[Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity 2:4, 181-190; September/October 2009]; ©2009 Landes Bioscience

Opinion Paper

Novel, unifying mechanism for mescaline in the central nervous

system
Electrochemistry, catechol redox metabolite, receptor, cell signaling and structure activity
relationships

Peter Kovacic1,* and Ratnasamy Somanathan2

1Department of Chemistry; San Diego State University; San Diego, CA USA; 2Centro de Graduados e Investigación del Instituto Tecnológico de Tijuana; Tijuana,
BC Mexico

Abbreviations: OS, oxidative stress; ROS, reactive oxygen species; ET, electron transfer; SAR, structure activity relationship; MDMA,
methylenedioxymethamphetamine; EEG, electroencephalographic; LSD, lysergic acid diethylamide; DMT, N, N-dimethyltryptamine
Key words: mescaline, mechanism, metabolism, catechol, quinone, redox, electrochemistry, SAR, receptor, cell signaling, neuropharma-
cology

A unifying mechanism for abused drugs has been proposed mechanistic framework. This mushroom constituent is hydro-
previously from the standpoint of electron transfer. Mescaline lyzed to the phenol psilocin, also active, which is subsequently
can be accommodated within the theoretical framework based oxidized to an ET o-quinone or iminoquinone.
on redox cycling by the catechol metabolite with its quinone
counterpart. Electron transfer may play a role in electrical effects Introduction
involving the nervous system in the brain. This approach is in The use of mescaline (peyote) (1) (Scheme 1), a psychedelic
accord with structure activity relationships involving mescaline, drug present in various types of cactus, was reported in religious
abused drugs, catecholamines and etoposide. Inefficient demeth- ceremonies of North American natives by early Europeans. For
ylation is in keeping with the various drug properties, such as centuries, North American Indians used mescaline as a medicine,
requirement for high dosage and slow acting. amulet and hallucinogenic religious sacrament.1 Primitive peoples
There is a discussion of receptor binding, electrical effects, cell associated the plant action with the supernatural. Vestiges of the
signaling and other modes of action. Mescaline is a nonselective, cults that survived, flourished and expanded to a large intertribal
seretonin receptor agonist. 5-HTP receptors are involved in the religion as late as 1973. No significant harm is evident from
stimulus properties. Research addresses the aspect of stereochem- chronic consumption during these ceremonies, although adverse
ical requirements. Receptor binding may involve the proposed effects have been reported. It is claimed that the drug is neither
quinone metabolite and/or the amino sidechain via protonation. habit-forming nor addicting. Abuse of the substance is less than
Electroencephalographic studies were performed on the effects of might be expected. Among the reasons are bitter taste, nausea and
mescaline on men. Spikes are elicited by stimulation of a cortical low potency. Research on the substance started more than 100
area. The potentials likely originate in nonsynaptic dendritic years ago, and has continued at a vigorous pace. The drug was
membranes. Receptor-mediated signaling pathways were exam- ruled illegal in the US in 1970.
ined which affect mescaline behavior. The hallucinogen belongs In vivo synthesis of mescaline in 1950, in the cactus was
to the class of 2AR agonists which regulate pathways in cortical proposed as shown in Scheme 1.2 In 1969,3,4 intermediate steps
neurons. The research identifies neural and signaling mecha- were further elaborated. Starting with tyrosine (2), the main
nisms responsible for the biological effects. Recently, another intermediates are dopa (3) dopamine (4) and 3,4,5-trihydroxy-β-
hallucinogen, psilocybin, has been included within the unifying phenyethylamine (5), leading to mescaline (1).
*Correspondence to: Peter Kovacic; Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry; Synthesis of Mescaline
San Diego State University; 5500 Campanile Drive; San Diego, CA 92182 USA;
Tel.: 619.594.4634; Fax: 619.594.4634; Email: [email protected] Over the years, several synthetic methods have appeared for
making mescaline from readily available trimethoxybenzene com-
Submitted: 04/24/09; Revised: 06/29/09; Accepted: 06/29/09
pounds. Soderquist et al.5 converted trimethoxybenzene ketal to
Previously published online as an Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity mescaline in good yields (Scheme 2). Another synthesis involving
E-publication:
a chromium complex was reported by Rose-Munch et al.6
http://www.landesbioscience.com/journals/oximed/article/9380

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 Mescaline mechanism

Scheme 1. Biosynthesis of mescaline. Steps include oxidation of (2) to (3), decarboxylation to (4), oxidation to (5) and methylation to (1).

There are also several earlier references to the synthesis of positive than -0.5 V. o-Quinones possess particularly favorable
mescaline.7-9 reduction potentials. ET, ROS and OS have been increasingly
The preponderance of bioactive substances or their metabo- implicated in the mode of action of drugs and toxins, e.g.,
lites incorporate ET functionalities, which, we believe, play an anti-infective agents,10 anticancer drugs,11 carcinogens,12 repro-
important role in physiological responses. These main groups ductive toxins,13 nephrotoxins,14 hepatotoxins,15 cardiovascular
include quinones (or phenolic precursors), metal complexes (or toxins,16 nerve toxins,17 mitochondrial toxins,18 abused drugs,19
complexors), aromatic nitro compounds (or reduced hydroxy- ototoxins,20 immunotoxins,21 eye toxins,22 pulmonary toxins23
lamine and nitroso derivatives), and conjugated imines (or and various other categories, including human illnesses.24 This
iminium species). The quinone category is the main focus review demonstrates that the ET-ROS-OS unifying theme, which
herein. has been successful for many other classes of toxins and abused
A brief summary of the fundamental biochemistry of the drugs, can also be applied to mescaline.
quinone ET functionality would be instructive as foundation There is substantial precedent for ET involvement of catechol
for the ensuing sections. Quinones undergo redox cycling with and o-quinone as a redox couple (see above). In the mescaline case,
the corresponding hydroquinone or catechol with intermediate the suggested partners involved are catechol (6) and o-quinone (7),
involvement of semiquinones. In vivo redox cycling with oxygen together with a semiquinone. A unifying mode of action based
can occur giving rise to oxidative stress (OS) through generation on ET has been applied to the principal abused drugs as well as
of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In some cases, ET results in abused therapeutic drugs19 (see below). The term bioelectronome
interference with normal electrical effects, e.g., in respiration or refers to ET processes which are not only widespread in living
neurochemistry. ET may be associated with bioelectrical events systems, but are likely the most important chemical transforma-
occurring in the brain in response to the action of psychic drugs. tions.25 It is important to recognize that in vivo mode of action
Generally, active entities possessing ET groups display reduc- is usually multifaceted with various factors involved, some of
tion potentials in the physiologically responsive range, i.e., more which are interactive. The present proposed mechanism is the first

182 Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity 2009; Vol. 2 Issue 4

 Mescaline mechanism

a minor metabolite of mescaline in humans. Friedhoff

and Goldstein30 have reported 3,4,5-trimethoxypheny-
ethanol as a mescaline metabolite in rats. Charalampous
et al.28 feeding 14C labeled mescaline orally isolated
N-acylated mescaline and the 3,4-dimethoxy-5-hydroxy
N-acetyl derivative from the urine. Interestingly, the
N-acetyl derivative at high level of dosage 300–750 mg
did show a mild degree of drowsiness (Fig. 2).
In an in vitro study using 14C-labelled mesca-
line and rabbit liver enzyme preparation, Daly et
al.31 showed that mescaline is demethylated to the
2-hydroxy-1,3-dimethoxyderivative (12) and the
3-hydroxy-1,2-dimethoxyderivative (13) (Fig. 3).

Metabolism (Demethylation and Oxidation)

In most cases, the products isolated result from
sidechain oxidation, predominantly 3,4,5-trimethoxy-
phenylacetic acid,31-33 and to a lesser extent the
corresponding aldehyde precursor.34 Other metabolites
in this category include the hydroxyethyl derivative30
and 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid.35
Our mechanistic approach requires dealkylation
of the ether groups to phenols. In an earlier study,
compounds isolated comprise 3,4-dimethoxy-5-hydroxy-
phenethylamine, the 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxy isomer
and 3,4-dihydroxy-5-methoxyphenylacetic acid.31 Of
most relevance is conversion to the catechol form which,
Scheme 2. Synthetic routes to mescaline. Various routes have been reported for labo- according to the hypothetical approach, is precursor to
ratory synthesis of mescaline. Key starting materials incorporate acetal, nitro alkene an ET o-quinone. The rate of demethylation is slow,36
and chromium complex. as also pointed out in another section. Data suggest that
mescaline may be converted into some other substance
one addressing events at the fundamental molecular level, which which is directly responsible for the effects on the central nervous
also fits into a unifying theme for abused drugs (Fig. 1). system.37
Mescaline Metabolism Relation of Demethylation Rate to Drug Properties
In vivo studies on the metabolism of mescaline have shown The rate of demethylation of anisole derivatives was determined
that a large part of the mescaline combines with liver protein26 by relative activity studies, ranging from 0 to 200%.38 The result
and varying amounts are excreted unchanged or as the oxidatively was a quite low figure of 13% for mescaline which can be related
deaminated 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyacetic acid.27,28 Harley-Mason to various drug properties. Large amounts of the drug are excreted
et al. isolated 3,4-dihydroxy-5-methoxyphenylacetic acid from unchanged,39 in accord with inefficient metabolism. Some have
human urine after the ingestion of mescaline,27 Ratcliffe and proposed that all of the drug is excreted suggesting that the parent
Smith29 have found 3,4-dimethoxy-5-hydroxyphenyethylamine as is the active form. This statement is not valid since there are
appreciable numbers of reports on metabolism.
Also, the drug is 1,000–3,000 times less potent
than LSD. The effective human dose is 300–500
mgs, which is much larger than for other related

Figure 1. Catechol and o-quinone metabolites of mesca-

line. The catechol-type metabolite (6) is part of a class
that readily undergoes redox cycling with generation
of an o-quinone product (7). The process is an oxida-
tive transformation. In addition, the catechol group
readily complexes with heavy metals. Generally, such
complexes are known to undergo electron transfer reac-
tions which, in the brain, may be involved in some of the
physiological effects elicited by mescaline.

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 Mescaline mechanism

Figure 2. In vivo metabolism products of mescaline. These include demethylation and side chain modification.

agents. The time needed for maximum

effect may be up to 2 hours, which is
longer than for other drugs in the psychic
class.33 It is important to recognize that
only small amounts are needed for notice-
able effect since the quinone ET action is
catalytic, as is the case for many physiolog-
ically-active materials.

Structure-Activity Relationship of
Phenylethylamine Hallucinogens
Mescaline is orally active, but it is the
least potent of all the classical hallucino- Figure 3. In vitro metabolic intermediates of mescaline. The process entails monodemethylation to
gens. Despite its low potency, mescaline phenolic diethers.
has served as a prototype hallucinogen
because of the similarity of its psychopharmacolgy to other incorporate the o-dimethoxy precursor of the subsequent cate-
hallucinogens and also because it is extensively used up to the chol. Apparently, other factors are essential, such as metabolism
present day in the form of peyote during religious services of the and receptor binding. Other SAR studies involved sidechain
Native American Church. It also has served as the lead molecule in homologs, such as 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenylisopropylamine
structure-activity relationship studies of the phenethylamines. (3,4,5-trimethoxyamphetamine) (14).41 It is about twice as potent
Mescaline. A quite thorough investigation was carried out as mescaline (Fig. 4).
more than 40 years ago on SAR.40 The monosubstituted methoxy Extensive structure-activity relationship studies, carried out
counterparts are inactive. Also inactive are all disubstituted over several decades in various laboratories42-45 including that
methoxy isomers. All trisubstituted compounds are inactive, except of Nichols, have led to a good general understanding of the
mescaline itself. The 2,3,4,5-tetramethoxy derivative is somewhat structural and stereochemical features that lead to hallucinogenic
more active than mescaline. The pentamethoxy analog is the activity in substituted phenyethylamine derivatives, leading ulti-
most active, indicating that sidechain cyclization to the indole mately to extremely potent substituted amphetamines such as
derivative may not be important for mescaline. In relation to 2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromoamphetamine (15) and 2,5-dimethoxy-4-
the o-quinone approach, it is evident that all active compounds iodoamphetamine (15).

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 Mescaline mechanism

Figure 4. Sidechain homolog of mescaline. The data show that homologa-

tion of the sidechain to the isopropyl structure enhances the potency. This
side chain is also present in Figure 5.

Interesting results are reported for compounds of structure(14)

in which nuclear substitution is quite different from that of
mescaline (1) (Fig. 5).46
Agents of general structure(14) are among some of the most
potent hallucinogens known. These compounds have low nano- Figure 5. 2,5-Dimethoxyphenyl analog of mescaline. This analog on dem-
ethylation would yield a hydroquinone which could undergo redox cycling
molar affinities for serotonin 5-HT2A and 5-HT2c receptors, the with its p-quinone partner.
primary sites believed to be involved in mediation of the unique
behavioral effects of hallucinogens. Although the 1,2-dimethoxy
grouping, essential for catechol type formation, is missing, the with a number of these via catechol and o-quinone metabolites.
present authors believe that substances of type (14) can be The ones falling in this category are phenytoin, phenobarbital and
accommodated within the general mechanistic framework. The aspirin.
1,4-dimethoxy arrangement in (14) can serve as precursor of a Mescaline and catecholamines. Catecholamines comprise an
hydroquinone structure via demethylation, which might then important class whose most prominent members are dopamine,
undergo redox cycling with the corresponding p-benzoquinone, epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine (noradrenaline) and
analogous to the mechanistic proposal for mescaline. 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA). The substances are involved
Studies were made on the activity of the aldehyde and carboxylic in neurotransmission and neurotoxicity.47 Much of their biochem-
acid metabolites of mescaline (see Metabolism).34 Pharmacological istry stems from the catechol moiety which undergoes oxidation
experiments on mice indicate that the metabolites are much less to o-quinone and semiquinone. Thus, the catechol undergoes
active or inactive in cataleptogenic effect and phenobarbital-induced redox cycling with its quinone counterpart. Reported conversion
sleep prolongation as compared with the parent compound. The of mescaline to catechols (see Metabolism section) lends credence
reason is most likely the absence of the aminoethyl sidechain which to participation of ET as in the case of the catecholamine analogs.
may be important for binding. Other SAR data are available in the There is also similarity in the presence of an aminoethyl sidechain
sections on abused drugs and catecholamines. which is substituted in some cases.
Mescaline and abused drugs. A recent review provides a Mescaline and etoposide. This drug, a 2,6-dimethoxyphenol
unifying mechanism for toxicity and addiction by abused drugs derivative, is a semisynthetic analog of the antitumor antibiotic
based on ET-ROS.19 Evidence indicates that mescaline can also be podophyllotoxin.11 Etoposide is metabolically activated by oxida-
incorporated within the broad framework. The drugs involved are tion and demethylation to an o-quinone derivative. The presence
nicotine, alcohol, phencyclidine, cocaine, methylenedioxymetham- of molecular oxygen contributes to cytotoxicity, and DNA cleavage
phetamine (MDMA, ecstasy), amphetamine, methamphetamine, is inhibited by radical scavengers. Also, the model 3-methoxy-
morphine, heroin, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, and lysergic acid 1,2-quinone exhibits a comparatively positive reduction potential
diethylamide. Usually, metabolites are the active forms involved (-0.16 V), making for facile electron uptake. This compound can
in ET and OS. Structural analogy can be drawn involving also serve as a close model for both the etoposide metabolite and
mescaline and several of these, based on catechol and the proposed metabolite of mescaline. Metals, such as Fe or Cu,
o-quinone as the active entities, namely MDMA, amphetamine, may play a role in ET via complex formation with the intermediate
methamphetamine, morphine and heroin. In the amphetamine catechol.
series, the 3,4,5-compound was twice as active as mescaline; the Recently, psilocybin (16) has been added to drugs of the abused
2,4,5-isomer was very active, and the 2,3,5-isomer was inactive.40 class19 which operate by ET mode of action.48 The substance,
Various therapeutic drugs fall in the abused category, e.g., present in certain mushrooms, is a hallucinogen belonging to
benzodiazepines, phenytoin, phenobarbital, aspirin and acetamino- the tryptamine family. It has been banned in most countries.
phen.19 Similarly, mescaline can be mechanistically associated In vivo, (16) is converted by dephosphorylation into a phenol

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 Mescaline mechanism

(17) (psilocin) which also exhibits psychedelic

(hallucinogenic) properties. Studies have been
carried out entailing enzymatic oxidation which
provides important evidence concerning the
mechanistic mode. The product from psilocin,
possessing a deep blue color, is believed to
contain an o-quinone structure (18).49 A similar
result was obtained in a subsequent investiga-
tion in which the product was assigned either
an o-quinone (18) or iminoquinone structure
(19).50 Psilocybin yielded a similar result in
accord with facile hydrolysis to (17). o-Quinones
display quite favorable ET properties. The data
fit nicely into the prior unifying framework
involving participation of ET entities in the
physiological activity.19 There has been scant
attention to action mode at the fundamental
molecular level.
Pharmacological studies were reported on
receptor participation.51 Psilocin behaves as a
partial agonist at the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor
in the brain. It is not surprising that the effects
are somewhat related to those of serotonin which
possesses a closely related structure (Fig. 6).

Physiological Effects
Mescaline is about 1,000–3,000 times less
potent than LSD (20) and about 30 times less
potent than psilocybin (16).43,52,53 Despite its
low potency, mescaline has served as proto-
type hallucinogen because of the similarity of
its psychopharmacology to other hallucinogens.
Death in animals results from convulsions and
respiratory arrest. An effective dose of the sulfate,
200–400 mg, causes hallucination lasting for Figure 6. Metabolism of psilocybin to o- and imino-quinones. The process entails dephospho-
about 10–12 h,54 compared with DMT (21) rylation to the phenol followed by oxidation to quinone-type products.
(<1 h) or psilocybin (4–6 h). Brain imaging
showed mescaline selectively increases neuronal
activity, especially in the striatolimbic systems in the right hemi- Pharmocokinetics
sphere. Pàlenicek et al.55 showed mescaline had a delayed onset of
the main behavioral changes in rats compared to other hallucino- Animals show slow tolerance to repeated administration.
gens. Subcutaneous injection of mescaline leads to rapid increase in Intoxication can be alleviated or stopped with chlorpromazine or
blood serum levels in 30 min and subsequently quickly decreased. valium.
Mescaline entered the brain slowly, and showed peak levels at 60 Psychic Effects
min and remained high for an additional 60 min. Reaction to
mescaline mimics the symptoms produced by norepinephrine and Individuals experience various distortions, involving sensory
epinephrine, namely increase in heart rate, increase in tempera- perception, space, time, color, sounds and shapes, as well as
46,56,57 There have been very few clinical studies
ture, nausea, dizziness, heavy perspiration, dilation of pupils, dry dreamlike feeling.
mouth and anxiety. In addition, coordination and reflux disrup- employing mescaline, although it has a long history of use among
tion, muscle weakness, increased blood pressure (hypertension), the Native American population. Mescaline was studied to deter-
contraction of the intestines and the uterus are experienced by mine whether its effects were similar to the symptoms of acute
individuals after exposure to mescaline.56 Hermie et al.57 showed psychosis. Hermie et al.57 showed, in normal male volunteers, that
subjects given 500 mg of mescaline sulfate produced “hyper- mescaline produced an acute “psychotic state” 3.5–4 h after drug
frontal” pattern of increased blood flow, which was correlated with administration as measured by the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale
mescaline-induced psychological effects (Fig. 7). (BPRS) and Paranoid Depression Scale (PDS).

186 Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity 2009; Vol. 2 Issue 4

 Mescaline mechanism

cis- and trans-2-(2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-cyclo-

propylamine.61 The trans isomer is qualitatively
indistinguishable from mescaline in relation to behav-
ioral effects. Potency is somewhat greater, and duration
of action is briefer. In contrast, the cis isomer is almost
inactive. Calculations on the docked conformation
indicate that this form is higher in energy than that
in which the side chain is in the anti conformation.
Insight was gained from investigations on C-(4,5,6-
trimethoxyindan-1-yl)methanamine, in which the side
chain is considerably constrained by covalent linkage
to the benzene ring.62 The compound possessed three-
fold higher affinity and potency than mescaline, as
well as equal efficacy at the 5-HT2A receptor. In drug
discrimination studies, the indan derivative was five-
fold more potent. Resolution into the enantiomers
showed the R-(+) isomer to be the active form. These
studies of the effects of sidechain alteration are also
relevant to the SAR section.
The quinone metabolite may be difficult to isolate
Figure 7. Hallucinogens. These psychic drugs are used in comparison studies involving
physiological activity. since this class is known to bind readily to protein via
conjugate addition by thiol or amino nucleophiles.
Subsequent oxidation can regenerate the quinone
Table 1  Other mescaline mechanisms
which would then redox cycle at the active site. This view is in
keeping with the observation that large amounts of the drug are
References bound to protein.31 The side chain amino group of mescaline may
1 Alteration of normal metabolism in 81 also be involved in receptor binding via protonation by protein
such a way as to cause hallucinations. carboxyl.
2 A mescaline-protein complex is responsible for the 81 Receptor chemistry in relation to ET-ROS and electrostatics
characteristic central effects.a is provided elsewhere (see sections on Electrical Effects and Cell
3 Competition of mescaline for adrenergic receptors. 81 Signaling).
4 Relationships between catecholamine 81
metabolites and mescaline.b Electrical Effects
5 Cyclization to an indole. 81
A review was recently published on the importance of elec-
6 In the periphery, mescaline blocks the release 82 trical effects in living systems.63 Electroencephalographic (EEG)
of acetylcholine in muscle
studies were performed on the effects of mescaline on man.64
aThisproposal is similar to the one in an earlier section dealing with receptor binding by the quinone ­All-or-nothing spikes are elicited by antidromic, afferent or elec-
metabolite. bWhich is related to a prior section. trical stimulation of a cortical area treated with the drug.65 The
potentials likely originate in nonsynaptic dendritic membranes.
Receptor Binding A depressant cortical reaction induced by afferent stimulation
is influenced by the dendritic action potential from application
Serotonin receptors are made up of G protein-coupled types of mescaline. An EEG arousal is brought about in the rabbit
and ligand-gated ion channels present in the CNS, which mediate by administration of the drug.66 Evidence indicates that some
neurotransmission via the release of neurotransmitters, in addition biochemical and neural patterns are common to both mescaline
to hormones. These receptors play an important role in a variety and morphine.67,68 Another section of this review addresses similar
of processes, such as anxiety, cognition, aggression, learning, ET mechanisms for both cases, in line with the experimental obser-
memory, nausea, sleep and mood. As a result, they are the target of vation. Results indicate an association between mescaline-induced
therapeutic agents, as well as illicit drugs, including hallucinogens. pathological aggression and abnormal electrical activity in the
There is a detailed discussion of hallucinogens and receptors in a amygdale.69 A possible mechanism is discussed in rat studies, in
2004 review.46 which the drug inhibited the spontaneous firing of noradrenergic
Mescaline is a nonselective, serotonin receptor agonist.55 neurons of the locus ceruleus.70 There was increased reactivity
Data suggest that 5-HT2 receptors are involved in the stimulus of these neurons to the excitory influences of peripheral stimuli.
properties of the drug.58,59 Another article deals with receptor Results suggest that nanosecond-pulsed electric fields modulate
interaction in the rat striatum.60 Some research addresses the cell signaling from the plasma membrane to intracellular structures
aspect of stereochemical requirements. One study involved and function.71 This technology could provide a powerful, unique

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 Mescaline mechanism

tool to recruit signaling mechanisms that can eliminate aberrant The neuropsychological and neurometabolic effects of the drug
cells by apoptosis. A 1993 symposium,72 focused on bioelectricity were investigated with human subjects.84 Specific effects in the
of cell signaling. Living creatures can be regarded as complex elec- visual systems resulted. A hyperfrontal pattern in the face was
trochemical systems that evolved over billions of years. Organisms induced with emphasis on the right hemisphere; which was corre-
interacted with and adapted to an environment of such fields lated with induced psychotomimetic psychopathology. Mescaline
whose long-term effects are unknown. operates selectively in the brain, stimulating regions to increased
neuronal sctivity.85 Face-test studies were performed under mesca-
Cell Signaling line-induced psychosis. Apparently, the potentiating effect of
A study was made of receptor-mediated signaling pathways the drug is triggered by preferential actions on the serotogenic
which affect mescaline behavior.59 Mescaline belongs to the class of muscles.86,87 The behavioral effects were investigated for mesca-
5-HT<sub> receptor (2AR) agonists. The 2AR-regulated pathways line via intracerebroventricular administration.88 Rats exposed to
on cortical neurons are sufficient to mediate the response. The mescaline exhibited enhanced spontaneous motility with no effect
research identifies the long-elusive neural and signaling mecha- on exploratory behavior.89 The influence on behavior may be
nism responsible for the unique hallucinogenic effects. A review related to change in the brain cholinergic system.
addresses redox aspects of cell signaling by catecholamines and
their metabolites.73
Hypotheses Testing
Considerable research has been done on the basic mechanism of Experiments can be designed to test validity of the proposed
cell signaling based on radicals and electrons. More than 10 years action mechanism. The hypothesized catechol metabolite should
ago, ROS attracted attention in relation to cell signaling. Since be synthesized and evaluated for activity. Oxidation yields the
then, several books have addressed this aspect,74,75 including RNS, o-quinone whose activity and reduction potential could be deter-
e.g., NO. Evidence has accumulated that ROS, such as hydrogen mined. In the enzyme system used for demethylation, addition
peroxide, superoxide and the hydroxyl radical, are important of o-phenylenediamine can serve to trap the proposed o-quinone
chemical mediators that regulate the transduction of signals by derivative, with formation of a readily identified product. Similarly,
modulating protein activity via redox chemistry.76 Authors have heavy metal ions can act to form complexes with the proposed
proposed that ROS have been conserved throughout evolution as catechol derivative.
universal second messengers.77 Nearly every step in signal transfer
Acknowledgements
is sensitive to ROS, which can function as primary signals and
as second messengers in the activation of transcription factors.74 Editorial assistance by Angelica Ruiz, Michael McGovern,
The approach is elaborated in a recent review.78 A 2004 review79 Ashley Berry and Thelma Chavez is acknowledged. Helpful discus-
summarized the present status of electrophysiological effects and sion with Phillip White is appreciated.
deserves special attention. After a burst of research dealing with References
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motion should have an influence on positive and negative charges 9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane. Org Proc Res Develop 2006; 10:1076-9.
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Substantial evidence supports the contention that ET and ROS 2000; 302:693-7.
play important roles in cell signaling.78,80 The proposed quinone 7. Tsao M. A new synthesis of mescaline. J Am Chem Soc 1951; 73:5495-6.
metabolite could then be involved in ET. Also, electrostatic fields 8. Max E, Ramirez F. The reduction of β-nitrostyrene with lithium aluminum hydride.
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