Silene undulata

Silene undulata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Embryophytes
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Caryophyllaceae
Genus:	Silene
Species:	S. undulata
Binomial name
	Silene undulata; Aiton
Synonyms
	Silene capensis Otth; Melandrium undulatum (Ait.) Rohrb.;

Silene undulata (Xhosa: iindlela zimhlophe—"white ways/paths", also known as Silene capensis, and African dream root) is a plant native to the Eastern Cape of South Africa.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Cultivation

In cultivation, S. undulata is an easily grown, but moisture hungry herb. It is tolerant of extreme heat, >40 °C (104 °F), and moderate cold, −5 °C (23 °F). A moisture retentive seedbed is essential. The fragrant flowers open at night and close in the day. It is a biennial to short lived perennial and the root can be harvested after the second year.

Uses

Silene undulata is regarded by the Xhosa people as a sacred plant. Its root is traditionally used to induce vivid (and according to the Xhosa, prophetic) lucid dreams during the initiation process of traditional healers, classifying it a naturally occurring oneirogen similar to the more well-known dream herb Calea zacatechichi.^[1]^[3]

Constituents

Silene undulata has been found to contain β-carbolines such as norharman, harmalol, and harmaline, and harmine, as well as ibogaine.^[4] In addition, these constituents were predicted to act as serotonin 5-HT_2A receptor agonists.^[4] These components, and in turn serotonin 5-HT_2A receptor activation, may be involved in the psychoactive effects of Silene undulata.^[4]

References

1 2 J. F. Sobiecki (2008). "A review of plants used in divination in southern Africa and their psychoactive effects". Southern African Humanities. 20: 333–351. S2CID 37305695.
↑ H. Wild: Caryophyllaceae in Flora Zambesiaca, Vol. 1, Pt 2, 1961: Silene undulata - Online
1 2 Sanz, Camila; Zamberlan, Federico; Erowid, Earth; Erowid, Fire; Tagliazucchi, Enzo (2018). "The Experience Elicited by Hallucinogens Presents the Highest Similarity to Dreaming within a Large Database of Psychoactive Substance Reports". Frontiers in Neuroscience. 12 7. doi:10.3389/fnins.2018.00007. ISSN 1662-453X. PMC 5786560. PMID 29403350.
1 2 3 Alhawarri MB, Olimat S (2025). "Potential Serotonin 5-HT2A Receptor Agonist of Psychoactive Components of Silene undulata Aiton: LC-MS/MS, ADMET, and Molecular Docking Studies". Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 26 (2): 260–275. doi:10.2174/0113892010299804240324140017. PMID 38561607.

External links

Data related to Silene undulata at Wikispecies

[Sobiecki-1] 1 2 J. F. Sobiecki (2008). "A review of plants used in divination in southern Africa and their psychoactive effects". Southern African Humanities. 20: 333–351. S2CID 37305695.

[fz-2] H. Wild: Caryophyllaceae in Flora Zambesiaca, Vol. 1, Pt 2, 1961: Silene undulata - Online

[pmid29403350-3] 1 2 Sanz, Camila; Zamberlan, Federico; Erowid, Earth; Erowid, Fire; Tagliazucchi, Enzo (2018). "The Experience Elicited by Hallucinogens Presents the Highest Similarity to Dreaming within a Large Database of Psychoactive Substance Reports". Frontiers in Neuroscience. 12 7. doi:10.3389/fnins.2018.00007. ISSN 1662-453X. PMC 5786560. PMID 29403350.

[AlhawarriOlimat2025-4] 1 2 3 Alhawarri MB, Olimat S (2025). "Potential Serotonin 5-HT2A Receptor Agonist of Psychoactive Components of Silene undulata Aiton: LC-MS/MS, ADMET, and Molecular Docking Studies". Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 26 (2): 260–275. doi:10.2174/0113892010299804240324140017. PMID 38561607.

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Oneirogens (unknown mech.)	Harmala alkaloids/β-carbolines (e.g., harmine, harmaline, tetrahydroharmine, 6-methoxyharmalan, 6-MeO-THH) (found in Peganum harmala, Banisteriopsis caapi) Iboga alkaloids/azepinoindoles (e.g., ibogaine, noribogaine) (found in Tabernanthe iboga)
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See also: Psychedelics Dissociatives Entactogens Stimulants Depressants List of hallucinogens

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