Dope From Algae

[Zoop]

While at work today, reading up on something, I discovered something totally unrelated to what I was working on:

There is species of blue-green algae called Aphanizomenon flos-aquae that produces a compound named "(-)-aphanorphine." It has opiate activity.

there is an article from Journal of the American Chemical Society at

http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/article.cgi/joceah/2003/68/i21/pdf/jo0348726.pdf

I am not sure if the link will work, as my workplace has subscriptions to all of these journals and they work for me automatically from my work computer. BUT, anyway, that is the name of the algae and it has dope in it! How much I don't know, but it sure would be cool to grow algae and have your opie needs taken care of from some ol' green shit!

[jacky]

looking at a list of 15 or so reputed opioids found in nature I have found some interesting herbal products that have limited to moderate effect.

I am outlining a rough draft of my experiences soon.

Ill be looking into this algea species for sure.
THANKS ZOOP!!

PM me about this subject eh?

[SomniGod]

looking at a list of 15 or so reputed opioids found in nature I have found some interesting herbal products that have limited to moderate effect.

I am outlining a rough draft of my experiences soon.

Ill be looking into this algea species for sure.
THANKS ZOOP!!

PM me about this subject eh?


I think we ALL are looking forward to that!!!! I have got to get into biochemistry!!!

~S~

[skeletontea]

Quickly! Everybody dig up their gardens, and build an algae growing pool! ;)
I'll go take a drive out to Klamath Lake, collect some samples (ok, not really.)

Unfortunately, you need an account to read that pdf, which is a shame, because I couldn't find anything about this on the internet, and I am curious.

[duke_nemmerle]

Wow this is cool, they find dope in some of the awesomest places. I heard of a spider that produces some kind of dope as its venom, far out

[Zoop]

Hey, where is Klamath lake? I was looking around on the net to see if anyone sells this algae and it's been around for quite a while, as a "whole food." The claim is that it helps with concentration and is "good for the nervous system." The best comes from Klamath lake.

So, it would appear that the algae itself is not off-the-hook-put-you-on-the-nod strong.

But, it has some weird opiate compound in it. Trouble with most of this "opiod in nature" type stuff is that these plants that have opiates in them rarely have enough concentration of the chemical to get off simply by eating a reasonable quantity of it. Kratom (and opium poppies! ) seem to be the exception.

Maybe I'll go ahead and order some of this shit and then eat like a whole bunch of it. Can't hurt - it has lots of vitamins and minerals in it too. I am on bupe, though, so if the opiate had any effect, it would be completely blocked in my system.

Someone try it.


UPDATE -

I was just reading up on this stuff, and it really appears that this compound is present only in very small amounts in the whole algae, so don't everyone go an buy a shitload of it.

[skeletontea]

Hey, where is Klamath lake? I was looking around on the net to see if anyone sells this algae and it's been around for quite a while, as a "whole food." The claim is that it helps with concentration and is "good for the nervous system." The best comes from Klamath lake.
Klamath Lake is in Southern Oregon, really not terribly far from where I'm located. Unfortunately, some species of Blue-Green Algae contain hepatoxins, neurotoxins, and endotoxins. You can even have adverse reactions from touching it. I'd be in doubt of my identification abilities when dealing with something that dangerous.
So, it would appear that the algae itself is not off-the-hook-put-you-on-the-nod strong.

But, it has some weird opiate compound in it. Trouble with most of this "opiod in nature" type stuff is that these plants that have opiates in them rarely have enough concentration of the chemical to get off simply by eating a reasonable quantity of it. Kratom (and opium poppies! ) seem to be the exception.
I figured that would probably be the case. I've had Blue-Green Algae Smoothies before, never got strung out on that shit.:p
Maybe I'll go ahead and order some of this shit and then eat like a whole bunch of it. Can't hurt - it has lots of vitamins and minerals in it too. I am on bupe, though, so if the opiate had any effect, it would be completely blocked in my system.Actually high dosages of some vitamins can be very harmful, and I have no idea if there are any toxins present in minute amounts which could be potentially hazardous at high levels.
Someone try it.


UPDATE -

I was just reading up on this stuff, and it really appears that this compound is present only in very small amounts in the whole algae, so don't everyone go an buy a shitload of it.Drats:(

[jacky]

a few of the references to this particular substance or plant matter list cytotoxicity....which isnt a redliner that it is toxic to consume per se....BUT.....

Zoop, are you saying that you have referenced a source for this PARTICULAR species of algea? or just making a statement that you are going to try store bought algea?
some algea species can cause intense and some times deadly food contamination....

this is definitely one to watch.

[jacky]

well, a search engine away and I find that this particular speices of algea is QUITE commercially available. so I am putting this plant on my list of plants to send for alkaloid or diterpene extraction/detection. at the cost retail of 50$ a pound or less wholesale I could see the material actually being affordable if a dose equivalent to 14-30 grams is enough to produce noticeable effects, with alkaloid isolation some toxins might be avoided as well.

since I have been keeping my eyes open, it seems every couple of months I am rewarded with information such as this.

plants or plant products like ...
sophora subprostata
chaste tree
dalea purpurea
mitragyna speciosa
tabernaemontana pachysiphon
picralima nitida
buddleia cordata
euphorbia hirta
psychotria colorata
salvia leriifolia
salvia divinorum
nepeta species
morinda citrifolia
irvingia gabonensis
catuama extract
myrrh
even a datura species (fastosa)............have had data published about them as possible or proven opioid agonists containing products.
some of these plants have been tested along with naloxone, to determine if the opiate system might be affected positive or negative...

and then there are all the plant products that seem to or are reputed to be able to help opioid withdrawl, or to potentiate opioid effects. corydalis, ashwaghanda, bacopa, grapefruit juice, chamomille (maybe with some catnip to boot) etc etc etc.

I am working on a rough draft sort of experience report on some of these species, most of which are commercially avialable in herb form, as extracted material, or some have had the active compounds isolated from them.

one I found particularly interesting was nigella sativa oil, which contains a compound called thymoquinone I believe, that has opioid agonist qualities, and sedative qualities. a good dose of the slightly bitter, slightly spicy oil left me itching my nose for some time, in the presence of my daily regimine of course.

sophora subprostata contains an opioid agonist called matrine, and quite an abundance of it as well. this compound is a partial mu agonist and kappa opioid agonist.

it occurs to me that given the wide array of compounds that are opiates, and the wide array of opioid receptors found in the mammilian body, that an equally large number of unknown compounds probably exists still to be uncovered.

with opioid peptides being produced in the body from food borne compounds like milk (casien a) or casomorphins from wheat gluten, and so many natural opioids popping up in nature , I wonder how in the hell the DEA is going to continue to enforce a blanket law concerning products and their opioid activity. if mere opiate agonist activity is going to put a substance in the analog consideration then they are going to have a hell of alot of supplying and consuming perpetrators on the books.......I mean poppy seeds contain morphine and codeine, or can , and they are explicitly exempt from federal control as a food product, so how much attention will these plants warrant in the future?

I personally dont see how in the hell they would attempt to even gather all the reference compounds to enforce such actions. hopefully billions of dollars for the drug war will be spent on something else........

till then I think zoop is right, bioassay of this algea material is needed, and also a TLC for any alkaloid material. we will get it done. probably take me a few months, but I have a freind with the know how and equipment.

THANKS FOR THE INFO ZOOP, this forum works sometimes.............

[exitwound]

Absolutely fascinating shit! Keep up the good work gentlemen. :cool: