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2007-06-15T04:22:32Z

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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Kanna

| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Caryophyllales]]
| familia = [[Aizoaceae]]
| genus = ''Mesembryanthemum (Sceletium)''
| species = '''''S. tortuosum'''''
| binomial = ''Sceletium tortuosum''
}}

'''''Sceletium tortuosum''''' is a [[succulent]] herb commonly found in [[South Africa]], which is also known as '''Kanna''', '''Channa''', '''Kougoed''' (Kauwgoed) - which literally means, 'chew(able) things/goodies' or 'something to chew'. The plant has been used by South African pastoralists and hunter-gatherers as a mood-altering substance from prehistoric times. The earliest written records of the use of the plant date back to 1662. The traditionally prepared dried sceletium was often chewed as a [[quid]], and the saliva swallowed, but it has also been made into gel caps, teas and tinctures. Less commonly, it has been reported that Sceletium used to be inhaled as a snuff, or smoked, usually with the addition of other herbs.

==Effects==
Sceletium is known to elevate mood and decrease anxiety, stress and tension. It has also been used as an appetite suppressant by shepherds walking long distances in arid areas. In [[intoxicating]] doses it can cause euphoria, initially with stimulation and later with sedation. Users also report increased personal insight, interpersonal ease and a meditative, grounded feeling without any perceptual dulling. Others have noted enhanced tactile and sexual response. High doses produce distinct inebriation and stimulation often followed by sedation. The plant is not considered [[hallucinogenic]], contrary to some literature on the subject, and no severe adverse effects have been documented.

==Pharmacology==
{{main|Mesembrine}}
''S. tortuosum'' can cause significant mood-elevation and anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) action. In doses as low as 50 mg users have reported improvements in mood, decreased anxiety, relaxation and a sense of well-being. At higher dosages near 100 mg, kanna acts as a calming euphoriant and [[empathogen]].

The [[alkaloids]] contained in ''S. tortuosum'' believed to possess psychoactivity include: mesembrine, [[mesembrenone]], [[mesembrenol]] and [[tortuosamine]].<ref name="constituents">Psychoactive constituents of the genus Sceletium N.E.Br. and other Mesembryanthemaceae: a review. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=8691846&query_hl=24&itool=pubmed_docsum]</ref> [[Mesembrine]] is a major alkaloid present in Sceletium tortuosum, which has been shown to be a potent serotonin reuptake inhibitor (more so than [[imipramine]]),<ref name="mesembrine-ssri_patent">Pharmaceutical compositions containing mesembrine and related compounds. [http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=6,288,104 U.S. Patent 6,288,104] <span class="PDFlink noprint">
<small>[http://www.pat2pdf.org/pat2pdf/foo.pl?number=6,288,104 <span title="PDF Conversion">(PDF)]</small></span></ref> and a [[phosphodiesterase inhibitor|PDE4-inhibitor]] (less so than [[rolipram]]).<ref name="mesembrine-pde4">Mesembrine - an inhibitor of PDE4 that follows structure-activity relationship to rolipram. [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/31/Mesembrine_pde4_inhibtor.pdf]</ref>

==Interactions==
Little is known about the interactions of ''S. tortuosum'', although it should not be combined with [[SSRI]]s, [[MAOI]]s, cardiac or psychiatric medications. Headaches in conjunction with alcohol have been noted with kanna use. Some reports suggest a [[synergy]] with [[cannabis]].

==References==
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[[de:Kanna]]

[[Category:Aizoaceae]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]

Sceletium tortuosum - Revision history

MediaWiki default at 04:22, 15 June 2007