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Nuciferine — Compound Profile

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Nuciferine

2D structure of Nuciferine (C19H21NO2) — source: PubChem CID 10146
2D structure of Nuciferine (C19H21NO2) — source: PubChem CID 10146

Chemistry

  • CID: 10146 · PubChem
  • Formula: C19H21NO2
  • Molecular weight: 295.4 g/mol
  • IUPAC: (6aR)-1,2-dimethoxy-6-methyl-5,6,6a,7-tetrahydro-4H-dibenzo[de,g]quinoline
  • CAS: 475-83-2

Family & pharmacology

Family: Aporphine alkaloid

Pharmacological class: Dopamine receptor modulator (documented D2 antagonist activity); also reported interactions with serotonin (5-HT2A) and adrenergic receptors in in-vitro studies

Natural source: Occurs primarily in the leaves and flowers of Nymphaea caerulea (Egyptian blue lotus) and Nelumbo nucifera (sacred lotus). Present alongside related aporphines such as apomorphine and nornuciferine.

Historical context

Nuciferine is one of the principal alkaloids in Nymphaea caerulea, the blue water lily that played a central role in ancient Egyptian religious, funerary and symbolic life. Though the compound itself was only isolated and characterised in the 20th century, the plant containing it has one of the longest continuous documented ceremonial records of any psychoactive botanical, stretching from Pharaonic Egypt through classical antiquity into modern ethnobotany.

Traditional use

  • Referenced in the Ebers Papyrus (c. 1500 BC), one of the oldest surviving medical texts, among roughly 800 botanical recipes of ancient Egypt (Ancient Origins; Bertol et al. 2004).
  • Depicted in the Egyptian Book of the Dead and in the Book of the Dead of Hunefer as part of afterlife and rebirth imagery — the flower's daily cycle (opening around 9:30 AM, closing around 3:00 PM) mirrored the solar journey and became a symbol of resurrection.
  • Found in Tutankhamun's tomb on a gold-plated shrine showing the pharaoh holding a giant Nymphaea alongside two mandragora fruits, a pairing that has been interpreted as evidence of deliberate combination of psychoactive botanicals (Bertol et al. 2004).
  • Shown in the Tomb of Nebamun (Dynasty XVIII, Thebes; British Museum) in ritual dance and banquet scenes, with garlanded women and vases emitting 'golden emanations', and in the Turin Papyrus in the context of temple wine cults restricted to priests and royalty.
  • Historically attributed with aphrodisiac properties and traditional use for pain, low mood, anxiety, digestive upset and sleeplessness — these are historical attributions, not modern medical claims.

Modern re-emergence

Nuciferine was isolated from Nelumbo nucifera in the early-to-mid 20th century and has since been studied in pharmacological research for its dopamine D2 antagonist profile, with additional published work exploring serotonergic binding and metabolic effects. Interest in Nymphaea caerulea preparations has grown again through the ethnobotanical and smartshop scene in Europe, where the flower is sold as a traditional botanical rather than a pharmaceutical product.

Safety

Pharmacological literature (PubChem, published in-vitro studies) describes nuciferine as a dopamine D2 antagonist with additional receptor activity; this profile suggests a meaningful potential for interaction with dopaminergic, serotonergic and antipsychotic medications. Data on isolated nuciferine in humans is limited — most human experience is with whole Nymphaea caerulea flower preparations, where alkaloid content varies between batches. Combinations with other CNS-active substances are not well characterised. Not suitable during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or alongside psychiatric medication without professional guidance.

amama POV

Sourcing: amama does not sell isolated nuciferine. The compound reaches our customers exclusively through whole Nymphaea caerulea flower, sourced from established partner farms in Egypt and Thailand where the plant has a long cultivation history. We focus on whole-flower and properly dried petal material rather than concentrated alkaloid extracts.

Quality measures

  • Every batch of blue lotus flower is lab-tested for pesticides, heavy metals and microbiological load before it reaches the shelf
  • Certificate of Analysis available on request for each batch
  • Visual and organoleptic checks on arrival — intact petals, characteristic colour, clean aroma — before the batch is released
  • Stored cool, dark and dry in sealed packaging to protect the alkaloid fraction (including nuciferine and apomorphine) from oxidation and UV degradation
  • Batch traceability from partner farm to store shelf, so any lot can be tracked back to its origin harvest

Experience: amama has carried blue lotus since 2021 across both Berlin stores and amama.space. Because we operate two physical shops in Neukölln, the team hears real-time qualitative feedback in person every day — depth that online-only sellers simply do not have access to through short reviews and emails.

Customer feedback: Customers tell us in the store that blue lotus is most often used as a gentle evening tea or in tinctures, and the questions we hear in person regularly are about combining it with cannabis or wine (historical Egyptian pairing) and about the difference between whole flower and concentrated extracts — nuances that almost never show up in written reviews.

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Apomorphine — Compound Profile

Apomorphine 2D structure of Apomorphine (C17H17NO2) — source: PubChem CID 6005 Chemistry CID: 6005 · PubChem Formula: C17H17NO2 Molecular weight: 267.32 g/mol IUPAC: (6aR)-6-methyl-5,6,6a,7-tetrahydro-4H-dibenzo[de,g]quinoline-10,11-diol CAS: 58-00-4 Family & pharmacology Family: Aporphine alkaloid (semi-synthetic derivative of morphine) Pharmacological class: Non-selective dopamine receptor agonist (D1/D2 family); structurally part of the aporphine class, though apomorphine itself is produced by acid-catalysed rearrangement of morphine rather than isolated from plants Natural source: Apomorphine is not found in meaningful quantities in nature; it is synthesised from morphine (derived from Papaver somniferum). It is often mentioned in discussions of Nymphaea caerulea (blue lotus) because the plant contains related aporphine-type alkaloids such as nuciferine, and because secondary literature (e.g. Ancient Origins) has proposed apomorphine-like activity as part of the flower's historical psychoactive reputation. This attribution remains debated in the botanical literature. Historical context Apomorphine as a molecule belongs to the 19th- and 20th-century history of pharmacology: first prepared in 1845 by Arppe and developed further by Matthiessen and Wright in the 1860s through acid treatment of morphine. Its cultural footprint, however, is often discussed alongside the far older ritual use of Nymphaea caerulea in ancient Egypt, where aporphine-class alkaloids are thought to contribute to the flower's reported effects. Traditional use Referenced in the context of Nymphaea caerulea ritual use documented on tomb frescoes such as the Tomb of Nebamun (Dynasty XVIII, Thebes) and the gold-plated shrine of Tutankhamun, where the pharaoh is shown holding a giant Nymphaea alongside two mandragoras (Ancient Origins; Bertol et al. 2004) The Ebers Papyrus (c. 1500 BC) and the Egyptian Book of the Dead describe blue lotus in medicinal and magico-religious contexts — as aphrodisiac, for pain, for insomnia and for settling the stomach — traditional attributions, not modern medical claims 19th-century European medicine used apomorphine itself as a powerful emetic and later in aversion therapy for alcohol dependence — part of the compound's own history, separate from the Egyptian plant context Modern re-emergence Apomorphine re-emerged in late 20th-century neurology as a licensed treatment for advanced Parkinson's disease (motor fluctuations), and in the early 2000s was marketed under names such as Ixense and Uprima for erectile dysfunction (Ancient Origins; clinical literature). Academic interest in Nymphaea caerulea's aporphine alkaloids — distinct from apomorphine proper — continues in ethnopharmacology (Bertol et al. 2004; Haddad 2021). Safety Apomorphine is a prescription-only medicine in Germany and the EU. It is associated with significant side effects including nausea and vomiting (often requiring antiemetic co-administration), orthostatic hypotension, somnolence, QT-interval effects and, in Parkinson's use, impulse-control disorders. It is not a recreational or smartshop substance and should only be used under medical supervision. Information here is educational only. amama POV Sourcing: amama does not sell apomorphine. It is a prescription pharmaceutical regulated under the German Arzneimittelgesetz and is not part of our ethnobotanical or research-chemical range. We include this profile only as educational context, because customers reading about Nymphaea caerulea often encounter apomorphine in secondary sources. Quality measures Not stocked — no sourcing, no batch, no CoA: apomorphine is a pharmacy-dispensed medicine and outside amama's scope For the related plant Nymphaea caerulea that amama does sell, every batch is lab-tested for pesticides, heavy metals and microbiology Blue lotus is sourced from established partner farms in Egypt and Thailand with full batch traceability CoAs available on request for all botanical products we carry We deliberately separate pharmaceutical compounds like apomorphine from the botanicals we offer, and we flag this distinction to customers who ask Experience: amama has operated two physical stores in Berlin plus the online shop at amama.space since 2021, and blue lotus has been part of the range from the start. Because the team speaks with customers in person every day, we regularly encounter questions about apomorphine and aporphine alkaloids that never show up in online reviews — a qualitative signal online-only sellers simply do not have access to. Customer feedback: Questions we hear in the Neukölln store regularly are whether blue lotus 'contains apomorphine' — a claim customers often bring in from online articles. Our standard in-store answer is that Nymphaea caerulea contains aporphine-class alkaloids such as nuciferine, while apomorphine itself is a pharmaceutical derivative of morphine, and that the two should not be conflated. Explore further Blue Lotus — the complete guide — pillar article on what blue lotus actually contains and how it was used historically Nuciferine — Compound Profile — the primary aporphine alkaloid present in blue lotus Blue Lotus at amama — whole flower, tinctures and extracts, lab-tested Sources PubChem CID 6005 — Apomorphine Wikipedia — Apomorphine Ancient Origins — Blue Lotus: The Ancient Egyptian Dream Flower Bertol, E., Fineschi, V., Karch, S. B., et al. (2004). Nymphaea cults in ancient Egypt and the New World. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 97(2), 84–85. Haddad, C. G. (2021). Uppsala University thesis on ritualistic use of Nymphaea European Medicines Agency — apomorphine product information

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