A composition comprises as active ingredient an extract of a plant or plants from the Mesembryanthemaceae family, such as Mesembryanthemum tortuosum, having an alkaloid profile comprising at least 70% (w/w) stabilized mesembrine. The extracts from Mesembryanthemum tortuosum having an alkaloid profile comprising at least about 70% (w/w) stabilized mesembrine, about 20% (w/w) mesembrenone and about 10% (w/w) Δ7 mesembrenone act as bioamine releasing agents, in particular as monoamine releasing agents, useful in the treatment of diseases and conditions responsive to treatment with a monoamine releasing agent, for instance diseases and conditions responsive to treatment with a serotonin-releasing agent.
