soulvine
Banisteriopsis caapi · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Moderate (103 studies) · ★★★☆☆
Soulvine, scientifically known as Banisteriopsis caapi, is a legendary woody vine central to Amazonian shamanic traditions. Often called the "vine of the soul," it serves as the essential primary ingredient in ayahuasca brews. Renowned for its potent psychoactive properties, it is revered for inducing profound spiritual and healing experiences.
- Family
- Malpighiaceae
- Native range
- Southern America
- Parts used
- Stem · Leaf
- Common names
- Soulvine · Mariri
- Scientific synonyms
- Banisteriopsis Quitensis · Banisteria Inebrians · 3 more
Names
Common Names
- soulvine
- Mariri
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Natema
- Banisteriopsis quitensis
- Banisteriopsis inebrians
- Yajé
- Banisteria inebrians
- Yaje
- Bejuco de oro
- Banisteria caapi
- Yage
- Yagé
- Banisteria quitensis
German:
- Banisteria caapi
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Banisteriopsis caapiSynonyms
- Banisteriopsis quitensis
- Banisteria inebrians
- Banisteria caapi
- Banisteriopsis inebrians
- Banisteria quitensis
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.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malpighiales | WCVP |
| Family | Malpighiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Banisteriopsis | 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.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern South America | Venezuela | WCVP |
| Western South America | Bolivia | WCVP |
| Western South America | Colombia | WCVP |
| Western South America | Ecuador | WCVP |
| Western South America | Peru | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil West-Central | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil North | WCVP |
| Southern South America | Argentina Northwest | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Banisteriopsis caapi, is primarily characterized by its woody climbing vine structure, which serves as the essential source for its medicinal properties. To prepare traditional decoctions, practitioners often harvest the bark or the stem bark, as these layers contain the highest concentration of harmala alkaloids. Depending on the specific preparation method and the age of the specimen, healers may utilize the whole matured stem to ensure a potent extraction, or they may collect substantial portions of the stems/large branches to accommodate larger ceremonial quantities.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| stem | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root | Revista de neurologia (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
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.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| HARMINE | 6 supporting sources | ★★★☆☆ |
| Tetrahydroharmine | 6 supporting sources | ★★★☆☆ |
| harmaline | 5 supporting sources | ★★★☆☆ |
| Harmol | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| N,N-DIMETHYLTRYPTAMINE | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-Hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-Methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Dihydroshihunine | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Epicatechin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Harmalinic acid | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
HARMINE
- ACS omega
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
- Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
- Frontiers in pharmacology
- Drug and alcohol dependence
View 1 additional sources
- Scientific reports
Tetrahydroharmine
- Dr. Duke
- ACS omega
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
- Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
- Biomedical chromatography : BMC
View 1 additional sources
- Scientific reports
harmaline
- Dr. Duke
- ACS omega
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
- Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
- Scientific reports
Harmol
- ACS omega
- Scientific reports
N,N-DIMETHYLTRYPTAMINE
- Dr. Duke
- ACS omega
5-Hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine
- Dr. Duke
5-Methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine
- Dr. Duke
Dihydroshihunine
- Dr. Duke
Epicatechin
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
Harmalinic acid
- 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.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Psychoactive | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Psychotropic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anthelmintic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifeedant | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antileishmanic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimalarial | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimitotic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiparkinsonian | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antitrypanosomic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Banisteriopsis caapi has 11 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, addictive behaviors, anxiety, anxiety disorders.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer's disease | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Parkinson's disease | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| addictive behaviors | Journal of psychoactive drugs (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anxiety | Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anxiety disorders | CNS drugs (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bacterial infections | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| brain disorders | Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| depression | Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| neurodegenerative disorders | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| neurological disorders | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| tea | Case reports in emergency medicine (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Ayahuasca | Life sciences (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ayahuasca | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Amazonian ayahuasca brew | Frontiers in pharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Infusions of ayahuasca | Revista de neurologia (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| admixture | Journal of psychoactive drugs (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous concoction | Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous extract | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous extracts | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| beta-carbonyls | PloS one (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |