acacia rigidula

*Acacia rigidula* (now often reclassified as *Senegalia rigidula*) is a perennial shrub native to southern Texas and central Mexico. In the context of the dietary supplement industry, extracts of the plant have been marketed for weight loss, energy enhancement, and athletic performance, purportedly due to the presence of various phenethylamine alkaloids. However, the substance gained significant notoriety when the FDA and independent researchers discovered that many supplements labeled as containing *Acacia rigidula* actually contained the synthetic stimulant beta-methylphenethylamine (BMPEA), which is not naturally occurring in the plant. The plant itself contains a complex mixture of amines, including phenethylamine (PEA), tyramine, and tryptamine, which are thought to act as sympathomimetic agents. Due to the presence of undeclared synthetic stimulants and lack of safety data for the botanical extract itself, the FDA has issued multiple warning letters to manufacturers, effectively removing it from the legitimate supplement market.

Other names

Blackbrush acaciaChaparro prietoSenegalia rigidulaMariaris rigidula