soulvine

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• soulvine
• Mariri

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Banisteriopsis quitensis
• Banisteria inebrians
• Banisteria caapi
• Banisteriopsis inebrians
• Banisteria quitensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Malpighiales and the family Malpighiaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is completed within the genus Banisteriopsis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found across the diverse landscapes of Northern and Western South America. In the northern region, its presence is specifically noted within the borders of Venezuela. Moving toward the western part of the continent, the species maintains a significant distribution throughout Colombia and Ecuador. It is also widely documented across the expansive territories of Peru. Finally, the geographical range extends further south into the western reaches of Bolivia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Banisteriopsis caapi is characterized by its preference for specific tropical forest environments, primarily thriving within the Floresta de Terra Firme. This woody vine establishes itself across a significant vertical gradient, occupying diverse topographical niches within the rainforest canopy and understory. Its distribution is defined by an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 100 m AMSL and extends to a maximum elevation of 2200 m AMSL, allowing it to adapt to varying climatic conditions and moisture levels found across these altitudinal shifts.

Elevational range max:

2200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

100 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta de Terra Firme

Life history

The life history of Banisteriopsis caapi is characterized by its status as a perennial woody vine, meaning it lives for many years and undergoes continuous growth cycles throughout its long lifespan. As a perennial species, it does not die off after a single flowering or seeding season; instead, it establishes a robust, permanent structure within its tropical rainforest habitat. Its developmental trajectory involves an initial climbing phase where the vine utilizes surrounding vegetation for structural support, eventually developing a thick, lignified stem that can persist for decades. Because its lifecycle is perennial, the plant maintains a consistent presence in the ecosystem, contributing to the forest canopy through sustained vegetative growth and periodic reproductive phases.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Banisteriopsis caapi is characterized by its robust, woody structure, functioning as a massive liana. As an obligatory climber, it relies on other vegetation for support to reach significant heights, with a mean plant height reaching approximately 30 m. The plant is strictly terrestrial in its growth habit, lacking any aquatic or epiphytic tendencies, and it operates as an independent organism rather than a parasite. Its primary structural composition is distinctly woody, providing the necessary strength for its extensive climbing life cycle within its natural habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

30 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Banisteriopsis caapi is characterized by its complex metabolic pathways, particularly those involved in the biosynthesis of indole alkaloids such as harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine. These alkaloids are synthesized through the decarboxylation of amino acids, specifically tryptophan, which serves as a primary metabolic precursor. The plant's physiological processes are adapted to the humid, tropical rainforest environments where it grows as a large woody vine, utilizing an extensive vascular system to transport nutrients and water across its climbing structure. Regarding its nutritional interactions with the soil, Banisteriopsis caapi is not a nitrogen fixer; it does not possess the specialized root nodules containing symbiotic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, meaning its nitrogen acquisition is dependent on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the organic matter in the forest floor. This metabolic profile ensures the production of secondary metabolites that serve as chemical defenses, while its primary growth is driven by efficient photosynthetic activity and nutrient absorption within its specific ecological niche.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Banisteriopsis caapi has 3 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem, leaf, root.

Stem

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Root

1. Revista de neurologia

Chemicals

Banisteriopsis caapi has 17 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include HARMINE, Tetrahydroharmine, harmaline, Harmol, N,N-DIMETHYLTRYPTAMINE.

HARMINE

1. ACS omega
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Frontiers in pharmacology
5. Drug and alcohol dependence

Tetrahydroharmine

1. Dr. Duke
2. ACS omega
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

harmaline

1. Dr. Duke
2. ACS omega
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Scientific reports

Harmol

1. ACS omega
2. Scientific reports

N,N-DIMETHYLTRYPTAMINE

1. Dr. Duke
2. ACS omega

5-Hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine

1. Dr. Duke

5-Methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine

1. Dr. Duke

Dihydroshihunine

1. Dr. Duke

Epicatechin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Harmalinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Banisteriopsis caapi has 30 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Psychoactive, Psychotropic, Anthelmintic, Antibacterial, Antifeedant.

Psychoactive

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Life sciences
3. Revista de neurologia
4. Drug and alcohol dependence

Psychotropic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of clinical psychopharmacology

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Antifeedant

1. Dr. Duke

Antileishmanic

1. Dr. Duke

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke

Antimitotic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiparkinsonian

1. Dr. Duke

Antitrypanosomic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Banisteriopsis caapi has 11 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, addictive behaviors, anxiety, anxiety disorders.

Alzheimer's disease

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Parkinson's disease

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Addictive behaviors

1. Journal of psychoactive drugs

Anxiety

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Anxiety disorders

1. CNS drugs

Bacterial infections

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Brain disorders

1. Scientific reports

Depression

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Neurodegenerative disorders

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Neurological disorders

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Banisteriopsis caapi has 17 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include tea, Ayahuasca, ayahuasca, Amazonian ayahuasca brew, Infusions of ayahuasca.

Tea

1. Case reports in emergency medicine
2. The International journal on drug policy
3. Journal of clinical psychopharmacology

Ayahuasca

1. Life sciences
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ayahuasca

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Scientific reports

Amazonian ayahuasca brew

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Infusions of ayahuasca

1. Revista de neurologia

Admixture

1. Journal of psychoactive drugs

Aqueous concoction

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Aqueous extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Beta-carbonyls

1. PloS one