The comparative morphology and indole alkaloid constituents of certain species and varieties of morning glories (Convolvulaceae)

The morning glory seeds, Ipomoea violacea L. ("Badoh negro") and Rivea corymbosa (L.) Haller filius ("Ololiuqui") are used in Mexico for divinatory and hallucinogenic purposes. These properties are attributed to certain hallucinogenic indole alkaloids contained in the seeds. Because morning glories are popularly grown in the United States and there has been some misuse of certain seeds of them for eliciting hallucinatory responses, it was deemed important to establish relationships exisitng between the United States and Mexican species.Horticultural data were collected from many sources. Plants were grown from seeds obtained from several seed companies, and botanical, morphological, and histological studies were undertaken to establish a means of identification of the numerous varieties and species popularly grown in North America. In addition, qualitative and quantitative chemical investigations were undertaken to study the alkaloidal principles of the seeds and vegetative tissues.It was found that six horticultural varieties of Ipomoea violacea L. are available on the North American flower seed market. The seeds of these varieties were found to contain the same number and kind of indole alkaloids. No significant botanical differences between these horticultural varieties and Ipomoea violacea L. ("Badoh negro") grown from Mexican seeds were observed, except flower seed color and growth rates. The mature seeds and isolated embryos of most of the species could be differentiated on the basis of their physical characteristics. The pulverized seeds could be differentiated in most cases by unique epidermal and hilum trichomes, epidermal-hypodermal patterns and the palisade sclereids.Transverse sections of the seeds, leaf, petiole, stem, and root of Ipomoea violacea and Rivea corymbosa were prepared and described in detail. The diagnostic elements of their dried and powdered vegetative tissues (leaf, stem, and root) were distinctive peltate trichomes present on the leaves of both.Chemical tests showed a strong indication of alkaloids in the seeds of Ipomoea alba, Ipomoea nil, and Ipomoea muricata and in the roots of Ipomoea purpurea, and Ipomoea X sloteri. These included tests for indole alkaloids. These were found in the seeds and vegetative tissues of Rivea corymbosa and the varieties of Ipomoea violacea.The R_f and R_I values of the indole alkaloids were established. Two unknown indole components have been detected by paper chromatography having R_I values of 39.4 and 2.3.Assays for total indole alkaloids ranged from 0.006 to 0.08 percent, in the seeds of Rivea corymbosa and varieties of Ipomoea violacea. The total petroleum ether extractive in several seeds ranged from 9.2 to 17.0 percent.