Tetrahydroharmine is a psychoactive β-carboline alkaloid found in Banisteriopsis caapi and Peganum harmala. By inhibiting serotonin reuptake, it may contribute to ayahuasca’s altered perception, introspection, and vivid dreaming.

#Tetrahydroharmine #Ayahuasca #Psychoactive @ArcaneChem

Cucurbitacin E is a highly bioactive triterpenoid found in the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), including bitter cucumbers and related plants. It covalently targets F-actin at Cys257, disrupting actin dynamics and contributing to its potent cytotoxicity.

#CucurbitacinE #Toxin #Phytochemistry @ArcaneChem

Geosmin is a volatile sesquiterpene produced mainly by Streptomyces and some cyanobacteria. It gives rain-soaked soil its distinctive earthy smell and can be detected by humans at just a few parts per trillion. It may also help animals like camels locate water.

#Geosmin #Petrichor #Terpene #NaturalCompound @ArcaneChem

Ophiocordyceps unilateralis manipulates carpenter ants to leave their colony, climb and bite onto a leaf vein, then die; it then produces a fruiting body from the ant’s head to shower spores on new victims below.

#ZombieAntFungus #Organism @ArcaneChem

Nicotine is a psychoactive alkaloid found mainly in tobacco. By activating nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, it increases neurotransmitter release, temporarily enhancing alertness and attention while promoting dependence with repeated exposure.

#Nicotine #Psychoactive #Tobacco @ArcaneChem

Oenanthotoxin is a highly toxic polyacetylene from Oenanthe crocata. By antagonizing GABAₐ receptors, it disrupts neural inhibition, causing severe seizures, spasms, respiratory failure, and death. Its sweet-tasting roots caused historical poisonings.

#Oenanthotoxin #Toxin #Chemistry @ArcaneChem

Brassinolide is a natural steroid hormone and one of the most potent brassinosteroids, first isolated from Brassica napus pollen. This polyhydroxylated steroid regulates plant growth, development, and stress responses, including drought, salinity, and cold.

#Brassinolide #PlantHormone #NaturalCompound @ArcaneChem

N-Bromosuccinimide Crystallization (NBS) 🌞
Guess why it's orange?

#ChemistryLab #Crystal @ArcaneChem

Δ9-THC is the main psychoactive cannabinoid in Cannabis sativa. It acts on CB₁ and CB₂ receptors, altering neurotransmitter signaling and producing effects such as euphoria and altered perception.

#THC #Cannabinoid #Psychoactive
@ArcaneChem

Cantharidin is a toxic terpenoid produced by blister beetles. By inhibiting PP1 and PP2A, it causes severe blistering and tissue damage. Despite its toxicity, it is also used topically to treat some warts.

#Cantharidin #BlisterBeetle #Toxin @ArcaneChem

Paclitaxel is a complex diterpenoid first isolated from the Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia). It stabilizes microtubules, blocking mitosis and triggering cancer-cell death. Today, it is an important chemotherapy drug.

#Paclitaxel #Taxane #NaturalCompound @ArcaneChem

Glycera dibranchiata (bloodworm) is a marine bristle worm with copper-reinforced fangs that deliver a neurotoxin; it thrives in oxygen-poor mudflats, breathing via hemoglobin.

#Bloodworm #Organism @ArcaneChem

🧫⚡ Bacteria can now make molecules nature never made

Scientists engineered E. coli to generate nitrene intermediates inside living cells and use them to build unusual nitrogen-containing molecules that biology normally can’t make.
Basically, they turned a bacterium into a tiny chemical factory for unnatural chemistry.

🔗 Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41557-026-02224-4

#Chemistry #Biology #Nitrene #Article @ArcaneChem

Akuammicine is a monoterpenoid indole alkaloid found mainly in Picralima nitida seeds. It interacts with opioid and other neurological targets. Its human effects remain poorly understood.

#Akuammicine #IndoleAlkaloid #Psychoactive @ArcaneChem

α-Bungarotoxin is a three-finger protein neurotoxin from Bungarus multicinctus venom. It binds tightly to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, blocking neuromuscular transmission and causing paralysis.

#Bungarotoxin #SnakeVenom #Toxin @ArcaneChem

Salicin is a natural phenolic glycoside found mainly in willow (Salix) bark and leaves. Made of glucose linked to salicyl alcohol, it is metabolized to salicylates. Willow compounds helped inspire salicylic acid and eventually aspirin.

#Salicin #Willow #NaturalCompound #MedicinalChemistry @ArcaneChem

Where arenes bloom like flowers 🌼
What do you see: chemistry or art?

#ChemistryLab #Crystal @ArcaneChem

⚛️ Uranium and a Chemical Record

Scientists have created a linear Co–U–Co molecule in which uranium forms exceptionally strong multiple bonds with two cobalt atoms. The bonding amounts to an unprecedented 10 metal–metal bond components (Co≡≡≡≡≡U≡≡≡≡≡Co).

🔗 Article: https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwag462

#Chemistry #Uranium #InorganicChemistry #Actinides @ArcaneChem

Happy weekend, babes 🫶🏻✨