Final answer:
The hallucinogenic substance found in the peyote cactus is mescaline. Native Americans have used this substance in religious rituals for thousands of years, consuming it by chewing the dried cactus or making a liquid preparation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hallucinogenic substance found in the peyote cactus is mescaline. Peyote, also known as buttons, cactus, and mesc, is utilized by Native Americans for religious rituals and its main ingredient is mescaline. This substance can either be consumed by chewing the dried cactus buttons or by soaking them in water to make an intoxicating liquid.
Other substances like psilocybin, LSD, and DMT, though also hallucinogens, are found in different sources. For example, psilocybin is extracted from certain mushrooms, and LSD is a synthetic compound derived from lysergic acid. DMT is found in some Amazonian plant species and is also synthesized in the laboratory. Each of these compounds affects neurotransmitter systems in the brain, but mescaline, specifically from peyote, is known for its ritual use by indigenous cultures.