Harmaline and Harmine

These substances both belong to the beta carbolines. They are,the natural alkaloids of the South American Banisteriopsis caapi. They are serotonin antagonists with a hallucinogenic and analgesic effect. It is also possible that they interact with benzodiazepine receptors. Harmaline is one of the ingredients of 'ayahuasca', an Indian drink which has particularly made a name for itself in recent years in connection with the Brazilian Sao Daime religion. This strongly hallucinatory drink also contains an orally active form of DMT.