A toxic alkaloid compound found in certain plants, particularly harmal and other plants, that can affect the nervous system.
From Peganum harmala (harmal plant) plus the suffix -in (used for chemical compounds). The plant name comes from Arabic harmala, referring to the traditional medicinal plant used in Middle Eastern and South Asian traditions.
Harmin is one of those plant compounds that is both traditionally used as medicine and recreation AND scientifically recognized as having psychoactive effects—it highlights how traditional plant knowledge and modern chemistry are describing the exact same molecules.
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