The Salvia divinorum Research and Information Center - Shroomery

ABSTRACT
The McNair Scholarly Review 1998. Volume 3: 142-156.
Salvia divinorum Epling et Játiva-M. (Labiatae): An Ethnopharmacological Investigation
Sherry A. Rovinsky, Biology
Gerald R. Cizadlo, Ph.D., Department of Biology
ABSTRACT
Salvia divinorum is a vision-inducing and medicinal plant of Mexico. It contains an unidentified acetone-soluble compound(s) which inhibits
the growth of rod-shaped bacteria on starch agar. Preliminary testing also indicated that a water-soluble compound(s) in S. divinorum
slowed the frequency and increased the duration of phasic contractions in the duodenal smooth muscle of mice.
Introduction
Salvia divinorum Epling et Játiva-M. (Labiatae) (also called Ska Pastora, Ska María Pastora, hierba María, hojas de la pastora, hojas de
María Pastora, or yerba de María) is a somewhat rare Mexican plant which has been traditionally used in Mazatec healing ceremonies (1).
The divinatory uses of this plant are well documented (1,2,3). While its origin and medicinal applications are not well known, the few
available articles suggest some interesting possibilities. Infusions of the plant are used for a variety of complaints: diarrhea, headache,
rheumatism, anemia, and panzón de barrego, a magical disease of the Mazatecs (1). The Mazatecs consider it a panacea (1). The purpose of
this study is twofold: first, to determine if the plant produces antimicrobial compounds, and second, to create a methodology for measuring
its effects on gastrointestinal motility in mice.
Literature Review
Historical Background
Few references to S. divinorum can be found in the literature and those are often vague or incomplete. In 1938, anthropologist J. B. Johnson
wrote that an infusion of a plant called "hierba María" produced visions in its users (4). B. P. Reko, a medical doctor with an interest in
anthropology and ethnobotany, later collected some of this mysterious leaf, but could not identify it (5). In 1952, anthropologist Weitlaner
wrote "Curaciones Mazatecas," in which he described a healing ceremony where S. divinorum was used (6). In 1955, banker R. Gordon
Wasson and chemist Albert Hofmann met the Mazatec shaman María Sabina and this single interaction provided most of the original
information about S. divinorum (7). During this visit, Wasson and Hofmann obtained a living sample of the plant, which they turned over to
botanist Carl Epling (8). Epling and Carlos Játiva later classified it as a distinct species of the Salvia genus (9).
No one knows where this strange member of the Labiatae or Lamiaceae (mint) family originated. Some of the Mazatecs believe that S.
divinorum is foreign to their region (10). In his 1963 paper, R. Gordon Wasson suggested that S. divinorum may be pipiltzintzintli (Nauhatl
for "the most noble prince" (11)), a magical Aztec plant whose identity is unknown (10). However, Díaz suggests that S. divinorum was
actually a post-conquest addition to the Mexican flora and therefore cannot be this ancient Aztec sacrament (3). Indeed, Mazatec names for S.
divinorum seem to be rooted in Christian mythology. For example, it is often referred to as Ska María Pastora, or the leaf of Mary the
Shepherdess (1) because visions of a woman are a common effect (12). Of course, as Ott points out, Mary is not generally thought of as a
"shepherdess" by Christians (13). There are no indigenous names for S. divinorum and Ott explains that the Mazatecs know very little about
the use of this plant, citing their mistaken belief that the leaves are no longer psychoactive once dried (3). Instead, Díaz suggests that
Pipiltzintzintli is actually Cannabis sativa (14), although today it is generally recognized that Cannabis was a post-conquest addition to the
New World. Ott ultimately concluded that wherever S. divinorum came from, it was probably not introduced by the Europeans (3).
According to the Mazatecs, S. divinorum is the most important in a "family" of plants which are all of the Labiatae family. This "family" has
great religious significance and includes S. divinorum, Coleus pumila, and two forms of C. blumei. They are referred to by the natives as la
hembra (the female), el macho (the male), el nene (the child), and el ahijado (the godson), respectively (15).
Botany of Salvia divinorum
S. divinorum is a perennial herb which grows to a height of 50 to 150 cm. The stems are quadrangular and hollow in cross-section, and the
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