Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), also known as
N,N-dimethyltryptamine, is a naturally occurring tryptamine and potent psychedelic drug, found not only in many plants, but also in trace amounts in the human body wherein its natural function is undetermined Structurally, it is analogous to the neurotransmitter serotonin and other psychedelic tryptamines such as
5-MeO-DMT and
4-HO-DMT. DMT is created in small amounts by the human body during normal metabolism by the enzyme
tryptamine-N-methyltransferase. Many cultures, indigenous and modern, ingest DMT as a psychedelic in extracted or synthesized forms. Pure DMT at room temperature is a clear or white to yellowish-red crystalline solid. DMT was first chemically sythesized in 1931.
DMT crystal at 400x magnification.
