Argyreia nervosa

Cultivation

Where temperatures fall below 13 °C (55 °F), Argyreia nervosa is grown in a warm greenhouse. Elsewhere, it is grown on arbours, pergolas, walls, or trees. It is often grown professionally under glass in a loam-based potting compost (John Innes No. 3) in full light, and watered freely from spring to autumn, with a balanced liquid fertilizer applied monthly and reduced water in winter. It is grown outdoors in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Pruning is done in late winter.

Constituents

In terms of total alkaloid content, the constituents of Argyreia nervosa include isoergine (31%), ergine (23%), ergometrine (8.2%), lysergic acid hydroxyethylamide (LSH) (5.8%), isolysergic acid hydroxyethylamide (iso-LSH) (4.0%), elymoclavine (3.6%), chanoclavine I (2.7%), ergometrinine (1.8%), agroclavine (1.1%), and others (19%). Other results have also been published.

Glycosides

Argyroside, (24R)-ergost-5-en-11-oxo-3β-ol-α-D-glucopyranoside, a steroidal glycoside unique to Argyreia nervosa

Ergolines

Argyreia nervosa contains a variety of ergolines and lysergamides, which are shown in the tables below. It has also been reported to contain methylergometrine and methysergide, which were previously believed to be exclusively synthetic compounds.

Hydroxycinnamic acids

Fatty acids

Entheogen

The seeds of A. nervosa contain ergot alkaloids varying considerably in concentration with ergine (LSA) weight ranging between exactly similar looking seeds from 3 μg to 34 μg (average 17 μg). However, in its effects, ergine is about one-tenth as potent as its cousin LSD, making a threshold dose level for ergine about 500 μg. The psychoactive effects of the seeds may therefore be due to other alkaloids present in them and the safe and effective dose may be difficult to predict.

Speculations

Certain New Age sources claim that, according to 'various oral histories' Huna shamans used the powdered seeds to prepare an entheogenic drink. This is unlikely to reflect an authentic practice having once formed a part of traditional Hawaiian Religion, given that Huna has been widely discredited as a culturally appropriative New Age religion invented by Max Freedom Long. The seeds of Argyreia nervosa can produce psychoactive effects, but it has not yet been demonstrated satisfactorily that their use as an entheogen predates the various countercultural movements of the 1960s. Given that A. nervosa is not native to Hawaii, having been introduced there from India, any Hawaiian practices involving it are unlikely to be of any antiquity. It cannot, however, be ruled out that the plant may have been utilised as an intoxicant in its native India at some time in the past, although evidence for this (if present) has not yet come to light.

Uses in the traditional medicine of India

While he does not claim there to be any evidence for the use of the seeds of A. nervosa as a traditional entheogen in its native India, Christian Rätsch does describe some interesting traditional uses of the root of the plant in Ayurveda somewhat suggestive of effects upon the CNS:

The root is regarded as a tonic for the nerves and brain and is ingested as a rejuvenation tonic and aphrodisiac to increase intelligence.

Other traditional uses are in the treatment of gonorrhea, strangury, chronic ulcers, diabetes, anemia, and cerebral disorders. The plant is also used as appetizer, brain tonic, cardiotonic, and aphrodisiac. It possesses anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal activities. Claims that alternative medicines including Ayuverdic possess proven medical qualities, such as having widespread beneficial effects such as antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal activities are not claims that satisfy the scientific requirement of medical claims. Further, since the plant is partially toxic even if there were medical benefit, which is not established, this would have to be weighed against the potential poisoning impact of the substance.