List of chemical abbreviations used 
DMT = N,N-Dimethyltryptamine 
MMT = N-Methyltryptamine 
tr = Tryptamine 
5-MeO-DMT = 5-Methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine 
5-MeO-MMT = 5-Methoxy-N-methyltryptamine 
MTHC = 2-Methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-p- 
= carboline 
6-MeO-THC = 2-Methyl-6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetra- 
= hydro-8-carboline 
6-MeO-DMTHC =  1,2-Dimethyl-6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-te- 
= trahydro-B-carboline 
Comments on Chemical Constituents of Virola and Related 
Genera 
Fifty-three voucher collections of Virola and related genera 
made by various botanists over a time span of. several decades 
have been analyzed for alkaloids. Of the total number of 
collections, 18 proved negative when analyzed for alkaloids in 
various parts of the plant. Occasionally, different collections 
representing the same species have proven to be alkaloid- 
positive in some cases and negative in others. Four analyses of 
different collections of Virola surinamensis, however, all proved 
to be negative. 
To our knowledge, only the bark and/or constituents of bark 
are used in the preparation of the intoxicating snuffs employed by 
the Indians. The alkaloid content of bark specimens is listed in 
Table 1, which also gives the species used in the manufacture of 
snuffs and the approximate alkaloidal content. 
From this table, it is apparent that the species used are usually 
rich in alkaloids. Virola rufula is not known to be employed and, 
if it is not utilized, it would appear that the Indians have missed an 
alkaloid-rich species. In addition to the bark, the leaves and 
flowering shoots seem to be usually rich in alkaloids. 
The simple alkaloids MMT, DMT, 5-MeO-MMT and 5-MeO- 
DMT abound in the species used; they are also present in other 
species. 
The nyakwana snuff analyzed by Agurell et a/. (1969) proved to 
be extraordinarily rich in base content (11%). This might explain 
a 
