From the man who has done more research into,Ecstacy than any other chemist, author of the,best-selling Phenethylamines I Have Known and,Tyroptomines I Have Known, this is a comprehensive,reference work on isoquinolines found in plants.,Found in cactii and poppies among other plants,isoquinolines have various effects and uses, and,are commonly used in Chinese medicine. Extremely,well-known and respected within his own field and,revered by many for his unparalleled research into,mind-altering substances, this new text is ideal,for botanists, chemists and fans alike.

Isoquinolines form one of the largest groups of plant alkaloids and they in clude a number of valuable clinical agents such as codeine, morphine, eme tine and tubocurarine. Research into different aspects of isoquinolines con tinues in profusion, attracting the talents of botanists, chemists, bioche mists, analysts, pharmacists and pharmacologists. Many of these aspects are of an interdisciplinary nature, and in April 1984, The Phytochemical Society of Europe arranged a 3-day symposium on The Chemistry and Bi ology of Isoquinoline Alkaloids in order to provide a forum for scientists of differing disciplines who are united by a common interest in this one class of natural product. Each chapter in this volume is based on a lecture given at this symposium. Attempts have been made to make the aims and objectives, experimental findings and conclusions reached, intelligible to scientists of differing backgrounds. The introductory chapter, which is mainly based on a historical discus sion, stresses that plants containing isoquinolines have proved to be both a boon and a curse to mankind. The Opium Poppy, Papaver somniferum, produces the medicinally used alkaloids morphine, codeine, noscapine and papaverine whilst it also continues to provide drugs of abuse, particularly morphine and its readily prepared O,O-diacetyl derivative, heroin. Numer ous other alkaloids have been isolated from other members of the Papaver acea, and a knowledge of their presence and distribution within the various species has proved a useful adjunct to systematic botanical studies.

Plants produce a vast number of bioactive compounds with different chemical scaffolds, which modulate a diverse range of molecular targets and are used as drugs for treating numerous diseases. Most present-day medicines are derived either from plant compounds or their derivatives, and plant compounds continue to offer limitless reserves for the discovery of new medicines. While different classes of plant compounds, like phenolics, flavonoids, saponins and alkaloids, and their potential pharmacological applications are currently being explored, their curative mechanisms are yet to be understood in detail. This book is divided into 2 volumes and offers detailed information on plant-derived bioactive compounds, including recent research findings. Volume 1, Plant-derived Bioactives: Chemistry and Mode of Action, discusses the chemistry of highly valued plant bioactive compounds and their mode of actions at the molecular level. Volume 2, Plant-derived Bioactives: Production, Properties and Therapeutic Applications, explores the sources, biosynthesis, production, biological properties and therapeutic applications of plant bioactives. Given their scope, these books are valuable resources for members of the scientific community wishing to further explore various medicinal plants and the therapeutic applications of their bioactive compounds. They appeal to scholars, teachers and scientists involved in plant product research, and facilitate the development of innovative new drugs.

The Alkaloids: Chemistry and Pharmacology

The Isoquinoline Alkaloids: A Course in Organic Chemistry is a description of the chemical structures of alkaloids. The book discusses the processes for degradation of isoquinoline alkaloids to recognizable compounds such as oxidation and exhaustive methylation. The associated processes in removing the nitrogen atom are also explained. The commonly used Hofmann process and the interpretation of its result are evaluated in the degradation of alkaloids. The cactus ""pellote"" used by Mexican Indians to induce hallucinatory experiences is examined. The active ingredient is identified as mescaline; its composition is analyzed to contain one primary amino and three methoxyl groups. The different syntheses made to duplicate mescaline are described. The structures of morphine, codeine, and thebain, which are all alkaloids of opium, are also analyzed. Another example of a principal alkaloid found in a plant is emetine found in the root of the ipecac. The pharmacological bases of emetine are isolated and noted as emetamine, cephaeline, psychotrine, and O-methylpsychotrine. The text also traces many other structural relationships within the subgroups of the isoquinoline alkaloids. Chemists, students and professors in organic chemistry, and laboratory technicians whose work is related to pharmacology will find this book informative.

Explores scientific and medical research on the emerging uses of psychedelics to enrich mind, morals, spirituality, and creativity • Outlines a future that embraces psychedelics as tools for cognitive development, personal growth, business, and an experience-based religious reformation • Presents research on the use of psychedelics to enhance problem-solving, increase motivation, boost the immune system, and deepen ethical values • Includes chapters by Roger N. Walsh, M.D., Ph.D., and Charles Grob, M.D., on their psychedelic research on religious experience and alleviating the fear of death As psychedelic psychotherapy gains recognition through research at universities and medical establishments such as the Johns Hopkins Medical Institute and Bellevue Hospital, the other beneficial uses of psychedelics are beginning to be recognized and researched as well--from enhancing problem-solving and increasing motivation to boosting the immune system and deepening moral and ethical values. Exploring the bright future of psychedelics, Thomas B. Roberts, Ph.D., reveals how new uses for entheogens will enrich individuals as well as society as a whole. With contributions from Charles Grob, M.D., and Roger N. Walsh, M.D., Ph.D., the book explains how psychedelics can raise individual and business attitudes away from self-centeredness, improve daily life with strengthened feelings of meaningfulness and spirituality, and help us understand and redesign the human mind, leading to the possibility of a neurosingularity--a time when future brains surpass our current ones. Roberts envisions a future where you will seek psychedelic therapy not only for psychological reasons but also for personal growth, creative problem solving, improved brain function, and heightened spiritual awareness. Our psychedelic future is on the horizon--a future that harnesses the full potential of mind and spirit--and Thomas Roberts outlines a path to reach it.

Containing more than 450 entries, this easy-to-read encyclopedia provides concise information about the history of and recent trends in drug use and drug abuse in the United States—a societal problem with an estimated cost of $559 billion a year. Despite decades of effort and billions of dollars spent to combat the problem, illicit drug use in the United States is still rampant and shows no sign of abating. Covering illegal drugs ranging from marijuana and LSD to cocaine and crystal meth, this authoritative reference work examines patterns of drug use in American history, as well as drug control and interdiction efforts from the nineteenth century to the present. This encyclopedia provides a multidisciplinary perspective on the various aspects of the American drug problem, including the drugs themselves, the actions taken in attempts to curb or stop the drug trade, the efforts at intervention and treatment of those individuals affected by drug use, and the cultural and economic effects of drug use in the United States. More than 450 entries descriptively analyze and summarize key terms, trends, concepts, and people that are vital to the study of drugs and drug abuse, providing readers of all ages and backgrounds with invaluable information on domestic and international drug trafficking and use. The set provides special coverage of shifting societal and legislative perspectives on marijuana, as evidenced by Colorado and Washington legalizing marijuana with the 2012 elections.