Mespilodaphne cymbarum

Mespilodaphne cymbarum
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Magnoliids
Order:	Laurales
Family:	Lauraceae
Genus:	Mespilodaphne
Species:	M. cymbarum
Binomial name
Mespilodaphne cymbarum (Kunth) Trofimov
Synonyms [2]
Alseodaphne amara(Mart.) Kostel. Alseodaphne cymbarum(Kunth) Kostel. Laurus coruscansWilld. ex Nees Licaria cymbarum(Kunth) Pittier Misanteca cymbarum(Kunth) Lundell Nectandra amaraNees ex Meisn., not validly publ. Nectandra barcellensisMeisn. Nectandra caparrapiiSand.-Groot ex Nates Nectandra cymbarum(Kunth) Nees Nectandra elaiophoraBarb.Rodr. Nectandra oleiferaPosada-Ar. ex Nates Ocotea amaraMart. (1830) Ocotea amaraMart. (1831), nom. illeg. Ocotea barcellensis(Meisn.) Mez Ocotea caparrapii(Sand.-Groot ex Nates) Dugand Ocotea cymbarumKunth (basionym) Oreodaphne oleiferaPosada-Ar.

Mespilodaphne cymbarum is a species of flowering plant in the family Lauraceae. It is an evergreen tree found in northern Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela. ^[2]

Medical uses

The essential oils from Mespilodaphne cymbarum are often used in the synthesis of MDMA (contracted form of 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine); a psychoactive drug of the substituted methylenedioxyphenethylamine and substituted amphetamine classes of drugs that is consumed primarily for its euphoric and empathogenic effects. Pharmacologically, MDMA acts as a serotonin-norepinephrine-dopamine releasing agent and reuptake inhibitor.^{[ citation needed ]}

References

1. de Kok, R. (2022). "Mespilodaphne cymbarum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2022 e.T32488A198141056. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T32488A198141056.en . Retrieved 13 December 2022.
2. "Mespilodaphne cymbarum (Kunth) Trofimov". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 22 May 2025.