Chaliponga (Diplopterys cabrerana)
Chaliponga (Diplopterys cabrerana) is a South American plant used as a DMT source in some ayahuasca preparations. This profile covers naming, safety, legal context and evidence gaps.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Natural products can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read herb safety and interactions before you use anything on this page.
Documented analytical data
Each group below is one study's measurement of the stated specimen or preparation. It is not a typical value for the species or product, varies between specimens, and says nothing about effects or safety. 3 values from 1 source.
Chambers MI, Appley MG, Longo CM, Musah RA. Detection and Quantification of Psychoactive N,N-Dimethyltryptamine in Ay... (3 values)
Source: Chambers MI, Appley MG, Longo CM, Musah RA. Detection and Quantification of Psychoactive N,N-Dimethyltryptamine in Ayahuasca Brews by Ambient Ionization High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry. ACS Omega 2020;5:28547-28554. DOI 10.1021/acsomega.0c03196. Read 2026-10-22. Laboratory: Dept. of Chemistry, University at Albany (SUNY), Albany, New York, USA. Method: DART-HRMS (IonSense DART-SVP + JEOL AccuTOF), internal standard N,N-diethyltryptamine; 7 calibrators 10-150 mg/L. Date: varies by row.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D. cabrerana plant material used for the brew above (with B. caapi) | DMT | 2.4 mg/g (plant material (estimated by the authors from brew concentration, not measured directly in the plant)) | (calculated) | 3 days (explicit N not stated). single preparation, back-calculated |
| laboratory-prepared aqueous acidified brew, DMT source D. cabrerana, MAOI source B. caapi (authors state the brews were made acidic and not fit for human consumption) | DMT | 82.4 mg/L (brew volume) | (reported) | 3 days (explicit N not stated). single preparation (mean of analyses on three different days); mean; SD 17.8 |
| laboratory-prepared aqueous acidified brew, DMT source D. cabrerana, MAOI source P. harmala (authors state the brews were made acidic and not fit for human consumption) | DMT | 155.1 mg/L (brew volume) | (reported) | 3 days (explicit N not stated). single preparation (mean of analyses on three different days); mean; SD 43.9 |
Safety first. Reports describe life-threatening serotonin syndrome when ayahuasca, whose preparations can include this plant, was followed by common over-the-counter medicines. [1] If someone seems very unwell after taking any plant preparation, call 911 (US) or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222. See plant and mushroom poisoning. This page does not help identify the plant and gives no preparation or use instructions.
What it is
Diplopterys cabrerana is a plant in the Malpighiaceae family. The GBIF taxonomy backbone lists it as an accepted species name. [2] This page uses "chaliponga" as a common name. We did not read a taxonomic source that lists other common names or older scientific names for this species, so we do not claim any here.Plant, compound and brew are three different things
- The plant is D. cabrerana, a botanical source.
- The compound is N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), which scientific papers report in the leaves of this plant and of Psychotria viridis. [3] See DMT: compound guide.
- The brew is ayahuasca, an Amazonian preparation. A case report describes ayahuasca as containing monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) from Banisteriopsis caapi and DMT from Psychotria viridis or Diplopterys cabrerana. [1] Ayahuasca is not the same as DMT, and DMT is not the same as ayahuasca. See DMT vs ayahuasca and the ayahuasca guide.
A 1984 laboratory study explains why the vine matters: DMT taken by mouth is broken down by an enzyme (MAO) unless other compounds block it, and the vine supplies compounds that do. The authors say this mechanism was proposed but had not been experimentally confirmed at that time. [4] This page does not describe how any preparation is made.
Traditional context
Ayahuasca comes from Amazonian ceremonial traditions. [1] Use belongs to specific peoples and lineages, and we do not reproduce ceremonies or restricted knowledge. Which communities use this particular plant as an admixture, and how: Proper evidence not found in the sources we read (PubMed searches and the abstracts above). See Indigenous traditions, ethics and conservation.What research shows
Evidence labels used here: insufficient evidence, evidence of harm. We explain each term once: "insufficient evidence" means studies are too few or too weak to judge; "evidence of harm" means case reports or studies describe damage.- Health benefits of the plant itself: insufficient evidence. We searched PubMed for the species name and found papers about ayahuasca as a whole, not trials of this plant on its own. Proper evidence not found for benefit in people.
- Ayahuasca as a whole: promising but limited. A 2024 review says human studies suggest good safety and tolerability, but controlled studies are few, small, single-dose and short in follow-up. [5] These findings concern the brew, and they cannot be assigned to this plant.
Quality and labeling
We found no analytical study of this plant's DMT content that we could read, and we do not give any content figure. Content of any plant material varies, and one sample cannot stand for another.Conservation
Proper evidence not found on the conservation status of this species in the sources we read.Frequently asked questions
Is chaliponga the same as ayahuasca?
No. It is a plant that some sources name as a DMT source in ayahuasca preparations, which also include a vine that supplies MAOIs. [1]
Does chaliponga contain DMT?
Scientific papers report DMT-rich leaves in this species. [3]
Is it safe with antidepressants or other medicines?
Case reports show serious danger when ayahuasca is combined with serotonin-affecting medicines. Ask a prescriber. [1]
Is it approved as a medicine?
We found no regulator approval for this plant in the sources we read.
Where can I read about the vine in the same brew?
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Risks and interactions
- Serotonin syndrome. A 2026 case report describes a 46-year-old man who needed a breathing tube and intensive care after ayahuasca followed by dextromethorphan and diphenhydramine; he recovered. The authors say the MAOI content predisposes users to toxicity with other serotonin-affecting agents. [1] This is a report of one person's experience, not a rate of risk.
- Medicines. See how interactions work. Talk with a prescriber before any change to medicines: talking with a health professional.
- Heart and mental health. NIDA notes that clinical research excludes people with psychosis or bipolar disorder as a precaution. [6]
- Pregnancy, children, kidney or liver disease: Proper evidence not found specific to this plant.
Legal status
References
- Pack S et al. Severe serotonin syndrome with acute respiratory failure following ayahuasca and dextromethorphan use: a case report. Cureus 2026;18(8):e114211. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- GBIF Secretariat, Diplopterys cabrerana (Cuatrec.) B.Gates, GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (accepted name, family Malpighiaceae). Read 2026-10-22.
- Riba J et al. Metabolism and disposition of N,N-dimethyltryptamine and harmala alkaloids after oral administration of ayahuasca. Drug Test Anal. 2012;4(7-8):610-6. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- McKenna DJ, Towers GH, Abbott F. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors in South American hallucinogenic plants: tryptamine and beta-carboline constituents of ayahuasca. J Ethnopharmacol. 1984;10(2):195-223. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- Dos Santos RG, Hallak JEC. Ayahuasca: pharmacology, safety, and therapeutic effects. CNS Spectr. 2024;30(1):e2. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, Psychedelic and Dissociative Drugs. Read 2026-10-22.
- US Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, 21 CFR 1308.11 Schedule I. Read 2026-10-22.