{{short description|Species of plant}} {{Speciesbox |image = Calea_ternifolia.JPG |genus = Calea |species = ternifolia |authority = Kunth |synonyms = ''Calea zacatechichi'' {{au|Schltdl.}} }}
'''''Calea ternifolia''''' (syn. ''Calea zacatechichi'')<ref name=grin>{{GRIN | access-date = 12 December 2017}}</ref> is a species of flowering plant in the aster family, Asteraceae. It is native to Mexico and Central America.<ref name=grin/> Its English language common names include '''bitter-grass''', '''Mexican calea''',<ref name=grin/> and '''dream herb'''.<ref name=poland>Simonienko, K., et al. (2013). [http://www.psychiatriapolska.pl/uploads/images/PP_3_2013/Eng_ver_Simonienko.pdf Psychoactive plant species – actual list of plants prohibited in Poland.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927203220/http://www.psychiatriapolska.pl/uploads/images/PP_3_2013/Eng_ver_Simonienko.pdf |date=2013-09-27 }} ''Psychiatria Polska'' XLVII(3), 499–508.</ref>
It is used in traditional medicine and ritual in its native range.<ref name="fer">Ferraz, A., et al. (2009). [http://www.latamjpharm.org/trabajos/28/6/LAJOP_28_6_1_8_O9FZ3D7A29.pdf Pharmacological and genotoxic evaluation of ''Calea clematidea'' and ''Calea uniflora''.] ''Latin American Journal of Pharmacy'' 28(6), 858-62.[http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/7846]</ref>
==Uses== In Mexico the plant is used as a herbal remedy for dysentery and fever.<ref name=fer/> The Zoque Popoluca people call the plant ''tam huñi'' ("bitter gum") and use it to treat diarrhea and asthma, and the Mixe people know it as ''poop taam ujts'' ("white bitter herb") and use it for stomachache and fever.<ref>Leonti, M., et al. (2003). [http://www.wlbcenter.org/drawer/journalclub/leonti%20sticher%20and%20heinrich%202003%20(2).pdf Antiquity of medicinal plant usage in two Macro-Mayan ethnic groups (Mexico).] ''Journal of Ethnopharmacology'' 88(2), 119-24.</ref>
The Chontal people of Oaxaca reportedly use the plant, known locally as ''thle-pela-kano'', during divination. Isolated reports describe rituals that involve smoking a plant believed to be this species, drinking it as a tea, and placing it under a pillow to induce divinatory or lucid dreams due to its properties as an oneirogen.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Sałaga|first1=Maciej|last2=Fichna|first2=Jakub|last3=Socała|first3=Katarzyna|last4=Nieoczym|first4=Dorota|last5=Pieróg|first5=Mateusz|last6=Zielińska|first6=Marta|last7=Kowalczuk|first7=Anna|last8=Wlaź|first8=Piotr|date=2016|title=Neuropharmacological characterization of the oneirogenic Mexican plant Calea zacatechichi aqueous extract in mice|journal=Metabolic Brain Disease|volume=31|issue=3|pages=631–641|doi=10.1007/s11011-016-9794-1|issn=0885-7490|pmc=4863909|pmid=26821073}}</ref> ''Zacatechichi'', the former species name, is a Hispanicized form of the Nahuatl word "zacatl chichic" meaning "bitter grass".<ref>Díaz, J. L. (1979). [https://www.erowid.org/references/refs_view.php?A=ShowDocPartFrame&ID=7724&DocPartID=6837 Ethnopharmacology and taxonomy of Mexican psychodysleptic plants.] ''J Psychedelic Drugs'' 11(1-2), 71–101.</ref> Users take the plant to help them remember their dreams;<ref name=poland/><ref name="pmid29403350">{{cite journal |last1=Sanz |first1=Camila |last2=Zamberlan |first2=Federico |last3=Erowid |first3=Earth |last4=Erowid |first4=Fire |last5=Tagliazucchi |first5=Enzo |title=The Experience Elicited by Hallucinogens Presents the Highest Similarity to Dreaming within a Large Database of Psychoactive Substance Reports |journal=Frontiers in Neuroscience |date=2018 |volume=12 |article-number=7 |doi=10.3389/fnins.2018.00007|doi-access=free |pmid=29403350 |issn=1662-453X |pmc=5786560}}</ref> known side effects include nausea and vomiting related to the taste and mild-to-severe allergic reaction.
While quite bitter if brewed in hot water, the bitterness can be considerably masked by brewing with Osmanthus flowers, which have a compatible scent profile.
==Chemical composition== thumb|right|Cultivated specimen Chemical compounds isolated from this species include flavones<ref>Mariano, M. V., et al. (1987). [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0031942200838819 Thymol derivatives from ''Calea nelsonii''.] ''Phytochemistry'' 26(9), 2577-79.</ref> such as acacetin<ref>Mayagoitia, L., et al. (1986). [http://coffeshop.comuv.com/dokumenty/calea_ethnopharmacology.pdf Psychopharmacologic analysis of an alleged oneirogenic plant: ''Calea zacatechichi''.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927232132/http://coffeshop.comuv.com/dokumenty/calea_ethnopharmacology.pdf |date=2013-09-27 }} ''Journal of Ethnopharmacology'' 18(3), 229–43.</ref> and sesquiterpene lactones such as germacranolides.<ref>Lee, I. Y., et al. (1982). [http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/np50021a012 New germacranolides from ''Calea ternifolia'' and the molecular structure of 9α-Hydroxy-11, 13-Dihydro-11α, 13-Epoxyatripliciolide-8β-O-(2-Methylacrylate).] ''Journal of Natural Products'' 45(3), 311-16.</ref> The compound that is thought to cause the effects of Calea ternifolia is Caleicine a Prodrug of Eugenol, a potent GABA positive modulator.''<ref name=":0" />''
== Pharmacology == Calea ternifolia and its effects are not fully understood beyond GABA modulation from Caleicine and other GABAergic compounds. The plant is known to potentiate dreams and hypnotic states and is bioavailable through common routes of administration such as smoking and oral.
Many compounds have been isolated from the plant and suspected to cause the psychoactive effects. Notable compounds that have been isolated are:<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Mata |first=Rachel |date=July 2021 |title=Calea ternifolia Kunth, the Mexican "dream herb", a concise review |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353506934 |journal=Canadian Science Publishing |pages=7 |via=ResearchGate}}</ref>
* Chlorogenic acid (Lowers blood pressure)<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Onakpoya |first=I J |date=2015 |title=The effect of chlorogenic acid on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials |journal=J Hum Hypertens|volume=29 |issue=2 |pages=77–81 |doi=10.1038/jhh.2014.46 |pmid=24943289 }}</ref> * Α-Pinene (GABA<sub>a</sub> positive modulator)<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Yang |first=Hyejin |date=2016 |title=α-Pinene, a Major Constituent of Pine Tree Oils, Enhances Non-Rapid Eye Movement Sleep in Mice through GABAA-benzodiazepine Receptors |url=https://molpharm.aspetjournals.org/content/90/5/530 |journal=Molecular Pharmacology|volume=90 |issue=5 |pages=530–539 |doi=10.1124/mol.116.105080 |pmid=27573669 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> * Caleicine (Prodrug of Eugenol a potent GABA positive modulator) * Squalene (Precursor to steroid hormones)<ref>{{cite journal |last=Bloch |first=Konrad E. |year=1983 |title=Sterol, Structure and Membrane Function |journal=Critical Reviews in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=47–92 |doi=10.3109/10409238309102790 |pmid=6340956}}</ref>
It is thought these compounds, and their respective pharmacological classes create the effects of Calea ternifolia.
Caleicine is a unique sesquiterpene compound found only in ''Calea ternifolia<ref name=":0" />'' and is one of many GABAergic compounds found in the plant and acts as a prodrug to the known bioactive and potent Eugenol. Caleicine is a strong candidate to be responsible the effects of Calea ternifolia as the GABA modulation Eugenol exhibits are the same that of ''Calea ternifolia.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Díaz |first=José Luis |date=1979 |title=Ethnopharmacology and Taxonomy of Mexican Psychodysleptic Plants |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02791072.1979.10472094 |journal=Journal of Psychedelic Drugs |volume=11 |issue=1–2 |pages=71–101 |doi=10.1080/02791072.1979.10472094 |pmid=392121 |via=Taylor and Francis|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Citation |title=Eugenol (Clove Oil) |date=2012 |work=LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551727/ |access-date=2024-11-03 |place=Bethesda (MD) |publisher=National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases |pmid=31869191}}</ref>''
Calea ternifolias negative side effects, nausea, vomiting and delirium based hallucinations,<ref>{{Cite web |title=CALEA ZACATECHICHI: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews |url=https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1270/calea-zacatechichi |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=www.webmd.com |language=en}}</ref> are the same that of Eugenol<ref name=":2" /> and other GABAergic compounds.
GABA positive allosteric site modulation is found in many sedative substances such as Methaqualone, Propofol, Alcohol (Ethanol) and Zolpidem. The properties of GABA positive modulating substances typically are anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, oneirogenic, sedative, hypnotic, euphoriant, and muscle relaxant effects.
In a study, 12 participants were given extracts of Calea ternifolia and experienced effects of mild augmentation of sensorial perceptions, imaginings, thought gaps, and retrieval problems; lethargy and a short sleep with vivid dreams.<ref name=":1" />
==Legal status== While it is not a controlled substance under federal law in the United States, some states have considered it individually. Louisiana State Act 159 specifies that it is illegal to possess if it is intended for human consumption, but not if they are intended for ornamental or landscaping use. Tennessee proposed a bill that would have made this and many other plants classified as hallucinogenic illegal, but when the bill was passed only ''Salvia divinorum'' was banned.<ref name=ero>[http://www.erowid.org/plants/calea_zacatechichi/calea_zacatechichi_law.shtml ''Calea zacatechichi'' Legal Status] Erowid.org. Jun 20 2006.</ref>
This plant was banned in Poland in March 2009.<ref name=poland/><ref>{{in lang|pl}} [http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/DetailsServlet?id=WDU20090630520 Dz.U. 2009 nr 63 poz. 520], Internetowy System Aktów Prawnych.</ref>
Under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 in the United Kingdom, Calea is technically illegal, however as the mechanisms are not well understood, it cannot be classed as a CNS stimulant or depressant and is therefore legal. {{CN|date=December 2024}}
thumb|''Calea ternifolia'' (syn. ''Calea zacatechichi'') dream herb
==Nephrotoxicity== One study suggest that the herb may have some toxic properties towards kidneys (nephrotoxicity).<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Mossoba |first1=Miriam E. |last2=Flynn |first2=Thomas J. |last3=Vohra |first3=Sanah |last4=Wiesenfeld |first4=Paddy |last5=Sprando |first5=Robert L. |date=2016 |title=Evaluation of "Dream Herb," Calea zacatechichi, for Nephrotoxicity Using Human Kidney Proximal Tubule Cells |journal=Journal of Toxicology |volume=2016 |pages=1–7 |doi=10.1155/2016/9794570 |issn=1687-8191 |pmc=5040790 |pmid=27703475 |doi-access=free}}</ref> This is likely due to the Caleicine in the plant being metabolised into the nephrotoxic compound Eugenol that can cause liver toxicity in high doses.<ref name=":2"/>
== See also ==
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Commons category-inline|Calea ternifolia}}
{{Hallucinogens}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q150607}}
ternifolia Category:Dreaming-enhancing oneirogens Category:Flora of Mexico Category:Flora of Central America Category:Entheogens Category:Herbal and fungal hallucinogens Category:Medicinal plants of North America