Revisiting the Tabernaemontana - T. sananho Earlier study of Tabernaemontana species clarified that simple TLC was an effective means for initial analysis of this family. Recent writings have considered the general lack of traditional neuropharmacological uses of Tabernaemontana spp. compared to Tabernanthe. Tabernaemontana species that have been reported to be traditionally used for CNS- related purposes to a limited extent are T. donnell-smithii in Mexico, as well as T. sananho , T. siphilitica , and T. undulata T. sananho is reported to be rich in coronaridine, a monoterpene indole alkaloid that retains some anti-addictive properties and has activity on the autonomic and central nervous systems acting as a painkiller and respiratory depressant and is a potent AChE inhibitor Preliminary Erowid bioassays have mentioned effects that include a "floaty and dreamy feeling" and: "The effects of Tabernaemontana sanaho, positive or negative, have nothing in common with Iboga at all. Iboga brings strong insight, is stimulant, visionary and cleans the body. It doesn't make the mind blank, produces no numbness and has no painful hangover. Tabernaemontana sanaho may be a little bit closer to Voacanga 1 but is in its own class. The floaty and dreamy state and the numbness are very pleasant, but produce no insight or visionary experience." Coronaridine easily undergoes demethoxycarbonylation to ibogamine, also having anti-addictive and powerful stimulant effects T. sananho is named sikta in the Kichwa (Quechua) communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon (Pastaza province). It is a highly symbolic species which is widely used as a medicinal, stimulant, and general “cure-all” plant. In Peru, T. sananho leaves are employed as a heart tonic, as well as to treat fever and syphilis. The roots allegedly cure skin pathologies, abscesses, and colds, while the bark is used as a contraceptive and painkiller. Similar applications are reported from the Awaruna, an indigenous group sharing a common Shuar-ancestry with the Kichwas. The treatments and rituals are conducted by a medicine man who prescribes a series of indications that patients must follow to eventually recover their health. Most requirements involve strict fasting, followed by the controlled intake of certain foods, such as roasted banana prepared without any salt or pepper. Fasting can endure from two weeks to three months (Luzuriaga-Quichimbo 2017, Luzuriaga-Quichimbo et al. 2018). Sample preparation: a) 500mg of T. sananho dry root was macerated in 2mL of 95% ethanol basified with 0.25mL aq. ammonia. The solution was a bright yellow-green flourescence under UV. b) 500mg of T. sananho dry root macerated in 1:1 acetone:white spirits, basified with 0.25mL aq. ammonia. 2 This was spotted on the TLC plate (0.2mm, silica, glass backed) and the mobile phase of acetone:white spirits:1:1 used again, as per first study With the ethanol extract (a), UV visualisation gave a major constituent (with some trailing) at Rf 0.56 and minor at 0.76. Compare to T. undulata (basified iPrOH extract, crude initial Rf = 0. 13, 0.35, 0.56, 0.89). Better results were obtained using the mixed extraction solvent of acetone:white spirits 1:1 and the same as the mobile phase. This gave clear separation of the constituents Rf = 0.25 (major - bright green-yellow fluorescence), with minor constituents 0.36 and a more dominant one at 0.72. This appearance of a low Rf major constituent is quite dissimilar to both T. undulata and Tabernanthe , and similarly, to T. pandacaqui TLC plate under UV, clearly showing the dominant Rf = 0.25 constituent Compared to T. undulata , also said to contain coronaridine, Rf obtained using the same extraction solvent and mobile phase were: Major constituents in T. undulata root bark were at Rf = 0.69, 0.62, 0.52, 0.48 and 0.38. 3 It becomes quite apparent that the likely phytochemical profile of T. sananho root is dissimilar to both Tabernaemontana undulata and Tabernanthe To see if demethoxycarbonylation readily occured (OH - /alcohol, H + ) as per Krengel et al., a small sample was subjected to a similar procedure and followed by TLC. The dominant alkaloid before and after retained a similar Rf (0.25 vs 0.27) with the dissapearance of lesser constituents at 0.31 and 0.72 but notably the fluorescent colour of the spots before and after changed from greenish to bright white References A preliminary TLC study of Tabernaemontana undulata, it's phytochemistry and possible psychopharmacology https://pdfhost.io/v/8Lez0TpDO_tabernaemontana A preliminary TLC study of Tabernaemontana pandacaqui seeds https://pdfhost.io/v/PEPUj74~E_T_pandacaqui Ethnobotany: Ethnopharmacology to Bioactive Compounds Beyond Phytochemistry : Comparative Ethnobotany among Oneirogenic Alkaloid Containing Tabernaemontana species from Mexico and the Amazon and the African shrub Tabernanthe iboga (Apocynaceae) Felix Krengel, Ricardo Reyes-Chilpa, Karla Paola García-Cruz, Olga Lucia Sanabria-Diago, Willian Castillo-Ordoñez, Laura Cortés-Zárraga Luzuriaga, Carmen & Ruiz Téllez, Trinidad & Blanco Salas, José & Martínez, Carlos. (2018). Scientific validation of the traditional knowledge of Sikta ("Tabernaemontana sananho", Apocynaceae) in the Canelo-Kichwa Amazonian community. Lazaroa. 39. 10.5209/MBOT.60073. F. Krengel, M. V. Mijangos, M. Reyes-Lezama, R. Reyes-Chilpa, Extraction and Conversion Studies of the Antiaddictive Alkaloids Coronaridine, Ibogamine, Voacangine, and Ibogaine from Two Mexican Tabernaemontana Species (Apocynaceae) C&B 2019, 16, e1900175 4