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J Plant Res (2011) 124:593600 DOI 10.1007/s10265-010-0394-6
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Evolution and origins of the Mazatec hallucinogenic sage, Salvia divinorum (Lamiaceae): a molecular phylogenetic approach
Aaron A. Jenks Jay B. Walker Seung-Chul Kim
Received: 20 October 2010 / Accepted: 29 October 2010 / Published online: 2 December 2010 The Botanical Society of Japan and Springer 2010
Abstract Salvia divinorum Epl. & Jtiva-M. (Lamiaceae) is a potent hallucinogenic plant that is classied within Salvia subgenus Calosphace, section Dusenostachys, and hypothesized to be an interspecic hybrid. It is of ethno-botanical signicance due to its employment in traditional healing ceremonies by the Mazatecs of Oaxaca, Mexico, and due to its unique pharmacologya highly selective, non-nitrogenous, j-opioid receptor agonist. In order to test its phylogenetic position and putative hybridity, we sequenced multiple DNA regions (ITS, trnL-trnF, and psbA-trnH) of 52 speciesrepresenting the major lineages of subgenus Calosphaceand six accessions of S. divinorum. Our molecular phylogenetic results suggest thatS. divinorum should not be classied within Dusenostachys and that it is not a hybrid. Additionally, we determine that the closest known relative of this psychoactive Mexican sage is S. venulosa, a rare endemic of Colombia.
Keywords Diviners sage Hallucinogens Medicinal
plants Psychoactive plants Salvia divinorum Ska Maria
Pastora
Introduction
Salvia divinorum Epling & Jtiva-M. [Labiatae] is powerful psychoactive plant that together with teonancatl, the so-called magic mushrooms (Psilocybe spp. [Strophariaceae]) (Schultes 1940; Wasson 1961), and the hallucinogenic morning glory, ololiuqui (Turbina corymbosa (L.) Raf. [Convolvulaceae]) (Schultes 1941), plays an important role in psycho-spiritual mythology and healing ceremonies of the Mazatecs of northeastern Oaxaca, Mexico, to whom it is known as xka pastora or ska Maria pastora (the leaves of Mary the shepherdess) (Wasson 1962). A diterpene, salvinorin A, has been shown to be pharmacologically responsible for the hallucinogenic activity of Salvia divinorum (Siebert 1994), functioning as a highly selective j-opioid receptor agonist (Roth et al. 2002; Yan and Roth 2004). Medical application in a clinical setting has been documented (Hanes 2001, 2003; Vortherms and Roth 2006).
Wasson (1962) rst described the ethnobotany and ceremonial uses of ska Pastora, and reported that Salvia divinorum only rarely owers and never sets seed in the Sierra Mazateca. Flowering specimens were sent to Carl Epling who described Salvia divinorum as a new species (Epling and Jtiva-M....