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Amyris demifera
West Indian Sandalwood
Ecclesiastes 3:1 "There is a time and a purpose for everything under the heavens."
Domesticated: This means, is it readily available for sale within the United States, or has someone yet to do this yet. It does not appear that this specific variety has been domesticated into the United States yet. A related strain however, seems to grow in Florida, and that strain is Amyris elemifera (Rutaceae).[8]
Consumer note: There's another strain of Amyris which is NOT A. demifera that's discussed on this page. This other strain(Amyris Balsamifera) is a staple in industry, and is prized for its scent. It is possible that there's a hidden drug in there somewhere that phytochemist just haven't discovered or isolated yet. The oil it produces is a viscous liquid that has a pale to brownish-yellow color to it.[1][5] The scent has a hint of a woody smell to it.[1][5] The scent is slightly oily-sweet, balsamic, warm, sweet-foresty.[1][5] A. demifera should be no different most likely, as various species typically produce the same general constituents, being in the same genus and family, they are close relatives. An example is how cannabis indica and sativa both produce the same constituents.
Nicknames: The Amyris balsamifera variety is known as West Indian Sandalwood.[4]
Ethnobotany: Ethnobotanicals are plants that have been studied by scholars. Ethnobotany is the study of the cultural use of plants, which typically relates to their use in a religious or spiritual context. This field of study literally relates to the fruit(s) of the tree(s) of knowledge from the book of Genesis. There are scholars out there who agree with me on that too, including the Mckenna brothers.[2] With that in mind, it is no surprise that often times these ethnobotanicals are used by their indigenous culture for occult magic, and or religious ceremonies of primitive societies(shamanic cultures, and occult religions) in different parts of the world.[1]
Classification: Possibly psychoactive;[1]
Plant Family: Rutaceae;[4] Genus: Amyris;[4] Species: A. demifera;[4]
Natural Habitat: A. demifera is native to Cuba;[6] Amyris elemifera (Rutaceae) is native to Florida.[8]
Legality: Legal in the US.
OG Observations: There is an insane amount of psychoactive, hallucinogenic, and psychedelic ethnobotanicals that most people in the west still do not know about. Given an internet search for most of these plants, either no results come back, or only scholarly ones. I notice no shops selling them, and no one anywhere discussing them. I am thrilled to be the first, aside from the famous ethnobotanist theirselves, to be bringing these ancient facts to the mainstream of todays western world. Some of these ethnobotanicals can be found in seed form within the US however most, have yet to be domesticated. A related variety known as Amyris balsamifera is often sold online for its fragrance, and essential oils.[5] Often times these scientific names can have synonyms, being two different names, but referring to the same specific species.. It's confusing. I'm curious if A. demifera and this other one are the same, but have yet to answer that question. I will update this page as I learn more. At any rate, we can see that this family of plants is well known for its oils and scents, and that gives us a clue into the potential properties of the A. demifera species speficially. Because of the aromatic nature of this ethnobotanical, it can be used in the production of perfume by DIY female entrepaneurs![4] Sell this stuff on ETSY
Phytochemicals:
Amyris demifera produces: furanocoumarin, 8-(3-methylbut-2-enyloxy)-marmesin acetate, and its analog 8-(3-methylbut-2-enyloxy)-marmesin.[3] It produces limonene( a type of monoterpene)[3] Another scholarly source tell us that this species products: Phenols, Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Triterpenes and steroids, Cumarins, Quinones, free amino acid[6] Scienist in one source explain that: "8 Similar pharmacological profile was detected for the flavonoids isolated from Amyris madrensis W. With high cytotoxicity against prostate cancer cell cultures via microtubules depolymerization. 9 Amides were other kind of metabolites isolated in Amyristexana W. demonstrating antimicrobial activity against Colletotrichum spp and Planktothrix perornata."[6] Furthermore, scientist have found that: "In Amyris plumieri DC were reported six chromomethyl amines which prove useful as anticancer agents."[6] Amines are really awesome in my opinion. Some of my favorite naturally occuring constituents of herbal remedies are Amines ( like anandamine.. ) Another sources states that the following were also identified: "Tannins, Saponins, Reducing Sugars, and Amino Acids."[6] In vitro, it was proven that the raw extract of this plant demonstrated antimicrobial activity.[6]Phytochemical variation in related strains: A related strain known as Amyris elemifera has also been studied for its phytochemical content, and it was found that it produces and contains: limonene (45.0%), linalool (20.8%), (β-caryophyllene (5.6%), 3-hexadecanone (5.3%), caryophyllene oxide (3.9%), and (β-sesquiphellandrene (3.6%). Eugenia axillaris (Myrtaceae) leaf oil was largely composed of α-pinene (15.5%), dihydroagarofuran (9.2%), β-caryophyllene (8.8%), α-humulene (6.9%), 1,8-cineole (6.6%), and germacrene D (6.2%)[7] It is not terribly outrageous to assume that A demifera also products these constituents. Some more good information from a scholarly source tells us that: "The reported biological activities of the major constituents of A. elemifera leaf oil are consistent with the ethnopharmacological uses of the plant in the Bahamas to reduce fever, treat symptoms of flu, treat sores, and wounds, and its use as a general tonic and bath. L. involucrate leaf oil shows slight antibacterial activity against B. cereus and Staph. aureus and is weakly cytotoxic against our panel of cell lines."[7]
What is Phytochemistry? What are Phytochemicals?
Phytochemistry is a scientific field of study in academia that seeks to discover new naturally occuring medicines, known as phytochemicals, and then study their pharmacology. It's how we know about phytochemicals like CBD, THC, Caffeine, Cocaine, Morphine, and every other natural God-made drug that exist, that's been utilized in free-base(isolate), or synthetic form. By the way, if you didn't catch that, those very popular drugs, are all phytochemicals. This is what phytochemist study. Pharmacognosy is a related field of study, and relates more to crud drugs, obtained from natural sources. Unfortunately, some of the best medicines on earth are phytochemicals that the government has banned, like Ibogaine, Cannabis, DMT(I believe DMT can be used in micro-doses as an anti-depreaant.), and others.Pharmacological / Medicinal Properties:
One source confirms that it has been used for: wounds, influenza, and general illnesses.[3] The limonene that it produces it a type of monoterpene.[3] One of my academic sources on this plant states that: Monoterpenes are known to be very promising in agricultural defense applications, with thorough research over the extent of their herbicidal, fungicidal, insecticidal, and bactericidal activity.[3] Both furanocoumarin and furanocoumarin, 8-(3-methylbut-2-enyloxy)-marmesin are useful in agricultural applications.[3] Further more, the source goes on to explain that: "Limonene has been shown to completely dissolve cholesterol (i.e. in gall stones), alleviate heartburn, activate carcinogen-metabolizing enzymes, and inhibit tumor cell proliferation to an extent"[3] Amyris demifera(West Indian Sandalwood) was tested against: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Trypanosoma cruzi, galactosidase strain (nifurtimox-sensitive), Leishmania infantum, and Trypanosoma brucei.[6] In a scholarly article titled "Psychoactive plants in need of chemical and pharmacological study", the plant: Amyris demifera is mentioned.[1] This tells us that it is at least suspected or documented of being psychoactive, or used in such context. It is an observation of mine upon many years of reading the writings of the scholars, that psychoactive does not necessarily mean: narcotic, hallucinogen, or psychedelic. Psychoactive can be something as subtle as passion flower.Buy West Indian Sandalwood
Academic citations:
[1] Schultes, Richard Evans. "Psychoactive plants in need of chemical and pharmacological study." Proceedings: Plant Sciences 93 (1984): 281-304.
[2] Wright, Tony, and Graham Gynn. Return to the brain of Eden: Restoring the connection between neurochemistry and consciousness. Simon and Schuster, 2014.
[3] Bracken, Amy K. "Isolation, Identification, and Investigation of a Novel Bioactive Furanocoumarin from Leaves of Amyris elemifera." (2020).
[5] Arctander, Steffen. Perfume and flavor materials of natural origin. Lulu. com, 2017.
[6] Gil-Frómeta, Susana, et al. "Evaluación fitoquímica, y antimicrobiana del aceite esencial y los extractos de las hojas de Amyris elemifera L.(Coaba amarilla)." Revista Cubana de Química 31.3 (2019): 427-439.
[7] Schmidt, Jennifer M., et al. "Abaco bush medicine: Chemical composition of the essential oils of four aromatic medicinal plants from Abaco Island, Bahamas." Journal of herbs, spices & medicinal plants 12.3 (2007): 43-65.
[?] Food of the Gods: Schults, Hoffman
Encyclopedia Sources:
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amyris_elemifera
Other resources:
M.A.P.S. Ethnobotanical Studies By Scholars
PubChem - pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov