Drug info - Mulberry

[Blizkanvica]

Just wondering, has anybody tried eating unripe mullberies for their hallucinogenic properties?
How sick it can make you?

[Johan73]

It appears some folks have reported some results with mulberries. Here are some excerpts:

Swim said: "There have been many claims that the unripe berries and green shoots are hallucinogenic. I consumed 30 unripe mulberries with very little psychoactive effects. There was an edgy, speedy, irritated feeling. Also I felt minor stomach discomfort. I am uncertain what the chemical make up of this plant is and why only unripe berries are hallucinogenic. Possibly when the berry ripens the hallucinogenic chemicals metabolise into a non-psychoactive substance. It may also simply be a myth."

References and mentions of the hallucinogenic properties of Mulberry

From http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/arc...p/t-31493.html

1. Peterson's Field Guide to Edible Plants (1977, Houghton-Mifflin)

Mentions in its section on Red Mulberry "Warning: unripe frout and raw shoots contain hallucinogens."

2. Ohio Perennial & Biennial Weed Guide

"White Mulberry - All parts of white mulberry, except for the ripe fruit, contain a milky sap (latex) that is toxic to humans. Although humans may consume ripe mulberry fruit, ingestion of unripe fruit can result in stomach upset, stimulation of the nervous system and hallucinations."

3. Aromatic Essentials

"Mulberry roots have been used for tapeworm. Related species: Black Mulberry Red Mulberry. Both have similar properties. Warning: Juice and the unripe fruit may cause stomach problems and hallucinations!"

4. Herbvideos

"Mulberries - Red, Black & White - WARNING: Do not eat the unripe fruit and leaves because they may be mildly hallucinogenic. Ripened fruits are very edible."

"Native American Medicine: Alabama [indians] infused roots and drank as a stimulant for increased energy."

5. American Society of Plant Biologists

1-Deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), a polyhydroxylated piperidine, is a potent a-glycosidase inhibitor and is abundant in Morus spp. (mulberry trees) leaves and roots. Nowadays, M. alba leaves and dried Bombyx mori (silkworm) powder are taken as healthy foods in Korea. A simple method for the assay of DNJ was established and seasonal change of DNJ content in M. alba leaves was determined using the method. The method includes simple hot-water extraction, derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Optimal conditions for extraction and derivatization are described. For the stability of FMOC-derivative of DNJ, it was essential to dilute derivatization mixture with 0.1% acetic acid and to operate at 4¡É. The seasonal change of DNJ content in M. alba leaves seemed considerately related to that of temperature.

6. Unihnasdedla Herbs (Cherokee)

Guwa = Mulberry = Morus rubra = Anthelmintic and cathartic. Axis of the leaf contains a milky juice used to cure ringworms on the scalp. * The milky juice of the unripe fruit can induce hallucinations, nervous stimulation, and upset stomach.

There's also some info in this Mulberry Thread.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Nice, detailed answer. Way to dig!

[Potter]

Would like to point out, it's Mulberry season right now.

[old hippie 56]

Way back when, the unripe berries made excellent slingshot fodder. Never knew one could get high off the berries! Damn, all of those trips waste...

[b3ni]

SWIM's granddad makes a lovely mulberry wine. It's hallucinogenic, but it's tasty.

b3ni added 0 Minutes and 12 Seconds later...

It's not*

[Potter]

Would you care to share the recipe because the mulberry wine that was made last year and opened this year was pretty awful stuff.

[b3ni]

Yeah, SWIM will ask him next time SWIM sees him, although SWIM believe he puts elderberries and lemon juice in it.