoliopsida
Order Fabales
Family Fabaceae
Subfamily Mimosoideae
Tribe Mimoseae
Gender Anadenanthera
Species A colubrina
Archeological studies have shown that in Andean societies the use of hallucinogenic
plants dates back from approximately 2000 AC Also thanks to the contribution of
ethnographic studies it is known that it was consumed by oral or nasal routes smoking
it in cigars or pipes consuming the plants or parts of the plant and in enemas
The Incas used a considerable number of substances with psychoactive properties both
for ritual ceremonies or for medicinal use The use of the natural drugs used by this
civilization dates back from the depths of time 16
Consumption of plants with psychotropic properties was very common in the pre-
hispanic world though common should not be understood as massive or for daily use
since it is known that consumption was restricted to religious ceremonies and was
consumed by a group of specialists
Plants with these properties capable of causing strange effects in humans interpreted at
that time as related to the magic and uncanny were considered sacred and attached
great importance in social and religious life like many elements of nature In the Inca
world in particular and in the pre-hispanic Andean world in general we find that this
plant was part of a universe where the natural and the cultural aspects were part of a
whole in which mountains were Apus or Gods that interacted with people in a dialogue
mediated by offers in a society that believed that rocks had a soul spirits lived in the
water springs and the death of a child could restore the balance of the universe In this
world Earth and the Sea manifested themselves as feminine deities (Pachamama y
Mamacocha) a dynamic world of unanimated objects with their own lives and feelings
In this cultural context a disease was the result of a ruptured balance with uncanny
forces materialized in elements of nature and the contact with deities could be
achieved under the effects of certain plants that had mysterious powers
The main wife of one of the Incas suffered from what is known today as depression she
was probably treated with vegetable substances with psychotropic properties Engraving
by Felipe Guamaacuten Poma de Ayala a colonial chronicler
This species is easily reproduced by seeds There is evidence that primitive inhabitants of
America made small plantations of the species
However there is no current data on the cultivation but it is presumed that there are
some given the importance of its wood and its excellent growth rate
In the Andes the tools most frequently used in connection with this habit were made of
ceramic rock or bones in the shape of pipes inhalation tubes and tablets Also there
are some artistic representations in petroglyphs and cave paintings that some researchers
interpret as representations of the consumption of these substances or else that they
were made under their effect
Distribution and habitat
Brazil Paraguay Argentina In Argentina it is found in the provinces of Jujuy Salta
Tucumaacuten Santiago del Estero Catamarca Formosa Chaco Misiones and Corrientes
A colubrina grows at altitudes of about 315-2200 m with roughly 250-600 mmyear
(10-24 inyr) of precipitation and a mean temperature of 21 degC It tends to grow on
rocky hillsides in well-drained soil often in the vicinity of rivers It grows quickly at 1-
15 myear in good conditions8 The growing areas are often savannah to dry
rainforest Flowering can begin in as soon as two years after germination
It is characteristic of the Tucumano-Bolivian forest and of the hilly area of the Parque
Chaquentildeo in the forest it is found at 400 to 800 masl mainly along the eastern
foothills It is rarely found in the North of Corrientes and the South of Misiones
The fruit is glabrous leguminosae linear coriaceous dehiscent along one suture
constricted of a reddish-brow color The seeds are brown smooth generally 8 to 15
seeds per fruit laterally compressed having a diameter of approximately 15 cm each
and an average weight of 0125 gr each The wood has a specific weight of 0840
kgdm3
Flowering occurs during spring and fruit are born from early December to the end of the
summer
Seeds germinate easily however they require care to grow into adult plants They are
very sensitive to fungal attack it is advisable to use fungicides Excessive humidity
makes the seeds susceptible to rotting thus they should not be watered in excess It
grows well in sunny areas in tropical and subtropical zones and is sensitive to frost
Anadenanthera colubrina (also known as vilca huilco curupaacutey wilco cebil angico anguo)
Other popular names are Cebil colorado curupay curupaiacute cebil moro (Argentina) Curupa-iacute
curupa-iacute pitaacute (Paraguay) Coboba cohoba yupa yopa parikaacute Kurupa hatax jataj Curupaiacute
Cebil moro (Argentina) This South American tree is closely related to the species yopo
Anadenanthera peregrina
It grows from 5 to 30 m tall (seldom up to 60 m) and its trunk 60-90 cm is very spiky2 The
bark is dark grey with conical protuberances The leaves are mimosa-like up to 30 cm in
length and they fold at night3 In the South of South America A colubrina produces flowers
from September to December and bean pods from September to July4
It is a thornless tree that grows from 10 to 25 m tall with a trunk of up to 60 cm in diameter
mammillated ruggy dark suberous bark and thin lenticelled brownish green glabrous twigs
Caducous alternate bipinnated leaves with multifoliate pinnas reaching from 7 to 20 cm in
length
In Brazil A colubrina has been given high priority conservation status5
The main active ingredient of vilca is calcium bufotenate (made from the bufotenin in
the beans) A colubrina contains 124 bufotenine16
Since bufotenate is quickly
metabolized its effects are short acting According to 1996 reports Wichi shamans use
Vilca actively under the name of hataacutej [Ott 2001 p90]17
It is said that Incas used to
consume the beads
In ancient Peruacute cebil (Villca) had great religious importance to the extent that high
rank priests and fortune tellers were called Villca Camayoc a sanctuary (huaca) was
called Vilcacona a worshiped mountain was called Vilca Coto a sacred mountain ridge
was and is called Vilcanota and it is thought that the name of the mythical city of
Vilcabamba in the vicinity of Machu Pichu is also related to this tree
In this cultural context a disease was the result of a ruptured balance with uncanny
forces materialized in elements of nature and the contact with deities could be
achieved under the effects of certain plants that had mysterious powers
Many researchers agree that the use of psychoactive substances was related to certain
mental diseases especially for the treatment of certain depressive disorders that affected
the Inca elite including close relatives of the governors such as the third Coya or
Mama Cora Ocllo the main wife of Lloque Yupanqui Inca Guzmaacuten Poma reports that
she used to eat very little drink chicha abundantly and cry all the time It is also known
that Mayta Capac the fourth Inca was a melancholic man and not very bright
Dibujo de un indiacutegena wichi consumiendo cebil durante una ceremonia
Tomado de Schultes y Hofmann 2000)
Hieronymus G (188288) pPiptadenia cebil = Acacia cebil nv cebil cebil
colorado writes
ldquohellip in the years when grass is scarce the leaves that fall in winter and get dry on the
floor are good feed for animals particularly cows The bark is very useful for tanneries
because it contains up to 10 tannin The wood has secondary value since it scratches
very easily it is used for rays and shafts of carriages door frames pitchforks columns
for thatched roof sheds plows and other applications mainly as fuelrdquo
In a comment added by I T (Inocencio Torino) to the Catalogue of Medicinal Plants of
Catamarca by F Schickendantz in Annals of the Argentine Medical Association Book
V page 122 cebil (the seeds) provoke abortion and it is said to prevent the
development of eggs in hens and leads to premature laying of the egg
The trunk and twigs secret a r esinous gum usually in abundance
Domiacutenguez JA (1928) CONTRIBUCIONES A LA MATERIA MEDICA
ARGENTINA Bs As Ed Peuser 1523 ndash 433 pp
States that in foliaceous-fluctiferous stems of Piptadenia macrocarpa collected in
January in the Botanic Gardens in the City of Buenos Aires no cianoglucosides
saponins or alkaloids were found however they did contain peroxidase and gum
Bufotenine and N-N-dimetiltriptamine were isolated from fruits and 5 metoxi-N-
metiltriptamine from the bark and stems
The bark may contain 10 to 30 tannins
This species is not listed in the Argentine National Pharmacopoeia
The bark is commonly used for medicinal and shamanic uses10 The gum is used to treat
infections of the upper respiratory tract as expectorant and also to alleviate cough12
Chemical compounds in A colubrina include
Bufotenine beans14
15
Bufotenine oxide beans14
NN-dimetiltriptamine beans10
pods10
NN-dimetiltriptamine oxide beans10
Pardal R (1937332-341) MEDICINA ABORIGEN AMERICANAN Ed Biblioteca
del Americanista Moderno BAs 1937 Chapter XV about Piptadenias contains a
synopsis and reports on the use of these species by the indigenous populations
He mentions that ldquothe powder of Piptadenia seeds and tobacco were the first substances
that Colon`s crew described they saw the Indians use as hallucinogens He wrote that
the Mataco indians of Chaco use ground seeds introducing them through the nasal
orifices
He cites that ldquoJesuit Father Ramoacuten Paneacute one of the first to send tobacco samples to
Europe reports that he saw that the natives in the Antilles inhaled or smoked a grey
powder like cinnamon that produced violent effects and was called Cohobardquo
Amoriacuten JL (197433-63) GUIA TAXONOMICA CON PLANTAS DE INTEREacuteS
FARMACUETICO Ed Publicaciones de la Academia Argentina de Farmacia y
Bioquimica Nordm1- 1974 writes that the powder obtained from roasted seeds of
Anadenanthera peregrina (L) Speg and other species of Anadenanthera mixed with
alkali ashes is known by the name of piptadenia and is used as hallucinogenic by
several South American indigenous tribes
As for A macrocarpa (Benth) Speg = Piptadenia macrocarpa Benth knwon by the
names of cebil cebil colorado curupay kurupaacute etc he writes that Galluppi mentions
that Semi-roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or
kurupa (a spell according to Montoya) that when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces
extasis The Guaraniacute Indians that prepared the kurupaacute and own the secret were called
kurupadyaras (probably the name given to the healer)
GA Iacobucci and EA Ruveda in a chemical study of Argentine Piptadenia species
transferred to other genders determined in 1963 that A macrocarpa (P macrocarpa)
was the richest in alkaloids and in the number of bases present in the different parts of
the plant
Bufotenine and N-N-dimetiltriptamine were isolated from seeds and sheaths
In the final Report of the Chaco Exploration Commission Arturo Seelstrang states
ldquoCurupay is a beautiful tree Its bark is commonly used by tanneries and it is very
important for trade with the neighbouring Province of Corrientes Its wood is very
pretty red with black streaks excellent for furniture The outer surface of its bark is
characterized by a large number of spiky protruberances and this is the reason why it
is called curupay that in guaraniacute language means mangy shellrdquo
(Seelstrang Arturo Informe de la Comisioacuten Exploradora del Chaco Primera Edicioacuten
Tipografiacutea y litografiacutea del Courier de la Plata Buenos Aires 1878 2a Edic EUDEBA
1977)
When describing the flora of Gran Chaco Luis Jorge Fontana makes reference to
cebil or curupay
ldquoThe curupay of the guaraniacute indians known by the name of cebil is abundant
throughout Chaco both inland and on the banks of the rivers the tree is very high and
can be easily distinguished by its ruggy bark a material used for industry its red wood
with black streaks is strong and very appropriate for construction We have two species
that are distinguished as curupay-naacute and curupay-ataacute and by white and black by the
natives and also in trade ((Fo ntana Luis Jorge El Gran Chaco Ed Se)
Boelcke O (1989158) p Anadenanthera colubrina var cebil = Piptadenia
macrocarpa (cebil colorado) rates this species as one of the most valuable trees in the
North of Argentina since its wood is very valuable and the bark is rich in tannins
Ragonese AE y Milano VA (1984147) citing Gallupi 1943 mentions that
Roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or kurupa that
when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces extasis
Acknowledgements
Botanical Museum of the School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry ldquoDr Juan A DOMINGUEZrdquo
University of Buenos Aires
(herbarium and collections)
Prof Dr Alberto Gurni Director of the Museum and Professor of Botany (who kindly
supervised and contributed documents for this paper)
SPONSOR
PRESIDENCIA DE LA NACION
Since the times of the American conquest in numerous Pharmacobotany textbooks by
American and European authors Cebil has been described as a hallucinogenic species
broadly used by indigenous peoples in different regions of South America
Let us start by citing what Prof Amorin used to say in his Botany classes ldquoLet us start
by a taxonomic identification of the specimen
Name Anad nanthera colubrina (Vell) Brenan
Origin of the scientific name Anadenanthera means without anther glands
SYNONIMS Acacia cebil Griseb
Acacia colubrina Mart
Acacia grata Willd
Anadenanthera colubrina var cebil (Griseb) Altschul 1964
Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell) Brenan var Colubrina 1988
Anadenanthera macrocarpa (Benth) Brenan
Mimosa colubrina Vell
Piptadenia cebil (Griseb) Griseb
Piptadenia hassleriana Chodat
Piptadenia hassleriana Chodat var fruticosa Chodat amp Hass
Piptadenia grata (Willd) JFMacbr
Piptadenia macrocarpa Benth
Piptadenia macrocarpa Benth var cebil (Griseb) Chodat amp Hass
Piptadenia macrocarpa Benth var genuina Chodat amp Hass
Piptadenia macrocarpa Benth var plurifoliata Hoehne
Piptadenia macrocarpa Benth var vestita Chodat amp Hass
Piptadenia microphylla Benth
Superkingdom Eukaryota
Kingdom Plantae
Division Magnoliophyta
Class Magnoliopsida
Order Fabales
Family Fabaceae
Subfamily Mimosoideae
Tribe Mimoseae
Gender Anadenanthera
Species A colubrina
Archeological studies have shown that in Andean societies the use of hallucinogenic
plants dates back from approximately 2000 AC Also thanks to the contribution of
ethnographic studies it is known that it was consumed by oral or nasal routes smoking
it in cigars or pipes consuming the plants or parts of the plant and in enemas
The Incas used a considerable number of substances with psychoactive properties both
for ritual ceremonies or for medicinal use The use of the natural drugs used by this
civilization dates back from the depths of time 16
Consumption of plants with psychotropic properties was very common in the pre-
hispanic world though common should not be understood as massive or for daily use
since it is known that consumption was restricted to religious ceremonies and was
consumed by a group of specialists
Plants with these properties capable of causing strange effects in humans interpreted at
that time as related to the magic and uncanny were considered sacred and attached
great importance in social and religious life like many elements of nature In the Inca
world in particular and in the pre-hispanic Andean world in general we find that this
plant was part of a universe where the natural and the cultural aspects were part of a
whole in which mountains were Apus or Gods that interacted with people in a dialogue
mediated by offers in a society that believed that rocks had a soul spirits lived in the
water springs and the death of a child could restore the balance of the universe In this
world Earth and the Sea manifested themselves as feminine deities (Pachamama y
Mamacocha) a dynamic world of unanimated objects with their own lives and feelings
In this cultural context a disease was the result of a ruptured balance with uncanny
forces materialized in elements of nature and the contact with deities could be
achieved under the effects of certain plants that had mysterious powers
The main wife of one of the Incas suffered from what is known today as depression she
was probably treated with vegetable substances with psychotropic properties Engraving
by Felipe Guamaacuten Poma de Ayala a colonial chronicler
This species is easily reproduced by seeds There is evidence that primitive inhabitants of
America made small plantations of the species
However there is no current data on the cultivation but it is presumed that there are
some given the importance of its wood and its excellent growth rate
In the Andes the tools most frequently used in connection with this habit were made of
ceramic rock or bones in the shape of pipes inhalation tubes and tablets Also there
are some artistic representations in petroglyphs and cave paintings that some researchers
interpret as representations of the consumption of these substances or else that they
were made under their effect
Distribution and habitat
Brazil Paraguay Argentina In Argentina it is found in the provinces of Jujuy Salta
Tucumaacuten Santiago del Estero Catamarca Formosa Chaco Misiones and Corrientes
A colubrina grows at altitudes of about 315-2200 m with roughly 250-600 mmyear
(10-24 inyr) of precipitation and a mean temperature of 21 degC It tends to grow on
rocky hillsides in well-drained soil often in the vicinity of rivers It grows quickly at 1-
15 myear in good conditions8 The growing areas are often savannah to dry
rainforest Flowering can begin in as soon as two years after germination
It is characteristic of the Tucumano-Bolivian forest and of the hilly area of the Parque
Chaquentildeo in the forest it is found at 400 to 800 masl mainly along the eastern
foothills It is rarely found in the North of Corrientes and the South of Misiones
The fruit is glabrous leguminosae linear coriaceous dehiscent along one suture
constricted of a reddish-brow color The seeds are brown smooth generally 8 to 15
seeds per fruit laterally compressed having a diameter of approximately 15 cm each
and an average weight of 0125 gr each The wood has a specific weight of 0840
kgdm3
Flowering occurs during spring and fruit are born from early December to the end of the
summer
Seeds germinate easily however they require care to grow into adult plants They are
very sensitive to fungal attack it is advisable to use fungicides Excessive humidity
makes the seeds susceptible to rotting thus they should not be watered in excess It
grows well in sunny areas in tropical and subtropical zones and is sensitive to frost
Anadenanthera colubrina (also known as vilca huilco curupaacutey wilco cebil angico anguo)
Other popular names are Cebil colorado curupay curupaiacute cebil moro (Argentina) Curupa-iacute
curupa-iacute pitaacute (Paraguay) Coboba cohoba yupa yopa parikaacute Kurupa hatax jataj Curupaiacute
Cebil moro (Argentina) This South American tree is closely related to the species yopo
Anadenanthera peregrina
It grows from 5 to 30 m tall (seldom up to 60 m) and its trunk 60-90 cm is very spiky2 The
bark is dark grey with conical protuberances The leaves are mimosa-like up to 30 cm in
length and they fold at night3 In the South of South America A colubrina produces flowers
from September to December and bean pods from September to July4
It is a thornless tree that grows from 10 to 25 m tall with a trunk of up to 60 cm in diameter
mammillated ruggy dark suberous bark and thin lenticelled brownish green glabrous twigs
Caducous alternate bipinnated leaves with multifoliate pinnas reaching from 7 to 20 cm in
length
In Brazil A colubrina has been given high priority conservation status5
The main active ingredient of vilca is calcium bufotenate (made from the bufotenin in
the beans) A colubrina contains 124 bufotenine16
Since bufotenate is quickly
metabolized its effects are short acting According to 1996 reports Wichi shamans use
Vilca actively under the name of hataacutej [Ott 2001 p90]17
It is said that Incas used to
consume the beads
In ancient Peruacute cebil (Villca) had great religious importance to the extent that high
rank priests and fortune tellers were called Villca Camayoc a sanctuary (huaca) was
called Vilcacona a worshiped mountain was called Vilca Coto a sacred mountain ridge
was and is called Vilcanota and it is thought that the name of the mythical city of
Vilcabamba in the vicinity of Machu Pichu is also related to this tree
In this cultural context a disease was the result of a ruptured balance with uncanny
forces materialized in elements of nature and the contact with deities could be
achieved under the effects of certain plants that had mysterious powers
Many researchers agree that the use of psychoactive substances was related to certain
mental diseases especially for the treatment of certain depressive disorders that affected
the Inca elite including close relatives of the governors such as the third Coya or
Mama Cora Ocllo the main wife of Lloque Yupanqui Inca Guzmaacuten Poma reports that
she used to eat very little drink chicha abundantly and cry all the time It is also known
that Mayta Capac the fourth Inca was a melancholic man and not very bright
Dibujo de un indiacutegena wichi consumiendo cebil durante una ceremonia
Tomado de Schultes y Hofmann 2000)
Hieronymus G (188288) pPiptadenia cebil = Acacia cebil nv cebil cebil
colorado writes
ldquohellip in the years when grass is scarce the leaves that fall in winter and get dry on the
floor are good feed for animals particularly cows The bark is very useful for tanneries
because it contains up to 10 tannin The wood has secondary value since it scratches
very easily it is used for rays and shafts of carriages door frames pitchforks columns
for thatched roof sheds plows and other applications mainly as fuelrdquo
In a comment added by I T (Inocencio Torino) to the Catalogue of Medicinal Plants of
Catamarca by F Schickendantz in Annals of the Argentine Medical Association Book
V page 122 cebil (the seeds) provoke abortion and it is said to prevent the
development of eggs in hens and leads to premature laying of the egg
The trunk and twigs secret a r esinous gum usually in abundance
Domiacutenguez JA (1928) CONTRIBUCIONES A LA MATERIA MEDICA
ARGENTINA Bs As Ed Peuser 1523 ndash 433 pp
States that in foliaceous-fluctiferous stems of Piptadenia macrocarpa collected in
January in the Botanic Gardens in the City of Buenos Aires no cianoglucosides
saponins or alkaloids were found however they did contain peroxidase and gum
Bufotenine and N-N-dimetiltriptamine were isolated from fruits and 5 metoxi-N-
metiltriptamine from the bark and stems
The bark may contain 10 to 30 tannins
This species is not listed in the Argentine National Pharmacopoeia
The bark is commonly used for medicinal and shamanic uses10 The gum is used to treat
infections of the upper respiratory tract as expectorant and also to alleviate cough12
Chemical compounds in A colubrina include
Bufotenine beans14
15
Bufotenine oxide beans14
NN-dimetiltriptamine beans10
pods10
NN-dimetiltriptamine oxide beans10
Pardal R (1937332-341) MEDICINA ABORIGEN AMERICANAN Ed Biblioteca
del Americanista Moderno BAs 1937 Chapter XV about Piptadenias contains a
synopsis and reports on the use of these species by the indigenous populations
He mentions that ldquothe powder of Piptadenia seeds and tobacco were the first substances
that Colon`s crew described they saw the Indians use as hallucinogens He wrote that
the Mataco indians of Chaco use ground seeds introducing them through the nasal
orifices
He cites that ldquoJesuit Father Ramoacuten Paneacute one of the first to send tobacco samples to
Europe reports that he saw that the natives in the Antilles inhaled or smoked a grey
powder like cinnamon that produced violent effects and was called Cohobardquo
Amoriacuten JL (197433-63) GUIA TAXONOMICA CON PLANTAS DE INTEREacuteS
FARMACUETICO Ed Publicaciones de la Academia Argentina de Farmacia y
Bioquimica Nordm1- 1974 writes that the powder obtained from roasted seeds of
Anadenanthera peregrina (L) Speg and other species of Anadenanthera mixed with
alkali ashes is known by the name of piptadenia and is used as hallucinogenic by
several South American indigenous tribes
As for A macrocarpa (Benth) Speg = Piptadenia macrocarpa Benth knwon by the
names of cebil cebil colorado curupay kurupaacute etc he writes that Galluppi mentions
that Semi-roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or
kurupa (a spell according to Montoya) that when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces
extasis The Guaraniacute Indians that prepared the kurupaacute and own the secret were called
kurupadyaras (probably the name given to the healer)
GA Iacobucci and EA Ruveda in a chemical study of Argentine Piptadenia species
transferred to other genders determined in 1963 that A macrocarpa (P macrocarpa)
was the richest in alkaloids and in the number of bases present in the different parts of
the plant
Bufotenine and N-N-dimetiltriptamine were isolated from seeds and sheaths
In the final Report of the Chaco Exploration Commission Arturo Seelstrang states
ldquoCurupay is a beautiful tree Its bark is commonly used by tanneries and it is very
important for trade with the neighbouring Province of Corrientes Its wood is very
pretty red with black streaks excellent for furniture The outer surface of its bark is
characterized by a large number of spiky protruberances and this is the reason why it
is called curupay that in guaraniacute language means mangy shellrdquo
(Seelstrang Arturo Informe de la Comisioacuten Exploradora del Chaco Primera Edicioacuten
Tipografiacutea y litografiacutea del Courier de la Plata Buenos Aires 1878 2a Edic EUDEBA
1977)
When describing the flora of Gran Chaco Luis Jorge Fontana makes reference to
cebil or curupay
ldquoThe curupay of the guaraniacute indians known by the name of cebil is abundant
throughout Chaco both inland and on the banks of the rivers the tree is very high and
can be easily distinguished by its ruggy bark a material used for industry its red wood
with black streaks is strong and very appropriate for construction We have two species
that are distinguished as curupay-naacute and curupay-ataacute and by white and black by the
natives and also in trade ((Fo ntana Luis Jorge El Gran Chaco Ed Se)
Boelcke O (1989158) p Anadenanthera colubrina var cebil = Piptadenia
macrocarpa (cebil colorado) rates this species as one of the most valuable trees in the
North of Argentina since its wood is very valuable and the bark is rich in tannins
Ragonese AE y Milano VA (1984147) citing Gallupi 1943 mentions that
Roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or kurupa that
when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces extasis
Acknowledgements
Botanical Museum of the School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry ldquoDr Juan A DOMINGUEZrdquo
University of Buenos Aires
(herbarium and collections)
Prof Dr Alberto Gurni Director of the Museum and Professor of Botany (who kindly
supervised and contributed documents for this paper)
SPONSOR
PRESIDENCIA DE LA NACION
Superkingdom Eukaryota
Kingdom Plantae
Division Magnoliophyta
Class Magnoliopsida
Order Fabales
Family Fabaceae
Subfamily Mimosoideae
Tribe Mimoseae
Gender Anadenanthera
Species A colubrina
Archeological studies have shown that in Andean societies the use of hallucinogenic
plants dates back from approximately 2000 AC Also thanks to the contribution of
ethnographic studies it is known that it was consumed by oral or nasal routes smoking
it in cigars or pipes consuming the plants or parts of the plant and in enemas
The Incas used a considerable number of substances with psychoactive properties both
for ritual ceremonies or for medicinal use The use of the natural drugs used by this
civilization dates back from the depths of time 16
Consumption of plants with psychotropic properties was very common in the pre-
hispanic world though common should not be understood as massive or for daily use
since it is known that consumption was restricted to religious ceremonies and was
consumed by a group of specialists
Plants with these properties capable of causing strange effects in humans interpreted at
that time as related to the magic and uncanny were considered sacred and attached
great importance in social and religious life like many elements of nature In the Inca
world in particular and in the pre-hispanic Andean world in general we find that this
plant was part of a universe where the natural and the cultural aspects were part of a
whole in which mountains were Apus or Gods that interacted with people in a dialogue
mediated by offers in a society that believed that rocks had a soul spirits lived in the
water springs and the death of a child could restore the balance of the universe In this
world Earth and the Sea manifested themselves as feminine deities (Pachamama y
Mamacocha) a dynamic world of unanimated objects with their own lives and feelings
In this cultural context a disease was the result of a ruptured balance with uncanny
forces materialized in elements of nature and the contact with deities could be
achieved under the effects of certain plants that had mysterious powers
The main wife of one of the Incas suffered from what is known today as depression she
was probably treated with vegetable substances with psychotropic properties Engraving
by Felipe Guamaacuten Poma de Ayala a colonial chronicler
This species is easily reproduced by seeds There is evidence that primitive inhabitants of
America made small plantations of the species
However there is no current data on the cultivation but it is presumed that there are
some given the importance of its wood and its excellent growth rate
In the Andes the tools most frequently used in connection with this habit were made of
ceramic rock or bones in the shape of pipes inhalation tubes and tablets Also there
are some artistic representations in petroglyphs and cave paintings that some researchers
interpret as representations of the consumption of these substances or else that they
were made under their effect
Distribution and habitat
Brazil Paraguay Argentina In Argentina it is found in the provinces of Jujuy Salta
Tucumaacuten Santiago del Estero Catamarca Formosa Chaco Misiones and Corrientes
A colubrina grows at altitudes of about 315-2200 m with roughly 250-600 mmyear
(10-24 inyr) of precipitation and a mean temperature of 21 degC It tends to grow on
rocky hillsides in well-drained soil often in the vicinity of rivers It grows quickly at 1-
15 myear in good conditions8 The growing areas are often savannah to dry
rainforest Flowering can begin in as soon as two years after germination
It is characteristic of the Tucumano-Bolivian forest and of the hilly area of the Parque
Chaquentildeo in the forest it is found at 400 to 800 masl mainly along the eastern
foothills It is rarely found in the North of Corrientes and the South of Misiones
The fruit is glabrous leguminosae linear coriaceous dehiscent along one suture
constricted of a reddish-brow color The seeds are brown smooth generally 8 to 15
seeds per fruit laterally compressed having a diameter of approximately 15 cm each
and an average weight of 0125 gr each The wood has a specific weight of 0840
kgdm3
Flowering occurs during spring and fruit are born from early December to the end of the
summer
Seeds germinate easily however they require care to grow into adult plants They are
very sensitive to fungal attack it is advisable to use fungicides Excessive humidity
makes the seeds susceptible to rotting thus they should not be watered in excess It
grows well in sunny areas in tropical and subtropical zones and is sensitive to frost
Anadenanthera colubrina (also known as vilca huilco curupaacutey wilco cebil angico anguo)
Other popular names are Cebil colorado curupay curupaiacute cebil moro (Argentina) Curupa-iacute
curupa-iacute pitaacute (Paraguay) Coboba cohoba yupa yopa parikaacute Kurupa hatax jataj Curupaiacute
Cebil moro (Argentina) This South American tree is closely related to the species yopo
Anadenanthera peregrina
It grows from 5 to 30 m tall (seldom up to 60 m) and its trunk 60-90 cm is very spiky2 The
bark is dark grey with conical protuberances The leaves are mimosa-like up to 30 cm in
length and they fold at night3 In the South of South America A colubrina produces flowers
from September to December and bean pods from September to July4
It is a thornless tree that grows from 10 to 25 m tall with a trunk of up to 60 cm in diameter
mammillated ruggy dark suberous bark and thin lenticelled brownish green glabrous twigs
Caducous alternate bipinnated leaves with multifoliate pinnas reaching from 7 to 20 cm in
length
In Brazil A colubrina has been given high priority conservation status5
The main active ingredient of vilca is calcium bufotenate (made from the bufotenin in
the beans) A colubrina contains 124 bufotenine16
Since bufotenate is quickly
metabolized its effects are short acting According to 1996 reports Wichi shamans use
Vilca actively under the name of hataacutej [Ott 2001 p90]17
It is said that Incas used to
consume the beads
In ancient Peruacute cebil (Villca) had great religious importance to the extent that high
rank priests and fortune tellers were called Villca Camayoc a sanctuary (huaca) was
called Vilcacona a worshiped mountain was called Vilca Coto a sacred mountain ridge
was and is called Vilcanota and it is thought that the name of the mythical city of
Vilcabamba in the vicinity of Machu Pichu is also related to this tree
In this cultural context a disease was the result of a ruptured balance with uncanny
forces materialized in elements of nature and the contact with deities could be
achieved under the effects of certain plants that had mysterious powers
Many researchers agree that the use of psychoactive substances was related to certain
mental diseases especially for the treatment of certain depressive disorders that affected
the Inca elite including close relatives of the governors such as the third Coya or
Mama Cora Ocllo the main wife of Lloque Yupanqui Inca Guzmaacuten Poma reports that
she used to eat very little drink chicha abundantly and cry all the time It is also known
that Mayta Capac the fourth Inca was a melancholic man and not very bright
Dibujo de un indiacutegena wichi consumiendo cebil durante una ceremonia
Tomado de Schultes y Hofmann 2000)
Hieronymus G (188288) pPiptadenia cebil = Acacia cebil nv cebil cebil
colorado writes
ldquohellip in the years when grass is scarce the leaves that fall in winter and get dry on the
floor are good feed for animals particularly cows The bark is very useful for tanneries
because it contains up to 10 tannin The wood has secondary value since it scratches
very easily it is used for rays and shafts of carriages door frames pitchforks columns
for thatched roof sheds plows and other applications mainly as fuelrdquo
In a comment added by I T (Inocencio Torino) to the Catalogue of Medicinal Plants of
Catamarca by F Schickendantz in Annals of the Argentine Medical Association Book
V page 122 cebil (the seeds) provoke abortion and it is said to prevent the
development of eggs in hens and leads to premature laying of the egg
The trunk and twigs secret a r esinous gum usually in abundance
Domiacutenguez JA (1928) CONTRIBUCIONES A LA MATERIA MEDICA
ARGENTINA Bs As Ed Peuser 1523 ndash 433 pp
States that in foliaceous-fluctiferous stems of Piptadenia macrocarpa collected in
January in the Botanic Gardens in the City of Buenos Aires no cianoglucosides
saponins or alkaloids were found however they did contain peroxidase and gum
Bufotenine and N-N-dimetiltriptamine were isolated from fruits and 5 metoxi-N-
metiltriptamine from the bark and stems
The bark may contain 10 to 30 tannins
This species is not listed in the Argentine National Pharmacopoeia
The bark is commonly used for medicinal and shamanic uses10 The gum is used to treat
infections of the upper respiratory tract as expectorant and also to alleviate cough12
Chemical compounds in A colubrina include
Bufotenine beans14
15
Bufotenine oxide beans14
NN-dimetiltriptamine beans10
pods10
NN-dimetiltriptamine oxide beans10
Pardal R (1937332-341) MEDICINA ABORIGEN AMERICANAN Ed Biblioteca
del Americanista Moderno BAs 1937 Chapter XV about Piptadenias contains a
synopsis and reports on the use of these species by the indigenous populations
He mentions that ldquothe powder of Piptadenia seeds and tobacco were the first substances
that Colon`s crew described they saw the Indians use as hallucinogens He wrote that
the Mataco indians of Chaco use ground seeds introducing them through the nasal
orifices
He cites that ldquoJesuit Father Ramoacuten Paneacute one of the first to send tobacco samples to
Europe reports that he saw that the natives in the Antilles inhaled or smoked a grey
powder like cinnamon that produced violent effects and was called Cohobardquo
Amoriacuten JL (197433-63) GUIA TAXONOMICA CON PLANTAS DE INTEREacuteS
FARMACUETICO Ed Publicaciones de la Academia Argentina de Farmacia y
Bioquimica Nordm1- 1974 writes that the powder obtained from roasted seeds of
Anadenanthera peregrina (L) Speg and other species of Anadenanthera mixed with
alkali ashes is known by the name of piptadenia and is used as hallucinogenic by
several South American indigenous tribes
As for A macrocarpa (Benth) Speg = Piptadenia macrocarpa Benth knwon by the
names of cebil cebil colorado curupay kurupaacute etc he writes that Galluppi mentions
that Semi-roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or
kurupa (a spell according to Montoya) that when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces
extasis The Guaraniacute Indians that prepared the kurupaacute and own the secret were called
kurupadyaras (probably the name given to the healer)
GA Iacobucci and EA Ruveda in a chemical study of Argentine Piptadenia species
transferred to other genders determined in 1963 that A macrocarpa (P macrocarpa)
was the richest in alkaloids and in the number of bases present in the different parts of
the plant
Bufotenine and N-N-dimetiltriptamine were isolated from seeds and sheaths
In the final Report of the Chaco Exploration Commission Arturo Seelstrang states
ldquoCurupay is a beautiful tree Its bark is commonly used by tanneries and it is very
important for trade with the neighbouring Province of Corrientes Its wood is very
pretty red with black streaks excellent for furniture The outer surface of its bark is
characterized by a large number of spiky protruberances and this is the reason why it
is called curupay that in guaraniacute language means mangy shellrdquo
(Seelstrang Arturo Informe de la Comisioacuten Exploradora del Chaco Primera Edicioacuten
Tipografiacutea y litografiacutea del Courier de la Plata Buenos Aires 1878 2a Edic EUDEBA
1977)
When describing the flora of Gran Chaco Luis Jorge Fontana makes reference to
cebil or curupay
ldquoThe curupay of the guaraniacute indians known by the name of cebil is abundant
throughout Chaco both inland and on the banks of the rivers the tree is very high and
can be easily distinguished by its ruggy bark a material used for industry its red wood
with black streaks is strong and very appropriate for construction We have two species
that are distinguished as curupay-naacute and curupay-ataacute and by white and black by the
natives and also in trade ((Fo ntana Luis Jorge El Gran Chaco Ed Se)
Boelcke O (1989158) p Anadenanthera colubrina var cebil = Piptadenia
macrocarpa (cebil colorado) rates this species as one of the most valuable trees in the
North of Argentina since its wood is very valuable and the bark is rich in tannins
Ragonese AE y Milano VA (1984147) citing Gallupi 1943 mentions that
Roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or kurupa that
when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces extasis
Acknowledgements
Botanical Museum of the School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry ldquoDr Juan A DOMINGUEZrdquo
University of Buenos Aires
(herbarium and collections)
Prof Dr Alberto Gurni Director of the Museum and Professor of Botany (who kindly
supervised and contributed documents for this paper)
SPONSOR
PRESIDENCIA DE LA NACION
mediated by offers in a society that believed that rocks had a soul spirits lived in the
water springs and the death of a child could restore the balance of the universe In this
world Earth and the Sea manifested themselves as feminine deities (Pachamama y
Mamacocha) a dynamic world of unanimated objects with their own lives and feelings
In this cultural context a disease was the result of a ruptured balance with uncanny
forces materialized in elements of nature and the contact with deities could be
achieved under the effects of certain plants that had mysterious powers
The main wife of one of the Incas suffered from what is known today as depression she
was probably treated with vegetable substances with psychotropic properties Engraving
by Felipe Guamaacuten Poma de Ayala a colonial chronicler
This species is easily reproduced by seeds There is evidence that primitive inhabitants of
America made small plantations of the species
However there is no current data on the cultivation but it is presumed that there are
some given the importance of its wood and its excellent growth rate
In the Andes the tools most frequently used in connection with this habit were made of
ceramic rock or bones in the shape of pipes inhalation tubes and tablets Also there
are some artistic representations in petroglyphs and cave paintings that some researchers
interpret as representations of the consumption of these substances or else that they
were made under their effect
Distribution and habitat
Brazil Paraguay Argentina In Argentina it is found in the provinces of Jujuy Salta
Tucumaacuten Santiago del Estero Catamarca Formosa Chaco Misiones and Corrientes
A colubrina grows at altitudes of about 315-2200 m with roughly 250-600 mmyear
(10-24 inyr) of precipitation and a mean temperature of 21 degC It tends to grow on
rocky hillsides in well-drained soil often in the vicinity of rivers It grows quickly at 1-
15 myear in good conditions8 The growing areas are often savannah to dry
rainforest Flowering can begin in as soon as two years after germination
It is characteristic of the Tucumano-Bolivian forest and of the hilly area of the Parque
Chaquentildeo in the forest it is found at 400 to 800 masl mainly along the eastern
foothills It is rarely found in the North of Corrientes and the South of Misiones
The fruit is glabrous leguminosae linear coriaceous dehiscent along one suture
constricted of a reddish-brow color The seeds are brown smooth generally 8 to 15
seeds per fruit laterally compressed having a diameter of approximately 15 cm each
and an average weight of 0125 gr each The wood has a specific weight of 0840
kgdm3
Flowering occurs during spring and fruit are born from early December to the end of the
summer
Seeds germinate easily however they require care to grow into adult plants They are
very sensitive to fungal attack it is advisable to use fungicides Excessive humidity
makes the seeds susceptible to rotting thus they should not be watered in excess It
grows well in sunny areas in tropical and subtropical zones and is sensitive to frost
Anadenanthera colubrina (also known as vilca huilco curupaacutey wilco cebil angico anguo)
Other popular names are Cebil colorado curupay curupaiacute cebil moro (Argentina) Curupa-iacute
curupa-iacute pitaacute (Paraguay) Coboba cohoba yupa yopa parikaacute Kurupa hatax jataj Curupaiacute
Cebil moro (Argentina) This South American tree is closely related to the species yopo
Anadenanthera peregrina
It grows from 5 to 30 m tall (seldom up to 60 m) and its trunk 60-90 cm is very spiky2 The
bark is dark grey with conical protuberances The leaves are mimosa-like up to 30 cm in
length and they fold at night3 In the South of South America A colubrina produces flowers
from September to December and bean pods from September to July4
It is a thornless tree that grows from 10 to 25 m tall with a trunk of up to 60 cm in diameter
mammillated ruggy dark suberous bark and thin lenticelled brownish green glabrous twigs
Caducous alternate bipinnated leaves with multifoliate pinnas reaching from 7 to 20 cm in
length
In Brazil A colubrina has been given high priority conservation status5
The main active ingredient of vilca is calcium bufotenate (made from the bufotenin in
the beans) A colubrina contains 124 bufotenine16
Since bufotenate is quickly
metabolized its effects are short acting According to 1996 reports Wichi shamans use
Vilca actively under the name of hataacutej [Ott 2001 p90]17
It is said that Incas used to
consume the beads
In ancient Peruacute cebil (Villca) had great religious importance to the extent that high
rank priests and fortune tellers were called Villca Camayoc a sanctuary (huaca) was
called Vilcacona a worshiped mountain was called Vilca Coto a sacred mountain ridge
was and is called Vilcanota and it is thought that the name of the mythical city of
Vilcabamba in the vicinity of Machu Pichu is also related to this tree
In this cultural context a disease was the result of a ruptured balance with uncanny
forces materialized in elements of nature and the contact with deities could be
achieved under the effects of certain plants that had mysterious powers
Many researchers agree that the use of psychoactive substances was related to certain
mental diseases especially for the treatment of certain depressive disorders that affected
the Inca elite including close relatives of the governors such as the third Coya or
Mama Cora Ocllo the main wife of Lloque Yupanqui Inca Guzmaacuten Poma reports that
she used to eat very little drink chicha abundantly and cry all the time It is also known
that Mayta Capac the fourth Inca was a melancholic man and not very bright
Dibujo de un indiacutegena wichi consumiendo cebil durante una ceremonia
Tomado de Schultes y Hofmann 2000)
Hieronymus G (188288) pPiptadenia cebil = Acacia cebil nv cebil cebil
colorado writes
ldquohellip in the years when grass is scarce the leaves that fall in winter and get dry on the
floor are good feed for animals particularly cows The bark is very useful for tanneries
because it contains up to 10 tannin The wood has secondary value since it scratches
very easily it is used for rays and shafts of carriages door frames pitchforks columns
for thatched roof sheds plows and other applications mainly as fuelrdquo
In a comment added by I T (Inocencio Torino) to the Catalogue of Medicinal Plants of
Catamarca by F Schickendantz in Annals of the Argentine Medical Association Book
V page 122 cebil (the seeds) provoke abortion and it is said to prevent the
development of eggs in hens and leads to premature laying of the egg
The trunk and twigs secret a r esinous gum usually in abundance
Domiacutenguez JA (1928) CONTRIBUCIONES A LA MATERIA MEDICA
ARGENTINA Bs As Ed Peuser 1523 ndash 433 pp
States that in foliaceous-fluctiferous stems of Piptadenia macrocarpa collected in
January in the Botanic Gardens in the City of Buenos Aires no cianoglucosides
saponins or alkaloids were found however they did contain peroxidase and gum
Bufotenine and N-N-dimetiltriptamine were isolated from fruits and 5 metoxi-N-
metiltriptamine from the bark and stems
The bark may contain 10 to 30 tannins
This species is not listed in the Argentine National Pharmacopoeia
The bark is commonly used for medicinal and shamanic uses10 The gum is used to treat
infections of the upper respiratory tract as expectorant and also to alleviate cough12
Chemical compounds in A colubrina include
Bufotenine beans14
15
Bufotenine oxide beans14
NN-dimetiltriptamine beans10
pods10
NN-dimetiltriptamine oxide beans10
Pardal R (1937332-341) MEDICINA ABORIGEN AMERICANAN Ed Biblioteca
del Americanista Moderno BAs 1937 Chapter XV about Piptadenias contains a
synopsis and reports on the use of these species by the indigenous populations
He mentions that ldquothe powder of Piptadenia seeds and tobacco were the first substances
that Colon`s crew described they saw the Indians use as hallucinogens He wrote that
the Mataco indians of Chaco use ground seeds introducing them through the nasal
orifices
He cites that ldquoJesuit Father Ramoacuten Paneacute one of the first to send tobacco samples to
Europe reports that he saw that the natives in the Antilles inhaled or smoked a grey
powder like cinnamon that produced violent effects and was called Cohobardquo
Amoriacuten JL (197433-63) GUIA TAXONOMICA CON PLANTAS DE INTEREacuteS
FARMACUETICO Ed Publicaciones de la Academia Argentina de Farmacia y
Bioquimica Nordm1- 1974 writes that the powder obtained from roasted seeds of
Anadenanthera peregrina (L) Speg and other species of Anadenanthera mixed with
alkali ashes is known by the name of piptadenia and is used as hallucinogenic by
several South American indigenous tribes
As for A macrocarpa (Benth) Speg = Piptadenia macrocarpa Benth knwon by the
names of cebil cebil colorado curupay kurupaacute etc he writes that Galluppi mentions
that Semi-roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or
kurupa (a spell according to Montoya) that when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces
extasis The Guaraniacute Indians that prepared the kurupaacute and own the secret were called
kurupadyaras (probably the name given to the healer)
GA Iacobucci and EA Ruveda in a chemical study of Argentine Piptadenia species
transferred to other genders determined in 1963 that A macrocarpa (P macrocarpa)
was the richest in alkaloids and in the number of bases present in the different parts of
the plant
Bufotenine and N-N-dimetiltriptamine were isolated from seeds and sheaths
In the final Report of the Chaco Exploration Commission Arturo Seelstrang states
ldquoCurupay is a beautiful tree Its bark is commonly used by tanneries and it is very
important for trade with the neighbouring Province of Corrientes Its wood is very
pretty red with black streaks excellent for furniture The outer surface of its bark is
characterized by a large number of spiky protruberances and this is the reason why it
is called curupay that in guaraniacute language means mangy shellrdquo
(Seelstrang Arturo Informe de la Comisioacuten Exploradora del Chaco Primera Edicioacuten
Tipografiacutea y litografiacutea del Courier de la Plata Buenos Aires 1878 2a Edic EUDEBA
1977)
When describing the flora of Gran Chaco Luis Jorge Fontana makes reference to
cebil or curupay
ldquoThe curupay of the guaraniacute indians known by the name of cebil is abundant
throughout Chaco both inland and on the banks of the rivers the tree is very high and
can be easily distinguished by its ruggy bark a material used for industry its red wood
with black streaks is strong and very appropriate for construction We have two species
that are distinguished as curupay-naacute and curupay-ataacute and by white and black by the
natives and also in trade ((Fo ntana Luis Jorge El Gran Chaco Ed Se)
Boelcke O (1989158) p Anadenanthera colubrina var cebil = Piptadenia
macrocarpa (cebil colorado) rates this species as one of the most valuable trees in the
North of Argentina since its wood is very valuable and the bark is rich in tannins
Ragonese AE y Milano VA (1984147) citing Gallupi 1943 mentions that
Roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or kurupa that
when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces extasis
Acknowledgements
Botanical Museum of the School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry ldquoDr Juan A DOMINGUEZrdquo
University of Buenos Aires
(herbarium and collections)
Prof Dr Alberto Gurni Director of the Museum and Professor of Botany (who kindly
supervised and contributed documents for this paper)
SPONSOR
PRESIDENCIA DE LA NACION
makes the seeds susceptible to rotting thus they should not be watered in excess It
grows well in sunny areas in tropical and subtropical zones and is sensitive to frost
Anadenanthera colubrina (also known as vilca huilco curupaacutey wilco cebil angico anguo)
Other popular names are Cebil colorado curupay curupaiacute cebil moro (Argentina) Curupa-iacute
curupa-iacute pitaacute (Paraguay) Coboba cohoba yupa yopa parikaacute Kurupa hatax jataj Curupaiacute
Cebil moro (Argentina) This South American tree is closely related to the species yopo
Anadenanthera peregrina
It grows from 5 to 30 m tall (seldom up to 60 m) and its trunk 60-90 cm is very spiky2 The
bark is dark grey with conical protuberances The leaves are mimosa-like up to 30 cm in
length and they fold at night3 In the South of South America A colubrina produces flowers
from September to December and bean pods from September to July4
It is a thornless tree that grows from 10 to 25 m tall with a trunk of up to 60 cm in diameter
mammillated ruggy dark suberous bark and thin lenticelled brownish green glabrous twigs
Caducous alternate bipinnated leaves with multifoliate pinnas reaching from 7 to 20 cm in
length
In Brazil A colubrina has been given high priority conservation status5
The main active ingredient of vilca is calcium bufotenate (made from the bufotenin in
the beans) A colubrina contains 124 bufotenine16
Since bufotenate is quickly
metabolized its effects are short acting According to 1996 reports Wichi shamans use
Vilca actively under the name of hataacutej [Ott 2001 p90]17
It is said that Incas used to
consume the beads
In ancient Peruacute cebil (Villca) had great religious importance to the extent that high
rank priests and fortune tellers were called Villca Camayoc a sanctuary (huaca) was
called Vilcacona a worshiped mountain was called Vilca Coto a sacred mountain ridge
was and is called Vilcanota and it is thought that the name of the mythical city of
Vilcabamba in the vicinity of Machu Pichu is also related to this tree
In this cultural context a disease was the result of a ruptured balance with uncanny
forces materialized in elements of nature and the contact with deities could be
achieved under the effects of certain plants that had mysterious powers
Many researchers agree that the use of psychoactive substances was related to certain
mental diseases especially for the treatment of certain depressive disorders that affected
the Inca elite including close relatives of the governors such as the third Coya or
Mama Cora Ocllo the main wife of Lloque Yupanqui Inca Guzmaacuten Poma reports that
she used to eat very little drink chicha abundantly and cry all the time It is also known
that Mayta Capac the fourth Inca was a melancholic man and not very bright
Dibujo de un indiacutegena wichi consumiendo cebil durante una ceremonia
Tomado de Schultes y Hofmann 2000)
Hieronymus G (188288) pPiptadenia cebil = Acacia cebil nv cebil cebil
colorado writes
ldquohellip in the years when grass is scarce the leaves that fall in winter and get dry on the
floor are good feed for animals particularly cows The bark is very useful for tanneries
because it contains up to 10 tannin The wood has secondary value since it scratches
very easily it is used for rays and shafts of carriages door frames pitchforks columns
for thatched roof sheds plows and other applications mainly as fuelrdquo
In a comment added by I T (Inocencio Torino) to the Catalogue of Medicinal Plants of
Catamarca by F Schickendantz in Annals of the Argentine Medical Association Book
V page 122 cebil (the seeds) provoke abortion and it is said to prevent the
development of eggs in hens and leads to premature laying of the egg
The trunk and twigs secret a r esinous gum usually in abundance
Domiacutenguez JA (1928) CONTRIBUCIONES A LA MATERIA MEDICA
ARGENTINA Bs As Ed Peuser 1523 ndash 433 pp
States that in foliaceous-fluctiferous stems of Piptadenia macrocarpa collected in
January in the Botanic Gardens in the City of Buenos Aires no cianoglucosides
saponins or alkaloids were found however they did contain peroxidase and gum
Bufotenine and N-N-dimetiltriptamine were isolated from fruits and 5 metoxi-N-
metiltriptamine from the bark and stems
The bark may contain 10 to 30 tannins
This species is not listed in the Argentine National Pharmacopoeia
The bark is commonly used for medicinal and shamanic uses10 The gum is used to treat
infections of the upper respiratory tract as expectorant and also to alleviate cough12
Chemical compounds in A colubrina include
Bufotenine beans14
15
Bufotenine oxide beans14
NN-dimetiltriptamine beans10
pods10
NN-dimetiltriptamine oxide beans10
Pardal R (1937332-341) MEDICINA ABORIGEN AMERICANAN Ed Biblioteca
del Americanista Moderno BAs 1937 Chapter XV about Piptadenias contains a
synopsis and reports on the use of these species by the indigenous populations
He mentions that ldquothe powder of Piptadenia seeds and tobacco were the first substances
that Colon`s crew described they saw the Indians use as hallucinogens He wrote that
the Mataco indians of Chaco use ground seeds introducing them through the nasal
orifices
He cites that ldquoJesuit Father Ramoacuten Paneacute one of the first to send tobacco samples to
Europe reports that he saw that the natives in the Antilles inhaled or smoked a grey
powder like cinnamon that produced violent effects and was called Cohobardquo
Amoriacuten JL (197433-63) GUIA TAXONOMICA CON PLANTAS DE INTEREacuteS
FARMACUETICO Ed Publicaciones de la Academia Argentina de Farmacia y
Bioquimica Nordm1- 1974 writes that the powder obtained from roasted seeds of
Anadenanthera peregrina (L) Speg and other species of Anadenanthera mixed with
alkali ashes is known by the name of piptadenia and is used as hallucinogenic by
several South American indigenous tribes
As for A macrocarpa (Benth) Speg = Piptadenia macrocarpa Benth knwon by the
names of cebil cebil colorado curupay kurupaacute etc he writes that Galluppi mentions
that Semi-roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or
kurupa (a spell according to Montoya) that when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces
extasis The Guaraniacute Indians that prepared the kurupaacute and own the secret were called
kurupadyaras (probably the name given to the healer)
GA Iacobucci and EA Ruveda in a chemical study of Argentine Piptadenia species
transferred to other genders determined in 1963 that A macrocarpa (P macrocarpa)
was the richest in alkaloids and in the number of bases present in the different parts of
the plant
Bufotenine and N-N-dimetiltriptamine were isolated from seeds and sheaths
In the final Report of the Chaco Exploration Commission Arturo Seelstrang states
ldquoCurupay is a beautiful tree Its bark is commonly used by tanneries and it is very
important for trade with the neighbouring Province of Corrientes Its wood is very
pretty red with black streaks excellent for furniture The outer surface of its bark is
characterized by a large number of spiky protruberances and this is the reason why it
is called curupay that in guaraniacute language means mangy shellrdquo
(Seelstrang Arturo Informe de la Comisioacuten Exploradora del Chaco Primera Edicioacuten
Tipografiacutea y litografiacutea del Courier de la Plata Buenos Aires 1878 2a Edic EUDEBA
1977)
When describing the flora of Gran Chaco Luis Jorge Fontana makes reference to
cebil or curupay
ldquoThe curupay of the guaraniacute indians known by the name of cebil is abundant
throughout Chaco both inland and on the banks of the rivers the tree is very high and
can be easily distinguished by its ruggy bark a material used for industry its red wood
with black streaks is strong and very appropriate for construction We have two species
that are distinguished as curupay-naacute and curupay-ataacute and by white and black by the
natives and also in trade ((Fo ntana Luis Jorge El Gran Chaco Ed Se)
Boelcke O (1989158) p Anadenanthera colubrina var cebil = Piptadenia
macrocarpa (cebil colorado) rates this species as one of the most valuable trees in the
North of Argentina since its wood is very valuable and the bark is rich in tannins
Ragonese AE y Milano VA (1984147) citing Gallupi 1943 mentions that
Roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or kurupa that
when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces extasis
Acknowledgements
Botanical Museum of the School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry ldquoDr Juan A DOMINGUEZrdquo
University of Buenos Aires
(herbarium and collections)
Prof Dr Alberto Gurni Director of the Museum and Professor of Botany (who kindly
supervised and contributed documents for this paper)
SPONSOR
PRESIDENCIA DE LA NACION
It grows from 5 to 30 m tall (seldom up to 60 m) and its trunk 60-90 cm is very spiky2 The
bark is dark grey with conical protuberances The leaves are mimosa-like up to 30 cm in
length and they fold at night3 In the South of South America A colubrina produces flowers
from September to December and bean pods from September to July4
It is a thornless tree that grows from 10 to 25 m tall with a trunk of up to 60 cm in diameter
mammillated ruggy dark suberous bark and thin lenticelled brownish green glabrous twigs
Caducous alternate bipinnated leaves with multifoliate pinnas reaching from 7 to 20 cm in
length
In Brazil A colubrina has been given high priority conservation status5
The main active ingredient of vilca is calcium bufotenate (made from the bufotenin in
the beans) A colubrina contains 124 bufotenine16
Since bufotenate is quickly
metabolized its effects are short acting According to 1996 reports Wichi shamans use
Vilca actively under the name of hataacutej [Ott 2001 p90]17
It is said that Incas used to
consume the beads
In ancient Peruacute cebil (Villca) had great religious importance to the extent that high
rank priests and fortune tellers were called Villca Camayoc a sanctuary (huaca) was
called Vilcacona a worshiped mountain was called Vilca Coto a sacred mountain ridge
was and is called Vilcanota and it is thought that the name of the mythical city of
Vilcabamba in the vicinity of Machu Pichu is also related to this tree
In this cultural context a disease was the result of a ruptured balance with uncanny
forces materialized in elements of nature and the contact with deities could be
achieved under the effects of certain plants that had mysterious powers
Many researchers agree that the use of psychoactive substances was related to certain
mental diseases especially for the treatment of certain depressive disorders that affected
the Inca elite including close relatives of the governors such as the third Coya or
Mama Cora Ocllo the main wife of Lloque Yupanqui Inca Guzmaacuten Poma reports that
she used to eat very little drink chicha abundantly and cry all the time It is also known
that Mayta Capac the fourth Inca was a melancholic man and not very bright
Dibujo de un indiacutegena wichi consumiendo cebil durante una ceremonia
Tomado de Schultes y Hofmann 2000)
Hieronymus G (188288) pPiptadenia cebil = Acacia cebil nv cebil cebil
colorado writes
ldquohellip in the years when grass is scarce the leaves that fall in winter and get dry on the
floor are good feed for animals particularly cows The bark is very useful for tanneries
because it contains up to 10 tannin The wood has secondary value since it scratches
very easily it is used for rays and shafts of carriages door frames pitchforks columns
for thatched roof sheds plows and other applications mainly as fuelrdquo
In a comment added by I T (Inocencio Torino) to the Catalogue of Medicinal Plants of
Catamarca by F Schickendantz in Annals of the Argentine Medical Association Book
V page 122 cebil (the seeds) provoke abortion and it is said to prevent the
development of eggs in hens and leads to premature laying of the egg
The trunk and twigs secret a r esinous gum usually in abundance
Domiacutenguez JA (1928) CONTRIBUCIONES A LA MATERIA MEDICA
ARGENTINA Bs As Ed Peuser 1523 ndash 433 pp
States that in foliaceous-fluctiferous stems of Piptadenia macrocarpa collected in
January in the Botanic Gardens in the City of Buenos Aires no cianoglucosides
saponins or alkaloids were found however they did contain peroxidase and gum
Bufotenine and N-N-dimetiltriptamine were isolated from fruits and 5 metoxi-N-
metiltriptamine from the bark and stems
The bark may contain 10 to 30 tannins
This species is not listed in the Argentine National Pharmacopoeia
The bark is commonly used for medicinal and shamanic uses10 The gum is used to treat
infections of the upper respiratory tract as expectorant and also to alleviate cough12
Chemical compounds in A colubrina include
Bufotenine beans14
15
Bufotenine oxide beans14
NN-dimetiltriptamine beans10
pods10
NN-dimetiltriptamine oxide beans10
Pardal R (1937332-341) MEDICINA ABORIGEN AMERICANAN Ed Biblioteca
del Americanista Moderno BAs 1937 Chapter XV about Piptadenias contains a
synopsis and reports on the use of these species by the indigenous populations
He mentions that ldquothe powder of Piptadenia seeds and tobacco were the first substances
that Colon`s crew described they saw the Indians use as hallucinogens He wrote that
the Mataco indians of Chaco use ground seeds introducing them through the nasal
orifices
He cites that ldquoJesuit Father Ramoacuten Paneacute one of the first to send tobacco samples to
Europe reports that he saw that the natives in the Antilles inhaled or smoked a grey
powder like cinnamon that produced violent effects and was called Cohobardquo
Amoriacuten JL (197433-63) GUIA TAXONOMICA CON PLANTAS DE INTEREacuteS
FARMACUETICO Ed Publicaciones de la Academia Argentina de Farmacia y
Bioquimica Nordm1- 1974 writes that the powder obtained from roasted seeds of
Anadenanthera peregrina (L) Speg and other species of Anadenanthera mixed with
alkali ashes is known by the name of piptadenia and is used as hallucinogenic by
several South American indigenous tribes
As for A macrocarpa (Benth) Speg = Piptadenia macrocarpa Benth knwon by the
names of cebil cebil colorado curupay kurupaacute etc he writes that Galluppi mentions
that Semi-roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or
kurupa (a spell according to Montoya) that when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces
extasis The Guaraniacute Indians that prepared the kurupaacute and own the secret were called
kurupadyaras (probably the name given to the healer)
GA Iacobucci and EA Ruveda in a chemical study of Argentine Piptadenia species
transferred to other genders determined in 1963 that A macrocarpa (P macrocarpa)
was the richest in alkaloids and in the number of bases present in the different parts of
the plant
Bufotenine and N-N-dimetiltriptamine were isolated from seeds and sheaths
In the final Report of the Chaco Exploration Commission Arturo Seelstrang states
ldquoCurupay is a beautiful tree Its bark is commonly used by tanneries and it is very
important for trade with the neighbouring Province of Corrientes Its wood is very
pretty red with black streaks excellent for furniture The outer surface of its bark is
characterized by a large number of spiky protruberances and this is the reason why it
is called curupay that in guaraniacute language means mangy shellrdquo
(Seelstrang Arturo Informe de la Comisioacuten Exploradora del Chaco Primera Edicioacuten
Tipografiacutea y litografiacutea del Courier de la Plata Buenos Aires 1878 2a Edic EUDEBA
1977)
When describing the flora of Gran Chaco Luis Jorge Fontana makes reference to
cebil or curupay
ldquoThe curupay of the guaraniacute indians known by the name of cebil is abundant
throughout Chaco both inland and on the banks of the rivers the tree is very high and
can be easily distinguished by its ruggy bark a material used for industry its red wood
with black streaks is strong and very appropriate for construction We have two species
that are distinguished as curupay-naacute and curupay-ataacute and by white and black by the
natives and also in trade ((Fo ntana Luis Jorge El Gran Chaco Ed Se)
Boelcke O (1989158) p Anadenanthera colubrina var cebil = Piptadenia
macrocarpa (cebil colorado) rates this species as one of the most valuable trees in the
North of Argentina since its wood is very valuable and the bark is rich in tannins
Ragonese AE y Milano VA (1984147) citing Gallupi 1943 mentions that
Roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or kurupa that
when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces extasis
Acknowledgements
Botanical Museum of the School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry ldquoDr Juan A DOMINGUEZrdquo
University of Buenos Aires
(herbarium and collections)
Prof Dr Alberto Gurni Director of the Museum and Professor of Botany (who kindly
supervised and contributed documents for this paper)
SPONSOR
PRESIDENCIA DE LA NACION
Dibujo de un indiacutegena wichi consumiendo cebil durante una ceremonia
Tomado de Schultes y Hofmann 2000)
Hieronymus G (188288) pPiptadenia cebil = Acacia cebil nv cebil cebil
colorado writes
ldquohellip in the years when grass is scarce the leaves that fall in winter and get dry on the
floor are good feed for animals particularly cows The bark is very useful for tanneries
because it contains up to 10 tannin The wood has secondary value since it scratches
very easily it is used for rays and shafts of carriages door frames pitchforks columns
for thatched roof sheds plows and other applications mainly as fuelrdquo
In a comment added by I T (Inocencio Torino) to the Catalogue of Medicinal Plants of
Catamarca by F Schickendantz in Annals of the Argentine Medical Association Book
V page 122 cebil (the seeds) provoke abortion and it is said to prevent the
development of eggs in hens and leads to premature laying of the egg
The trunk and twigs secret a r esinous gum usually in abundance
Domiacutenguez JA (1928) CONTRIBUCIONES A LA MATERIA MEDICA
ARGENTINA Bs As Ed Peuser 1523 ndash 433 pp
States that in foliaceous-fluctiferous stems of Piptadenia macrocarpa collected in
January in the Botanic Gardens in the City of Buenos Aires no cianoglucosides
saponins or alkaloids were found however they did contain peroxidase and gum
Bufotenine and N-N-dimetiltriptamine were isolated from fruits and 5 metoxi-N-
metiltriptamine from the bark and stems
The bark may contain 10 to 30 tannins
This species is not listed in the Argentine National Pharmacopoeia
The bark is commonly used for medicinal and shamanic uses10 The gum is used to treat
infections of the upper respiratory tract as expectorant and also to alleviate cough12
Chemical compounds in A colubrina include
Bufotenine beans14
15
Bufotenine oxide beans14
NN-dimetiltriptamine beans10
pods10
NN-dimetiltriptamine oxide beans10
Pardal R (1937332-341) MEDICINA ABORIGEN AMERICANAN Ed Biblioteca
del Americanista Moderno BAs 1937 Chapter XV about Piptadenias contains a
synopsis and reports on the use of these species by the indigenous populations
He mentions that ldquothe powder of Piptadenia seeds and tobacco were the first substances
that Colon`s crew described they saw the Indians use as hallucinogens He wrote that
the Mataco indians of Chaco use ground seeds introducing them through the nasal
orifices
He cites that ldquoJesuit Father Ramoacuten Paneacute one of the first to send tobacco samples to
Europe reports that he saw that the natives in the Antilles inhaled or smoked a grey
powder like cinnamon that produced violent effects and was called Cohobardquo
Amoriacuten JL (197433-63) GUIA TAXONOMICA CON PLANTAS DE INTEREacuteS
FARMACUETICO Ed Publicaciones de la Academia Argentina de Farmacia y
Bioquimica Nordm1- 1974 writes that the powder obtained from roasted seeds of
Anadenanthera peregrina (L) Speg and other species of Anadenanthera mixed with
alkali ashes is known by the name of piptadenia and is used as hallucinogenic by
several South American indigenous tribes
As for A macrocarpa (Benth) Speg = Piptadenia macrocarpa Benth knwon by the
names of cebil cebil colorado curupay kurupaacute etc he writes that Galluppi mentions
that Semi-roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or
kurupa (a spell according to Montoya) that when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces
extasis The Guaraniacute Indians that prepared the kurupaacute and own the secret were called
kurupadyaras (probably the name given to the healer)
GA Iacobucci and EA Ruveda in a chemical study of Argentine Piptadenia species
transferred to other genders determined in 1963 that A macrocarpa (P macrocarpa)
was the richest in alkaloids and in the number of bases present in the different parts of
the plant
Bufotenine and N-N-dimetiltriptamine were isolated from seeds and sheaths
In the final Report of the Chaco Exploration Commission Arturo Seelstrang states
ldquoCurupay is a beautiful tree Its bark is commonly used by tanneries and it is very
important for trade with the neighbouring Province of Corrientes Its wood is very
pretty red with black streaks excellent for furniture The outer surface of its bark is
characterized by a large number of spiky protruberances and this is the reason why it
is called curupay that in guaraniacute language means mangy shellrdquo
(Seelstrang Arturo Informe de la Comisioacuten Exploradora del Chaco Primera Edicioacuten
Tipografiacutea y litografiacutea del Courier de la Plata Buenos Aires 1878 2a Edic EUDEBA
1977)
When describing the flora of Gran Chaco Luis Jorge Fontana makes reference to
cebil or curupay
ldquoThe curupay of the guaraniacute indians known by the name of cebil is abundant
throughout Chaco both inland and on the banks of the rivers the tree is very high and
can be easily distinguished by its ruggy bark a material used for industry its red wood
with black streaks is strong and very appropriate for construction We have two species
that are distinguished as curupay-naacute and curupay-ataacute and by white and black by the
natives and also in trade ((Fo ntana Luis Jorge El Gran Chaco Ed Se)
Boelcke O (1989158) p Anadenanthera colubrina var cebil = Piptadenia
macrocarpa (cebil colorado) rates this species as one of the most valuable trees in the
North of Argentina since its wood is very valuable and the bark is rich in tannins
Ragonese AE y Milano VA (1984147) citing Gallupi 1943 mentions that
Roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or kurupa that
when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces extasis
Acknowledgements
Botanical Museum of the School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry ldquoDr Juan A DOMINGUEZrdquo
University of Buenos Aires
(herbarium and collections)
Prof Dr Alberto Gurni Director of the Museum and Professor of Botany (who kindly
supervised and contributed documents for this paper)
SPONSOR
PRESIDENCIA DE LA NACION
Domiacutenguez JA (1928) CONTRIBUCIONES A LA MATERIA MEDICA
ARGENTINA Bs As Ed Peuser 1523 ndash 433 pp
States that in foliaceous-fluctiferous stems of Piptadenia macrocarpa collected in
January in the Botanic Gardens in the City of Buenos Aires no cianoglucosides
saponins or alkaloids were found however they did contain peroxidase and gum
Bufotenine and N-N-dimetiltriptamine were isolated from fruits and 5 metoxi-N-
metiltriptamine from the bark and stems
The bark may contain 10 to 30 tannins
This species is not listed in the Argentine National Pharmacopoeia
The bark is commonly used for medicinal and shamanic uses10 The gum is used to treat
infections of the upper respiratory tract as expectorant and also to alleviate cough12
Chemical compounds in A colubrina include
Bufotenine beans14
15
Bufotenine oxide beans14
NN-dimetiltriptamine beans10
pods10
NN-dimetiltriptamine oxide beans10
Pardal R (1937332-341) MEDICINA ABORIGEN AMERICANAN Ed Biblioteca
del Americanista Moderno BAs 1937 Chapter XV about Piptadenias contains a
synopsis and reports on the use of these species by the indigenous populations
He mentions that ldquothe powder of Piptadenia seeds and tobacco were the first substances
that Colon`s crew described they saw the Indians use as hallucinogens He wrote that
the Mataco indians of Chaco use ground seeds introducing them through the nasal
orifices
He cites that ldquoJesuit Father Ramoacuten Paneacute one of the first to send tobacco samples to
Europe reports that he saw that the natives in the Antilles inhaled or smoked a grey
powder like cinnamon that produced violent effects and was called Cohobardquo
Amoriacuten JL (197433-63) GUIA TAXONOMICA CON PLANTAS DE INTEREacuteS
FARMACUETICO Ed Publicaciones de la Academia Argentina de Farmacia y
Bioquimica Nordm1- 1974 writes that the powder obtained from roasted seeds of
Anadenanthera peregrina (L) Speg and other species of Anadenanthera mixed with
alkali ashes is known by the name of piptadenia and is used as hallucinogenic by
several South American indigenous tribes
As for A macrocarpa (Benth) Speg = Piptadenia macrocarpa Benth knwon by the
names of cebil cebil colorado curupay kurupaacute etc he writes that Galluppi mentions
that Semi-roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or
kurupa (a spell according to Montoya) that when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces
extasis The Guaraniacute Indians that prepared the kurupaacute and own the secret were called
kurupadyaras (probably the name given to the healer)
GA Iacobucci and EA Ruveda in a chemical study of Argentine Piptadenia species
transferred to other genders determined in 1963 that A macrocarpa (P macrocarpa)
was the richest in alkaloids and in the number of bases present in the different parts of
the plant
Bufotenine and N-N-dimetiltriptamine were isolated from seeds and sheaths
In the final Report of the Chaco Exploration Commission Arturo Seelstrang states
ldquoCurupay is a beautiful tree Its bark is commonly used by tanneries and it is very
important for trade with the neighbouring Province of Corrientes Its wood is very
pretty red with black streaks excellent for furniture The outer surface of its bark is
characterized by a large number of spiky protruberances and this is the reason why it
is called curupay that in guaraniacute language means mangy shellrdquo
(Seelstrang Arturo Informe de la Comisioacuten Exploradora del Chaco Primera Edicioacuten
Tipografiacutea y litografiacutea del Courier de la Plata Buenos Aires 1878 2a Edic EUDEBA
1977)
When describing the flora of Gran Chaco Luis Jorge Fontana makes reference to
cebil or curupay
ldquoThe curupay of the guaraniacute indians known by the name of cebil is abundant
throughout Chaco both inland and on the banks of the rivers the tree is very high and
can be easily distinguished by its ruggy bark a material used for industry its red wood
with black streaks is strong and very appropriate for construction We have two species
that are distinguished as curupay-naacute and curupay-ataacute and by white and black by the
natives and also in trade ((Fo ntana Luis Jorge El Gran Chaco Ed Se)
Boelcke O (1989158) p Anadenanthera colubrina var cebil = Piptadenia
macrocarpa (cebil colorado) rates this species as one of the most valuable trees in the
North of Argentina since its wood is very valuable and the bark is rich in tannins
Ragonese AE y Milano VA (1984147) citing Gallupi 1943 mentions that
Roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or kurupa that
when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces extasis
Acknowledgements
Botanical Museum of the School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry ldquoDr Juan A DOMINGUEZrdquo
University of Buenos Aires
(herbarium and collections)
Prof Dr Alberto Gurni Director of the Museum and Professor of Botany (who kindly
supervised and contributed documents for this paper)
SPONSOR
PRESIDENCIA DE LA NACION
Pardal R (1937332-341) MEDICINA ABORIGEN AMERICANAN Ed Biblioteca
del Americanista Moderno BAs 1937 Chapter XV about Piptadenias contains a
synopsis and reports on the use of these species by the indigenous populations
He mentions that ldquothe powder of Piptadenia seeds and tobacco were the first substances
that Colon`s crew described they saw the Indians use as hallucinogens He wrote that
the Mataco indians of Chaco use ground seeds introducing them through the nasal
orifices
He cites that ldquoJesuit Father Ramoacuten Paneacute one of the first to send tobacco samples to
Europe reports that he saw that the natives in the Antilles inhaled or smoked a grey
powder like cinnamon that produced violent effects and was called Cohobardquo
Amoriacuten JL (197433-63) GUIA TAXONOMICA CON PLANTAS DE INTEREacuteS
FARMACUETICO Ed Publicaciones de la Academia Argentina de Farmacia y
Bioquimica Nordm1- 1974 writes that the powder obtained from roasted seeds of
Anadenanthera peregrina (L) Speg and other species of Anadenanthera mixed with
alkali ashes is known by the name of piptadenia and is used as hallucinogenic by
several South American indigenous tribes
As for A macrocarpa (Benth) Speg = Piptadenia macrocarpa Benth knwon by the
names of cebil cebil colorado curupay kurupaacute etc he writes that Galluppi mentions
that Semi-roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or
kurupa (a spell according to Montoya) that when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces
extasis The Guaraniacute Indians that prepared the kurupaacute and own the secret were called
kurupadyaras (probably the name given to the healer)
GA Iacobucci and EA Ruveda in a chemical study of Argentine Piptadenia species
transferred to other genders determined in 1963 that A macrocarpa (P macrocarpa)
was the richest in alkaloids and in the number of bases present in the different parts of
the plant
Bufotenine and N-N-dimetiltriptamine were isolated from seeds and sheaths
In the final Report of the Chaco Exploration Commission Arturo Seelstrang states
ldquoCurupay is a beautiful tree Its bark is commonly used by tanneries and it is very
important for trade with the neighbouring Province of Corrientes Its wood is very
pretty red with black streaks excellent for furniture The outer surface of its bark is
characterized by a large number of spiky protruberances and this is the reason why it
is called curupay that in guaraniacute language means mangy shellrdquo
(Seelstrang Arturo Informe de la Comisioacuten Exploradora del Chaco Primera Edicioacuten
Tipografiacutea y litografiacutea del Courier de la Plata Buenos Aires 1878 2a Edic EUDEBA
1977)
When describing the flora of Gran Chaco Luis Jorge Fontana makes reference to
cebil or curupay
ldquoThe curupay of the guaraniacute indians known by the name of cebil is abundant
throughout Chaco both inland and on the banks of the rivers the tree is very high and
can be easily distinguished by its ruggy bark a material used for industry its red wood
with black streaks is strong and very appropriate for construction We have two species
that are distinguished as curupay-naacute and curupay-ataacute and by white and black by the
natives and also in trade ((Fo ntana Luis Jorge El Gran Chaco Ed Se)
Boelcke O (1989158) p Anadenanthera colubrina var cebil = Piptadenia
macrocarpa (cebil colorado) rates this species as one of the most valuable trees in the
North of Argentina since its wood is very valuable and the bark is rich in tannins
Ragonese AE y Milano VA (1984147) citing Gallupi 1943 mentions that
Roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or kurupa that
when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces extasis
Acknowledgements
Botanical Museum of the School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry ldquoDr Juan A DOMINGUEZrdquo
University of Buenos Aires
(herbarium and collections)
Prof Dr Alberto Gurni Director of the Museum and Professor of Botany (who kindly
supervised and contributed documents for this paper)
SPONSOR
PRESIDENCIA DE LA NACION
Amoriacuten JL (197433-63) GUIA TAXONOMICA CON PLANTAS DE INTEREacuteS
FARMACUETICO Ed Publicaciones de la Academia Argentina de Farmacia y
Bioquimica Nordm1- 1974 writes that the powder obtained from roasted seeds of
Anadenanthera peregrina (L) Speg and other species of Anadenanthera mixed with
alkali ashes is known by the name of piptadenia and is used as hallucinogenic by
several South American indigenous tribes
As for A macrocarpa (Benth) Speg = Piptadenia macrocarpa Benth knwon by the
names of cebil cebil colorado curupay kurupaacute etc he writes that Galluppi mentions
that Semi-roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or
kurupa (a spell according to Montoya) that when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces
extasis The Guaraniacute Indians that prepared the kurupaacute and own the secret were called
kurupadyaras (probably the name given to the healer)
GA Iacobucci and EA Ruveda in a chemical study of Argentine Piptadenia species
transferred to other genders determined in 1963 that A macrocarpa (P macrocarpa)
was the richest in alkaloids and in the number of bases present in the different parts of
the plant
Bufotenine and N-N-dimetiltriptamine were isolated from seeds and sheaths
In the final Report of the Chaco Exploration Commission Arturo Seelstrang states
ldquoCurupay is a beautiful tree Its bark is commonly used by tanneries and it is very
important for trade with the neighbouring Province of Corrientes Its wood is very
pretty red with black streaks excellent for furniture The outer surface of its bark is
characterized by a large number of spiky protruberances and this is the reason why it
is called curupay that in guaraniacute language means mangy shellrdquo
(Seelstrang Arturo Informe de la Comisioacuten Exploradora del Chaco Primera Edicioacuten
Tipografiacutea y litografiacutea del Courier de la Plata Buenos Aires 1878 2a Edic EUDEBA
1977)
When describing the flora of Gran Chaco Luis Jorge Fontana makes reference to
cebil or curupay
ldquoThe curupay of the guaraniacute indians known by the name of cebil is abundant
throughout Chaco both inland and on the banks of the rivers the tree is very high and
can be easily distinguished by its ruggy bark a material used for industry its red wood
with black streaks is strong and very appropriate for construction We have two species
that are distinguished as curupay-naacute and curupay-ataacute and by white and black by the
natives and also in trade ((Fo ntana Luis Jorge El Gran Chaco Ed Se)
Boelcke O (1989158) p Anadenanthera colubrina var cebil = Piptadenia
macrocarpa (cebil colorado) rates this species as one of the most valuable trees in the
North of Argentina since its wood is very valuable and the bark is rich in tannins
Ragonese AE y Milano VA (1984147) citing Gallupi 1943 mentions that
Roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or kurupa that
when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces extasis
Acknowledgements
Botanical Museum of the School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry ldquoDr Juan A DOMINGUEZrdquo
University of Buenos Aires
(herbarium and collections)
Prof Dr Alberto Gurni Director of the Museum and Professor of Botany (who kindly
supervised and contributed documents for this paper)
SPONSOR
PRESIDENCIA DE LA NACION
GA Iacobucci and EA Ruveda in a chemical study of Argentine Piptadenia species
transferred to other genders determined in 1963 that A macrocarpa (P macrocarpa)
was the richest in alkaloids and in the number of bases present in the different parts of
the plant
Bufotenine and N-N-dimetiltriptamine were isolated from seeds and sheaths
In the final Report of the Chaco Exploration Commission Arturo Seelstrang states
ldquoCurupay is a beautiful tree Its bark is commonly used by tanneries and it is very
important for trade with the neighbouring Province of Corrientes Its wood is very
pretty red with black streaks excellent for furniture The outer surface of its bark is
characterized by a large number of spiky protruberances and this is the reason why it
is called curupay that in guaraniacute language means mangy shellrdquo
(Seelstrang Arturo Informe de la Comisioacuten Exploradora del Chaco Primera Edicioacuten
Tipografiacutea y litografiacutea del Courier de la Plata Buenos Aires 1878 2a Edic EUDEBA
1977)
When describing the flora of Gran Chaco Luis Jorge Fontana makes reference to
cebil or curupay
ldquoThe curupay of the guaraniacute indians known by the name of cebil is abundant
throughout Chaco both inland and on the banks of the rivers the tree is very high and
can be easily distinguished by its ruggy bark a material used for industry its red wood
with black streaks is strong and very appropriate for construction We have two species
that are distinguished as curupay-naacute and curupay-ataacute and by white and black by the
natives and also in trade ((Fo ntana Luis Jorge El Gran Chaco Ed Se)
Boelcke O (1989158) p Anadenanthera colubrina var cebil = Piptadenia
macrocarpa (cebil colorado) rates this species as one of the most valuable trees in the
North of Argentina since its wood is very valuable and the bark is rich in tannins
Ragonese AE y Milano VA (1984147) citing Gallupi 1943 mentions that
Roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or kurupa that
when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces extasis
Acknowledgements
Botanical Museum of the School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry ldquoDr Juan A DOMINGUEZrdquo
University of Buenos Aires
(herbarium and collections)
Prof Dr Alberto Gurni Director of the Museum and Professor of Botany (who kindly
supervised and contributed documents for this paper)
SPONSOR
PRESIDENCIA DE LA NACION
When describing the flora of Gran Chaco Luis Jorge Fontana makes reference to
cebil or curupay
ldquoThe curupay of the guaraniacute indians known by the name of cebil is abundant
throughout Chaco both inland and on the banks of the rivers the tree is very high and
can be easily distinguished by its ruggy bark a material used for industry its red wood
with black streaks is strong and very appropriate for construction We have two species
that are distinguished as curupay-naacute and curupay-ataacute and by white and black by the
natives and also in trade ((Fo ntana Luis Jorge El Gran Chaco Ed Se)
Boelcke O (1989158) p Anadenanthera colubrina var cebil = Piptadenia
macrocarpa (cebil colorado) rates this species as one of the most valuable trees in the
North of Argentina since its wood is very valuable and the bark is rich in tannins
Ragonese AE y Milano VA (1984147) citing Gallupi 1943 mentions that
Roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or kurupa that
when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces extasis
Acknowledgements
Botanical Museum of the School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry ldquoDr Juan A DOMINGUEZrdquo
University of Buenos Aires
(herbarium and collections)
Prof Dr Alberto Gurni Director of the Museum and Professor of Botany (who kindly
supervised and contributed documents for this paper)
SPONSOR
PRESIDENCIA DE LA NACION
Ragonese AE y Milano VA (1984147) citing Gallupi 1943 mentions that
Roasted seeds of A macrocarpa are used to make the indian kurupaacuteih or kurupa that
when inhaled in the form of rapeacute produces extasis
Acknowledgements
Botanical Museum of the School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry ldquoDr Juan A DOMINGUEZrdquo
University of Buenos Aires
(herbarium and collections)
Prof Dr Alberto Gurni Director of the Museum and Professor of Botany (who kindly
supervised and contributed documents for this paper)
SPONSOR
PRESIDENCIA DE LA NACION