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Arruda Sanchez T, Ramos LR, Araujo F, Schenberg EE, Yonamine M, Lobo I, de Araujo DB, Luna LE. Emotion regulation effects of Ayahuasca in experienced subjects during implicit aversive stimulation: An fMRI study. J Ethnopharmacol 2024; 320:117430. [PMID: 37979818 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Ayahuasca is a beverage used in Amazonian traditional medicine and it has been part of the human experience for millennia as well as other different psychoactive plants. Although Ayahuasca has been proposed as potentially therapeutic as an anxiolytic and antidepressant, whilst no studies have been carried out so far investigating their direct effect on brain emotional processing. AIM OF THE STUDY This study aimed to measure the emotional acute effect of Ayahuasca on brain response to implicit aversive stimulation using a face recognition task in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS Nineteen male experienced Ayahuasca users participated in this study in two fMRI sessions before and after 50 min of the Ayahuasca ingestion. Subjects were presented with pictures of neutral (A) and aversive (B) (fearful or disgusted) faces from the Pictures of Facial Affect Series. Subjects were instructed to identify the gender of the faces (gender discrimination task) while the emotional content was implicit. Subjective mood states were also evaluated before Ayahuasca intake and after the second fMRI session, using a visual analogue mood scale (VAMS). RESULTS During the aversive stimuli, the activity in the bilateral amygdala was attenuated by Ayahuasca (qFDR<0.05). Furthermore, in an exploratory analysis of the effects after intake, Ayahuasca enhances the activation in the insular cortex bilaterally, as well as in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (qFDR<0.05). In the psychometric VAMS scale, subjects reported attenuation of both anxiety and mental sedation (p < 0.01) during acute effects. CONCLUSIONS Together, all reported results including neuroimaging, behavioral data and psychometric self-report suggest that Ayahuasca can promote an emotion regulation mechanism in response to aversive stimuli with corresponding improved cognition including reduced anxiety and mental sedation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Arruda Sanchez
- Laboratory of Neuroimaging and Psychophysiology, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Lucas Rego Ramos
- Laboratory of Neuroimaging and Psychophysiology, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Felipe Araujo
- Laboratory of Neuroimaging and Psychophysiology, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Mauricio Yonamine
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Isabela Lobo
- Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade (NUPEM), UFRJ, Macaé, RJ, Brazil
| | - Draulio Barros de Araujo
- Brain Institute / Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Luis Eduardo Luna
- Research Centre for the study of psychointegrator plants, Visionary Art and Consciousness - Wasiwaska, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
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Apud I, Scuro J, Rodríguez L, Hernandez G, Carrera I, Lozano F, Retta JI. Ayahuasca, Personality and Acute Psychological Effects in Neo-Shamanic and Religious Settings in Uruguay. J Psychoactive Drugs 2023; 55:581-591. [PMID: 37750012 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2023.2261017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
This study is an interdisciplinary research into Uruguayan ayahuasca users belonging to one neo-shamanic and one Santo Daime group. The study involved the chemical analysis of ayahuasca samples, an ethnographic description of the two traditions and rituals, and the application of psychometric scales to measure personality differences, and the acute psychological effects during an ayahuasca ritual. Personality measurements showed lower scores for Santo Daime in Neuroticism-Anxiety, Dependence, Low Self-Esteem, Anger and Restlessness. These differences may be related to the presence of participants under treatment in the neo-shamanic group and/or to the protective effects of a church religion such as Santo Daime. Regarding acute effects, the neo-shamanic group showed higher scores in Somesthesia and Perception, which can be related to the high-arousal ritual setting. Chemical analysis for the ayahuasca samples showed a typical composition of alkaloids. No adulterants were found. The sample from the neo-shamanic group displayed a higher β-carbolines:DMT ratio compared to the Santo Daime sample, which could be related to the higher effects observed for Somesthesia for the neo-shamanic group. Significant positive correlations between some personality traits and acute effects were found only in the neo-shamanic group, which may be related to the more individualistic approach of this tradition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismael Apud
- Institute of Foundations and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Juan Scuro
- Department of Social Anthropology, Faculty of Humanities and Educational Sciences, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Luisina Rodríguez
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Gonzalo Hernandez
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Ignacio Carrera
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Frank Lozano
- Institute of Foundations and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Juan Ignacio Retta
- Department of Social Anthropology, Faculty of Humanities and Educational Sciences, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
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Daldegan-Bueno D, Simionato NM, Favaro VM, Maia LO. The current state of ayahuasca research in animal models: A systematic review. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2023; 125:110738. [PMID: 36863501 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE The psychedelic brew ayahuasca is increasingly being investigated for its therapeutic potential. Animal models are essential to investigate the pharmacological effects of ayahuasca since they can control important factors influencing it, such as the set and setting. OBJECTIVE Review and summarise data available on ayahuasca research using animal models. METHODS We systematically searched five databases (PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, LILACS and PsycInfo) for peer-reviewed studies in English, Portuguese or Spanish published up to July 2022. The search strategy included ayahuasca- and animal model-related terms adapted from the SYRCLE search syntax. RESULTS We identified 32 studies investigating ayahuasca effects on toxicological, behavioural and (neuro)biological parameters in rodents, primates and zebrafish. Toxicological results show that ayahuasca is safe at ceremonial-based doses but toxic at high doses. Behavioural results indicate an antidepressant effect and a potential to reduce the reward effects of ethanol and amphetamines, while the anxiety-related outcomes are yet inconclusive; also, ayahuasca can influence locomotor activity, highlighting the importance of controlling the analysis for locomotion when using tasks depending on it. Neurobiological results show that ayahuasca affects brain structures involved in memory, emotion and learning and that other neuropathways, besides the serotonergic action, are important in modulating its effects. CONCLUSIONS Studies using animal models indicate that ayahuasca is toxicologically safe in ceremonial-comparable doses and indicates a therapeutic potential for depression and substance use disorder while not supporting an anxiolytic effect. Essential gaps in the ayahuasca field can still be sufficed using animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitri Daldegan-Bueno
- Interdisciplinary Cooperation for Ayahuasca Research and Outreach (ICARO), School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil; Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Vanessa Manchim Favaro
- Division of Neuromuscular Diseases, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lucas Oliveira Maia
- Interdisciplinary Cooperation for Ayahuasca Research and Outreach (ICARO), School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil; Brain Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, Brazil; Interdisciplinary Center for Studies in Palliative Care (CIECP), School of Nursing, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Alfenas, Brazil
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4
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Jin J, Shen T, Shu L, Huang Y, Deng Y, Li B, Jin Z, Li X, Wu J. Recent Achievements in Antiviral Agent Development for Plant Protection. J Agric Food Chem 2023; 71:1291-1309. [PMID: 36625507 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c07315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Plant virus disease is the second most prevalent plant diseases and can cause extensive loss in global agricultural economy. Extensive work has been carried out on the development of novel antiplant virus agents for preventing and treating plant virus diseases. In this review, we summarize the achievements of the research and development of new antiviral agents in the recent five years and provide our own perspective on the future development in this highly active research field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiamiao Jin
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Tingwei Shen
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Liangzhen Shu
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Yixian Huang
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Youlin Deng
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Benpeng Li
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Zhichao Jin
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Xiangyang Li
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Jian Wu
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
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Rossi GN, Guerra LTL, Baker GB, Dursun SM, Saiz JCB, Hallak JEC, dos Santos RG. Molecular Pathways of the Therapeutic Effects of Ayahuasca, a Botanical Psychedelic and Potential Rapid-Acting Antidepressant. Biomolecules 2022; 12:1618. [DOI: 10.3390/biom12111618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew traditionally used in indigenous and religious rituals and ceremonies in South America for its therapeutic, psychedelic, and entheogenic effects. It is usually prepared by lengthy boiling of the leaves of the bush Psychotria viridis and the mashed stalks of the vine Banisteriopsis caapi in water. The former contains the classical psychedelic N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), which is thought to be the main psychoactive alkaloid present in the brew. The latter serves as a source for β-carbolines, known for their monoamine oxidase-inhibiting (MAOI) properties. Recent preliminary research has provided encouraging results investigating ayahuasca’s therapeutic potential, especially regarding its antidepressant effects. On a molecular level, pre-clinical and clinical evidence points to a complex pharmacological profile conveyed by the brew, including modulation of serotoninergic, glutamatergic, dopaminergic, and endocannabinoid systems. Its substances also interact with the vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT), trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1), and sigma-1 receptors. Furthermore, ayahuasca’s components also seem to modulate levels of inflammatory and neurotrophic factors beneficially. On a biological level, this translates into neuroprotective and neuroplastic effects. Here we review the current knowledge regarding these molecular interactions and how they relate to the possible antidepressant effects ayahuasca seems to produce.
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Politi M, Tresca G, Menghini L, Ferrante C. Beyond the Psychoactive Effects of Ayahuasca: Cultural and Pharmacological Relevance of Its Emetic and Purging Properties. Planta Med 2022; 88:1275-1286. [PMID: 34794194 DOI: 10.1055/a-1675-3840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The herbal preparation ayahuasca has been an important part of ritual and healing practices, deployed to access invisible worlds in several indigenous groups in the Amazon basin and among mestizo populations of South America. The preparation is usually known to be composed of two main plants, Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis, which produce both hallucinogenic and potent purging and emetic effects; currently, these are considered its major pharmacological activities. In recent decades, the psychoactive and visionary effect of ayahuasca has been highly sought after by the shamanic tourism community, which led to the popularization of ayahuasca use globally and to a cultural distancing from its traditional cosmological meanings, including that of purging and emesis. Further, the field of ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology has also produced relatively limited data linking the phytochemical diversity of ayahuasca with the different degrees of its purging and emetic versus psychoactive effects. Similarly, scientific interest has also principally addressed the psychological and mental health effects of ayahuasca, overlooking the cultural and pharmacological importance of the purging and emetic activity. The aim of this review is therefore to shed light on the understudied purging and emetic effect of ayahuasca herbal preparation. It firstly focuses on reviewing the cultural relevance of emesis and purging in the context of Amazonian traditions. Secondly, on the basis of the main known phytochemicals described in the ayahuasca formula, a comprehensive pharmacological evaluation of their emetic and purging properties is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Politi
- Department of Pharmacy, Botanic Garden "Giardino dei Semplici", Università degli Studi "Gabriele d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy
- Research Department, Center for Drug Addiction Treatment and Research on Traditional Medicines - Takiwasi, Tarapoto, Peru
| | - Giorgia Tresca
- Department of Pharmacy, Botanic Garden "Giardino dei Semplici", Università degli Studi "Gabriele d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy
| | - Luigi Menghini
- Department of Pharmacy, Botanic Garden "Giardino dei Semplici", Università degli Studi "Gabriele d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy
| | - Claudio Ferrante
- Department of Pharmacy, Botanic Garden "Giardino dei Semplici", Università degli Studi "Gabriele d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy
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Rodríguez L, López A, Moyna G, Seoane GA, Davyt D, Vázquez Á, Hernández G, Carrera I. New Insights into the Chemical Composition of Ayahuasca. ACS Omega 2022; 7:12307-12317. [PMID: 35449956 PMCID: PMC9016809 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c00795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a psychedelic beverage originally from the Amazon rainforest used in different shamanic settings for medicinal, spiritual, and cultural purposes. It is prepared by boiling in water an admixture of the Amazonian vine Banisteriopsis caapi, which is a source of β-carboline alkaloids, with plants containing N,N-dimethyltryptamine, usually Psychotria viridis. While previous studies have focused on the detection and quantification of the alkaloids present in the drink, less attention has been given to other nonalkaloid components or the composition of the solids suspended in the beverage, which may also affect its psychoactive properties. In this study, we used nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to study the composition of ayahuasca samples, to determine their alkaloid qualitative and quantitative profiles, as well as other major soluble and nonsoluble components. For the first time, fructose was detected as a major component of the samples, while harmine (a β-carboline previously described as an abundant alkaloid in ayahuasca) was found to be present in the solids suspended in the beverage. In addition, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), harmine, tetrahydroharmine, harmaline, and harmol were identified as the major alkaloids present in extracts of all samples. Finally, a novel, easy, and fast method using quantitative NMR was developed and validated to simultaneously quantify the content of these alkaloids found in each ayahuasca sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisina Rodríguez
- Laboratorio
de Farmacognosia, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidad de la República, Avenue General Flores 2124, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
- Laboratorio
de Síntesis Orgánica, Departamento de Química
Orgánica, Universidad de la República, Avenue General Flores 2124, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
- Arché-
Núcleo Interdisciplinario de Estudios sobre Psicodélicos-
Espacio Interdisciplinario, Universidad
de la República, José Enrique Rodó 1843, Montevideo 11200, Uruguay
| | - Andrés López
- Departamento
de Química del Litoral, Centro Universitario Regional Litoral
Norte, Universidad de la República, Ruta 3, km 363, Paysandú 60000, Uruguay
| | - Guillermo Moyna
- Departamento
de Química del Litoral, Centro Universitario Regional Litoral
Norte, Universidad de la República, Ruta 3, km 363, Paysandú 60000, Uruguay
| | - Gustavo A. Seoane
- Laboratorio
de Síntesis Orgánica, Departamento de Química
Orgánica, Universidad de la República, Avenue General Flores 2124, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
- Arché-
Núcleo Interdisciplinario de Estudios sobre Psicodélicos-
Espacio Interdisciplinario, Universidad
de la República, José Enrique Rodó 1843, Montevideo 11200, Uruguay
| | - Danilo Davyt
- Laboratorio
de Química Farmacéutica, Departamento de Química
Orgánica, Universidad de la República, Avenue General Flores 2124, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
| | - Álvaro Vázquez
- Laboratorio
de Farmacognosia, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidad de la República, Avenue General Flores 2124, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
- Arché-
Núcleo Interdisciplinario de Estudios sobre Psicodélicos-
Espacio Interdisciplinario, Universidad
de la República, José Enrique Rodó 1843, Montevideo 11200, Uruguay
| | - Gonzalo Hernández
- Laboratorio
de Resonancia Magnética Nuclear, Departamento de Química
Orgánica, Universidad de la República, Avenue General Flores 2124, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
| | - Ignacio Carrera
- Laboratorio
de Síntesis Orgánica, Departamento de Química
Orgánica, Universidad de la República, Avenue General Flores 2124, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
- Arché-
Núcleo Interdisciplinario de Estudios sobre Psicodélicos-
Espacio Interdisciplinario, Universidad
de la República, José Enrique Rodó 1843, Montevideo 11200, Uruguay
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Daldegan-Bueno D, Favaro VM, Tófoli LF, Sussulini A, Cassas F, Oliveira MGM. Ayahuasca Lyophilization (Freeze-drying) Protocol with Pre- and Post-procedure Alkaloids Quantification. J Psychoactive Drugs 2021; 54:278-283. [PMID: 34530685 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2021.1971342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew from the decoction of different Amazonian plants, traditionally used in several cultures, religions, and rituals. Scientific studies with ayahuasca are rapidly increasing due to its subjective effects and therapeutic potential. Although ayahuasca is traditionally used in its liquid presentation, lyophilized (freeze-dried) ayahuasca is often used in scientific experimentation settings. However, there is no standard process or guideline to freeze-dry ayahuasca nor comparison of the chemical profile between the liquid and freeze-dried presentations. Therefore, we describe a reproducible five-day protocol for ayahuasca lyophilization with alkaloids quantification by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry of both the liquid and the final freeze-dried ayahuasca. By the end of the protocol, approximately 295 g of freeze-dried extract with similar alkaloids concentration were obtained from two liters of ayahuasca (dry matter: 14.75 %). The final extract was stored for three years inside a vacuum desiccator (approximately 6°C) with its texture quality preserved. Further studies should address the impact of different storage conditions and the lyophilization on the alkaloids' quantity of the freeze-dried ayahuasca, especially the use of heat in regards to the β-carbolines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitri Daldegan-Bueno
- Schools of Population Health and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Department of Psychobiology, Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo, Brazil.,Interdisciplinary Cooperation for Ayahuasca Research and Outreach (Icaro), School of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas (Unicamp), State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Manchim Favaro
- Department of Psychobiology, Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luís Fernando Tófoli
- Interdisciplinary Cooperation for Ayahuasca Research and Outreach (Icaro), School of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas (Unicamp), State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.,Otto Richard Gottlieb Bioorganic Chemistry Lab (Labiorg), Institute of Environmental, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences (Icaqf/unifesp), Chemistry Department, Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Sussulini
- Laboratory of Bioanalytics and Integrated Omics (Labiomics), Institute of Chemistry, State University of Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Fernando Cassas
- Interdisciplinary Cooperation for Ayahuasca Research and Outreach (Icaro), School of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas (Unicamp), State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.,Otto Richard Gottlieb Bioorganic Chemistry Lab (Labiorg), Institute of Environmental, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences (Icaqf/unifesp), Chemistry Department, Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria Gabriela Menezes Oliveira
- Department of Psychobiology, Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo, Brazil.,Interdisciplinary Cooperation for Ayahuasca Research and Outreach (Icaro), School of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas (Unicamp), State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
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Chambers M, Appley MG, Longo CM, Musah RA. Detection and Quantification of Psychoactive N, N-Dimethyltryptamine in Ayahuasca Brews by Ambient Ionization High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry. ACS Omega 2020; 5:28547-28554. [PMID: 33195905 PMCID: PMC7658922 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c03196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime designated twenty psychoactive botanical species as "plants of concern" because of their increased recreational abuse. Four of these are used to prepare ayahuasca brews. The complexity of the plant matrices, as well as the beverage itself, make the identification and quantification of the Schedule I component, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a time-consuming and resource-intensive endeavor when performed using conventional approaches previously reported. Reported here is the development of a rapid validated method for the quantification of DMT in ayahuasca by direct analysis in real time-high-resolution mass spectrometry (DART-HRMS). This ambient ionization approach also enables identification of ayahuasca through detection of the secondary metabolites associated with its plant constituents. Analysis of six ayahuasca brews created using different combinations of DMT/harmala alkaloid-containing plants resulted in beverages with DMT levels of 45.7-230.5 mg/L. The detected amounts were consistent with previously reported values determined by conventional approaches.
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Abstract
Traditional ayahuasca can be defined as a brew made from Amazonian vine Banisteriopsis caapi and Amazonian admixture plants. Ayahuasca is used by indigenous groups in Amazonia, as a sacrament in syncretic Brazilian religions, and in healing and spiritual ceremonies internationally. The study aimed to determine concentrations of the main bio- and psychoactive components of ayahuasca used in different locations and traditions. We collected 102 samples of brews from ayahuasca-using communities. Concentrations of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), tetrahydroharmine, harmine, and harmaline were determined by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). Qualitative analyses for non-traditional additives (moclobemide, psilocin, yuremamine) were performed by high resolution mass spectrometry. Higher and more variable concentrations of DMT in neoshamanic ayahuasca samples compared to indigenous samples may indicate use of higher and more variable proportions of DMT-containing admixture plants. From European samples, we found two related samples of analog ayahuasca containing moclobemide, psilocin, DMT, yuremamine, and very low concentrations of B. caapi alkaloids. Some analogs of ayahuasca (Peganum harmala, Mimosa tenuiflora) were used in Europe. No analogs were found from Brazil or Santo Daime ceremonies in Europe. We recommend awareness about the constituents of the brew and ethical self-regulation among practitioners of ayahuasca ceremonies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helle Kaasik
- School of Theology and Religious Studies; and Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Rita C Z Souza
- Laboratory of Bioanalytics and Integrated Omics (LaBIOmics), Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Flávia S Zandonadi
- Laboratory of Bioanalytics and Integrated Omics (LaBIOmics), Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Luís Fernando Tófoli
- Interdisciplinary Cooperation for Ayahuasca Research and Outreach (ICARO), School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Sussulini
- Laboratory of Bioanalytics and Integrated Omics (LaBIOmics), Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
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Santos BWL, Oliveira RC, Sonsin-Oliveira J, Fagg CW, Barbosa JBF, Caldas ED. Biodiversity of β-Carboline Profile of Banisteriopsis caapi and Ayahuasca, a Plant and a Brew with Neuropharmacological Potential. Plants (Basel) 2020; 9:E870. [PMID: 32660098 DOI: 10.3390/plants9070870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a psychoactive infusion with a large pharmacological application normally prepared with Banisteriopsis caapi, which contains the monoamine oxidase inhibitors β-carbolines, and Psichotria virids, which contains the serotonin receptor agonist N,N dimethyltryptamine (DMT). The objectives of this study were to investigate the chemical profile of B. caapi and of ayahuasca collected in various Brazilian regions. In total, 176 plant lianas, of which 159 B.caapi and 33 ayahuasca samples were analyzed. Dried liana samples were powdered, extracted with methanol, diluted, and analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Ayahuasca samples were diluted and analyzed. Mean concentrations in B. caapi were 4.79 mg/g harmine, 0.451 mg/g harmaline, and 2.18 mg/g tetrahydroharmine (THH), with a high variability among the samples (RSD from 78.9 to 170%). Native B. caapi samples showed significantly higher harmine concentrations than cultivated ones, and samples from the Federal District/Goiás had higher THH content than those collected in the State of Acre. The other Malpighiaceae samples did not contain β-carbolines, except for one D. pubipetala sample. Concentrations in ayahuasca samples ranged from 0.109 to 7.11 mg/mL harmine, 0.012 to 0.945 mg/mL harmaline, 0.09 to 3.05 mg/mL THH, and 0.10 to 3.12 mg/mL DMT. The analysis of paired ayahuasca/B. caapi confirmed that harmine is reduced to harmaline and to THH during the brew preparation. This is the largest study conducted with Malpighiaceae samples and showed a large variability in the main β-carbolines present in B. caapi. This biodiversity is a challenge for standardization of the material used in ethnopharmacological studies of B.caapi and ayahuasca.
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de Oliveira Silveira G, Guimarães dos Santos R, Rebello Lourenço F, Novak Rossi G, Hallak JEC, Yonamine M. Stability Evaluation of DMT and Harmala Alkaloids in Ayahuasca Tea Samples. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25092072. [PMID: 32365548 PMCID: PMC7248686 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25092072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ayahuasca tea is a hallucinogenic beverage used for religious purposes in Brazil and many other countries that has therapeutic potential in the treatment of some mental health disorders. In the context of psychedelic research, quantification of the tea's main alkaloids prior to its administration in animal or human studies is essential. For this reason, this study aims to provide information regarding the stability of the main ayahuasca alkaloids (dimethyltryptamine, DMT; harmine, HRM; tetrahydroharmine, THH; harmaline, HRL) in three different conditions: (1) A year stored in a refrigerator either in plastic or glass containers, (2) seven days at 37 °C to reproduce usual mail transportation, and (3) after three freeze-thaw cycles. Samples were quantified after a dilute-and-shoot procedure using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). There was no significant degradation of DMT concentration over time in all tested conditions. Harmala alkaloids (THH, HRL, and HRM) showed important variations after long-term and high-temperature storages. Although DMT has proven to be stable in all studied conditions, the harmala alkaloids revealed intense degradation and even concentration increment. This may be caused by degradation, alkaloid inter-conversion, and leaching from tea precipitate material. Therefore, ayahuasca quantification before administration in controlled sets is mandatory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela de Oliveira Silveira
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil;
- Correspondence:
| | - Rafael Guimarães dos Santos
- Department of Neurosciences and Behaviour, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, Brazil; (R.G.d.S.); (G.N.R.); (J.E.C.H.)
- National Institute of Science and Technology—Translational Medicine, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Felipe Rebello Lourenço
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil;
| | - Giordano Novak Rossi
- Department of Neurosciences and Behaviour, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, Brazil; (R.G.d.S.); (G.N.R.); (J.E.C.H.)
| | - Jaime E. C. Hallak
- Department of Neurosciences and Behaviour, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, Brazil; (R.G.d.S.); (G.N.R.); (J.E.C.H.)
- National Institute of Science and Technology—Translational Medicine, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Mauricio Yonamine
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil;
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Abstract
The study aims to describe ayahuasca users in Estonia and compare their mental health and quality of life to those of nonusers. Ceremonial practices, motivation for ayahuasca use, use-related experiences, and subjective consequences of use are described. We conducted a cross-sectional case-controlled study of thirty ayahuasca users and thirty nonusers matched by gender, age, and education. The participants completed questionnaires, standardized psychometric tests, and neuropsychiatric interviews. Ayahuasca use in Estonia occurred mainly in (neo)shamanic group ceremonies. The main motives for ayahuasca use were spiritual development, self-knowledge, and spiritual experiences. The users reported mostly positive subjective consequences of ayahuasca use for their health and life. However, some difficult experiences and adverse effects were reported. No abuse of ayahuasca or addiction to it was found. Screening test indicators of depression and anxiety were lower in the ayahuasca-using group. No deterioration of the mental health of ayahuasca users in comparison to nonusers was found. The participants perceive their use of ayahuasca as a spiritual practice with mostly favorable outcomes for their health and life. They also perceive ayahuasca use in Estonia as a reasonably safe and self-limiting form of spiritual practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helle Kaasik
- School of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Tartu , Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kairi Kreegipuu
- Institute of Psychology, University of Tartu , Tartu, Estonia
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Estrella-Parra EA, Almanza-Pérez JC, Alarcón-Aguilar FJ. Ayahuasca: Uses, Phytochemical and Biological Activities. Nat Prod Bioprospect 2019; 9:251-265. [PMID: 31134518 PMCID: PMC6646606 DOI: 10.1007/s13659-019-0210-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/12/2019] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Ayahuasca (caapi, yajé), is a psychoactive brew from the Amazon Basin region of South America traditionally considered a "master plant." It is prepared as a decoction from Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis, which it is thought that it stimulates creative thinking and visual creativity. Native healers of the Orinoco and Amazon basins have used traditionally ayahuasca as a healing tool for multiple purposes, particularly to treat psychological disorders in the patients, with some beneficial effects experimentally and clinically validated. Recently, several syncretic religions, as the "União de Vegetal" (UDV) group in Brazil, have been spread around the world. The use of ayahuasca has been popularized by internet and smart-shops, bringing the psychoactive substance to new highs, emerging new "ayahuasqueros." Ayahuasca has alkaloids as β-carbolines and dimethyltryptamines, which inhibit the monoamine oxidase and active the 5-HT2A (5-hydroxytryptamine) receptor, respectively, resulting in hallucinations in the users. Ayahuasca induces a psychedelic change in the anteroposterior coupling of the electrophysiological brain oscillations in humans. Traditional ayahuasca beverage is generating pharmacological, commercial and spiritual interest among the scientific community, government people, and different populations worldwide. The goal of this article is to report about the uses, chemistry and biological activities of ayahuasca.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgar Antonio Estrella-Parra
- Laboratorio de Farmacología. Dpto. Ciencias de la Salud. Div. C.B.S. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Iztapalapa. Av. San Rafael Atlixco No. 186, Col. Vicentina, 09340, Mexico CDMX, Mexico
- Laboratorio de Fitoquímica, Laboratorio de Farmacognosia, Laboratorio de Fisiología Vegetal, Unidad UBIPRO, FES-Iztacala, UNAM, Tlalnepantla de Baz, 54090, Mexico CDMX, Mexico
| | - Julio Cesar Almanza-Pérez
- Laboratorio de Farmacología. Dpto. Ciencias de la Salud. Div. C.B.S. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Iztapalapa. Av. San Rafael Atlixco No. 186, Col. Vicentina, 09340, Mexico CDMX, Mexico
| | - Francisco Javier Alarcón-Aguilar
- Laboratorio de Farmacología. Dpto. Ciencias de la Salud. Div. C.B.S. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Iztapalapa. Av. San Rafael Atlixco No. 186, Col. Vicentina, 09340, Mexico CDMX, Mexico.
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Souza RCZ, Zandonadi FS, Freitas DP, Tófoli LFF, Sussulini A. Validation of an analytical method for the determination of the main ayahuasca active compounds and application to real ayahuasca samples from Brazil. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2019; 1124:197-203. [PMID: 31220748 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2019.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Revised: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a brew prepared from the water decoction of two Amazonian plants, which is legally used for religious, cultural or therapeutic activities. The potential use of ayahuasca as a natural or phytotherapeutic drug is directly linked to the action of its active compounds and their connection with the therapeutic efficacy of the beverage. In this context, the aim of the present study was to establish a selective, sensitive and reproducible analytical method for the quantification of the main active ayahuasca compounds. Thirty-eight samples from the state of São Paulo, Brazil, were analyzed and the simultaneous quantifications of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), tetrahydroharmine (THH), harmine (HME) and harmaline (HML) were performed. This study enabled the development of a fast validated analytical method with minimal matrix interference and high reproducibility for the tracing of active ayahuasca compound concentrations for the first time. This method is important as an auxiliary tool for the study of active compound effects in biological responses using different multi-omic platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita C Z Souza
- Laboratory of Bioanalytics and Integrated Omics (LaBIOmics), Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), P.O. Box 6154, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Flávia S Zandonadi
- Laboratory of Bioanalytics and Integrated Omics (LaBIOmics), Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), P.O. Box 6154, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Donizete P Freitas
- Laboratory of Bioanalytics and Integrated Omics (LaBIOmics), Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), P.O. Box 6154, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Luís F F Tófoli
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), 13025-251 Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Sussulini
- Laboratory of Bioanalytics and Integrated Omics (LaBIOmics), Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), P.O. Box 6154, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology for Bioanalytics - INCTBio, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), P.O. Box 6154, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil.
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Hamill J, Hallak J, Dursun SM, Baker G. Ayahuasca: Psychological and Physiologic Effects, Pharmacology and Potential Uses in Addiction and Mental Illness. Curr Neuropharmacol 2019; 17:108-128. [PMID: 29366418 PMCID: PMC6343205 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x16666180125095902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Revised: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian decoction with psychoactive properties, is made from bark of the Banisteriopsis caapi vine (containing beta-carboline alkaloids) and leaves of the Psychotria viridis bush (supplying the hallucinogen N,N-dimethyltryptamine, DMT). Originally used by indigenous shamans for the purposes of spirit communi-cation, magical experiences, healing, and religious rituals across several South American countries, ayahuasca has been in-corporated into folk medicine and spiritual healing, and several Brazilian churches use it routinely to foster a spiritual experi-ence. More recently, it is being used in Europe and North America, not only for religious or healing reasons, but also for rec-reation. Objective: To review ayahuasca’s behavioral effects, possible adverse effects, proposed mechanisms of action and potential clinical uses in mental illness. Method: We searched Medline, in English, using the terms ayahuasca, dimethyltryptamine, Banisteriopsis caapi, and Psy-chotria viridis and reviewed the relevant publications. Results: The following aspects of ayahuasca are summarized: Political and legal factors; acute and chronic psychological ef-fects; electrophysiological studies and imaging; physiological effects; safety and adverse effects; pharmacology; potential psychiatric uses. Conclusion: Many years of shamanic wisdom have indicated potential therapeutic uses for ayahuasca, and several present day studies suggest that it may be useful for treating various psychiatric disorders and addictions. The side effect profile ap-pears to be relatively mild, but more detailed studies need to be done. Several prominent researchers believe that government regulations with regard to ayahuasca should be relaxed so that it could be provided more readily to recognized, credible re-searchers to conduct comprehensive clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Hamill
- Department of Psychiatry (Neurochemical Research Unit) and Neuroscience & Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jaime Hallak
- Department of Psychiatry (Neurochemical Research Unit) and Neuroscience & Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Neurosciences and Behavior and National Institute of Science and Technology (Translational Medicine), Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | - Serdar M Dursun
- Department of Psychiatry (Neurochemical Research Unit) and Neuroscience & Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Glen Baker
- Department of Psychiatry (Neurochemical Research Unit) and Neuroscience & Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Pires JM, Mendes FR, Pires APS, Yonamine M, Amaral JLGD, Carlini EA. Pre-clinical interaction of ayahuasca, a brew used in spiritual movements, with morphine and propofol. BRAZ J PHARM SCI 2018. [DOI: 10.1590/s2175-97902018000117174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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da Motta LG, de Morais JA, Tavares ACA, Vianna LMS, Mortari MR, Amorim RFB, Carvalho RR, Paumgartten FJR, Pic-Taylor A, Caldas ED. Maternal and developmental toxicity of the hallucinogenic plant-based beverage ayahuasca in rats. Reprod Toxicol 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2018.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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19
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Morales-García JA, de la Fuente Revenga M, Alonso-Gil S, Rodríguez-Franco MI, Feilding A, Perez-Castillo A, Riba J. The alkaloids of Banisteriopsis caapi, the plant source of the Amazonian hallucinogen Ayahuasca, stimulate adult neurogenesis in vitro. Sci Rep 2017; 7:5309. [PMID: 28706205 PMCID: PMC5509699 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-05407-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 06/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Banisteriopsis caapi is the basic ingredient of ayahuasca, a psychotropic plant tea used in the Amazon for ritual and medicinal purposes, and by interested individuals worldwide. Animal studies and recent clinical research suggests that B. caapi preparations show antidepressant activity, a therapeutic effect that has been linked to hippocampal neurogenesis. Here we report that harmine, tetrahydroharmine and harmaline, the three main alkaloids present in B. caapi, and the harmine metabolite harmol, stimulate adult neurogenesis in vitro. In neurospheres prepared from progenitor cells obtained from the subventricular and the subgranular zones of adult mice brains, all compounds stimulated neural stem cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation into adult neurons. These findings suggest that modulation of brain plasticity could be a major contribution to the antidepressant effects of ayahuasca. They also expand the potential application of B. caapi alkaloids to other brain disorders that may benefit from stimulation of endogenous neural precursor niches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose A Morales-García
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CSIC-UAM), Arturo Duperier 4, 28029, Madrid, Spain.,Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), 28031, Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Medicina, UCM, Plaza Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mario de la Fuente Revenga
- Human Neuropsychopharmacology Research Group. Sant Pau Institute of Biomedical Research (IIB-Sant Pau). Sant Antoni María Claret, 167. 08025, Barcelona, Spain.,Instituto de Química Médica (IQM-CSIC), Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006, Madrid, Spain.,MFR currently at: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Sandra Alonso-Gil
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CSIC-UAM), Arturo Duperier 4, 28029, Madrid, Spain.,Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), 28031, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Amanda Feilding
- The Beckley Foundation, Beckley Park, Oxford, OX3 9SY, United Kingdom
| | - Ana Perez-Castillo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CSIC-UAM), Arturo Duperier 4, 28029, Madrid, Spain. .,Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), 28031, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Jordi Riba
- Human Neuropsychopharmacology Research Group. Sant Pau Institute of Biomedical Research (IIB-Sant Pau). Sant Antoni María Claret, 167. 08025, Barcelona, Spain. .,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM, Planta, 028029, Madrid, Spain.
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Lesiak AD, Musah RA. Application of ambient ionization high resolution mass spectrometry to determination of the botanical provenance of the constituents of psychoactive drug mixtures. Forensic Sci Int 2016; 266:271-280. [PMID: 27348465 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2016] [Revised: 05/21/2016] [Accepted: 06/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
A continuing challenge in analytical chemistry is species-level determination of the constituents of mixtures that are made of a combination of plant species. There is an added urgency to identify components in botanical mixtures that have mind altering properties, due to the increasing global abuse of combinations of such plants. Here we demonstrate the proof of principle that ambient ionization mass spectrometry, namely direct analysis in real time-high resolution mass spectrometry (DART-HRMS), and statistical analysis tools can be used to rapidly determine the individual components within a psychoactive brew (Ayahuasca) made from a mixture of botanicals. Five plant species used in Ayahuasca preparations were subjected to DART-HRMS analysis. The chemical fingerprint of each was reproducible but unique, thus enabling discrimination between them. The presence of important biomarkers, including N,N-dimethyltryptamine, harmaline and harmine, was confirmed using in-source collision-induced dissociation (CID). Six Ayahuasca brews made from combinations of various plant species were shown to possess a high level of similarity, despite having been made from different constituents. Nevertheless, the application of principal component analysis (PCA) was useful in distinguishing between each of the brews based on the botanical species used in the preparations. From a training set based on 900 individual analyses, three principal components covered 86.38% of the variance, and the leave-one-out cross validation was 98.88%. This is the first report of ambient ionization MS being successfully used for determination of the individual components of plant mixtures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashton D Lesiak
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany-State University of New York, 1400 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12222, United States
| | - Rabi A Musah
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany-State University of New York, 1400 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12222, United States.
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Schenberg EE, Alexandre JFM, Filev R, Cravo AM, Sato JR, Muthukumaraswamy SD, Yonamine M, Waguespack M, Lomnicka I, Barker SA, da Silveira DX. Acute Biphasic Effects of Ayahuasca. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0137202. [PMID: 26421727 PMCID: PMC4589238 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0137202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2015] [Accepted: 08/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ritual use of ayahuasca, an amazonian Amerindian medicine turned sacrament in syncretic religions in Brazil, is rapidly growing around the world. Because of this internationalization, a comprehensive understanding of the pharmacological mechanisms of action of the brew and the neural correlates of the modified states of consciousness it induces is important. Employing a combination of electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings and quantification of ayahuasca's compounds and their metabolites in the systemic circulation we found ayahuasca to induce a biphasic effect in the brain. This effect was composed of reduced power in the alpha band (8-13 Hz) after 50 minutes from ingestion of the brew and increased slow- and fast-gamma power (30-50 and 50-100 Hz, respectively) between 75 and 125 minutes. Alpha power reductions were mostly located at left parieto-occipital cortex, slow-gamma power increase was observed at left centro-parieto-occipital, left fronto-temporal and right frontal cortices while fast-gamma increases were significant at left centro-parieto-occipital, left fronto-temporal, right frontal and right parieto-occipital cortices. These effects were significantly associated with circulating levels of ayahuasca's chemical compounds, mostly N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), harmine, harmaline and tetrahydroharmine and some of their metabolites. An interpretation based on a cognitive and emotional framework relevant to the ritual use of ayahuasca, as well as it's potential therapeutic effects is offered.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Renato Filev
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Andre Mascioli Cravo
- Centro de Matemática, Computação e Cognição, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, Brazil
| | - João Ricardo Sato
- Centro de Matemática, Computação e Cognição, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, Brazil
| | | | - Maurício Yonamine
- Departamento de Análises Clinicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marian Waguespack
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Izabela Lomnicka
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Steven A. Barker
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
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Queiroz MMF, Marti G, Queiroz EF, Marcourt L, Castro-Gamboa I, Bolzani VS, Wolfender JL. LC-MS/MS quantitative determination of Tetrapterys mucronata alkaloids, a plant occasionally used in ayahuasca preparation. Phytochem Anal 2015; 26:183-188. [PMID: 25620461 DOI: 10.1002/pca.2548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2013] [Revised: 09/26/2014] [Accepted: 10/01/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Tetrapterys mucronata Cav. (Malpighiaceae) is a plant used in some regions of Brazil in the preparation of ayahuasca. OBJECTIVE To determine the content of the main tryptamine alkaloids in the stem bark of T. mucronata Cav. and assess their possible toxic and hallucinogenic properties based on the doses found in a water decoction that mimics the ayahuasca preparation. METHODS Four alkaloids previously described for their toxic and hallucinogenic properties were quantitated by multiple reaction monitoring HPLC combined with electrospray ionisation and tandem MS (HPLC-ESI/MS/MS) in the water decoction and ethanolic extracts from the bark of T. mucronata. RESULTS Exhaustive extraction of the stem barks with ethanol revealed the following alkaloid levels: bufotenine (1) 3.26 ± 0.31 mg/g, 5-methoxy-N-methyltryptamine (2) 0.88 ± 0.08 mg/g, 5-methoxy-bufotenine (3) 3.07 ± 0.22 mg/g and 2-methyl-6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline (4) 0.14 ± 0.004 mg/g. The water decoction presented slightly lower levels, ranging between 2.32 ± 0.14, 0.50 ± 0.04, 1.53 ± 0.09 and 0.10 ± 0.01 mg/g for (1), (2), (3) and (4) respectively. CONCLUSIONS The HPLC-ESI/MS/MS quantitation revealed significant alkaloid levels, in particular for bufotenine and 5-methoxy-bufotenine. As such compounds are known for their toxic and hallucinogenic properties, these results indicate that the consumption of this plant as an ingredient in ayahuasca preparations may present a risk to consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- M M F Queiroz
- Núcleo de Bioensaios, Biossíntese e Ecofisiologia de Produtos Naturais (NuBBE), Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
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Meruva SB, Raghunadh A, Kamaraju RR, Kumar UKS, Dubey PK. An oxidative amidation and heterocyclization approach for the synthesis of β-carbolines and dihydroeudistomin Y. Beilstein J Org Chem 2014; 10:471-80. [PMID: 24605167 PMCID: PMC3943975 DOI: 10.3762/bjoc.10.45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2013] [Accepted: 01/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A novel synthetic methodology has been developed for the synthesis of dihydro-β-carboline derivatives employing oxidative amidation–Bischler–Napieralski reaction conditions using tryptamine and 2,2-dibromo-1-phenylethanone as key starting materials. A number of dihydro-β-carboline derivatives have been synthesized in moderate to good yields using this methodology. Attempts were made towards the conversion of these dihydro-β-carbolines to naturally occurring eudistomin alkaloids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suresh Babu Meruva
- Technology Development Centre, Custom Pharmaceutical Services, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd., Miyapur, Hyderabad - 500049, India ; Department of Chemistry, College of Engineering, JNTUH, Kukatpally, Hyderabad - 500085, India
| | - Akula Raghunadh
- Technology Development Centre, Custom Pharmaceutical Services, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd., Miyapur, Hyderabad - 500049, India
| | - Raghavendra Rao Kamaraju
- Technology Development Centre, Custom Pharmaceutical Services, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd., Miyapur, Hyderabad - 500049, India
| | - U K Syam Kumar
- Technology Development Centre, Custom Pharmaceutical Services, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd., Miyapur, Hyderabad - 500049, India
| | - P K Dubey
- Department of Chemistry, College of Engineering, JNTUH, Kukatpally, Hyderabad - 500085, India
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Song H, Liu Y, Liu Y, Wang L, Wang Q. Synthesis and antiviral and fungicidal activity evaluation of β-carboline, dihydro-β-carboline, tetrahydro-β-carboline alkaloids, and their derivatives. J Agric Food Chem 2014; 62:1010-8. [PMID: 24460429 DOI: 10.1021/jf404840x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Six known β-carboline, dihydro-β-carboline, and tetrahydro-β-carboline alkaloids and a series of their derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their anti-tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and fungicidal activities for the first time. All of the alkaloids and some of their derivatives (compounds 3, 4, 14, and 19) exhibited higher anti-TMV activity than the commercial antiviral agent Ribavirin both in vitro and in vivo. Especially, the inactivation, curative, and protection activities of alkaloids Harmalan (62.3, 55.1, and 60.3% at 500 μg/mL) and tetrahydroharmane (64.2, 57.2, and 59.5% at 500 μg/mL) in vivo were much higher than those of Ribavirin (37.4, 36.2, and 38.5% at 500 μg/mL). A new derivative, 14, with optimized physicochemical properties, obviously exhibited higher activities in vivo (50.4, 43.9, and 47.9% at 500 μg/mL) than Ribavirin and other derivatives; therefore, 14 can be used as a new lead structure for the development of anti-TMV drugs. Moreover, most of these compounds exhibited good fungicidal activity against 14 kinds of fungi, especially compounds 4, 7, and 11.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjian Song
- State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, Research Institute of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, Nankai University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin) , Tianjin 300071, People's Republic of China
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES Comprehensively review the evidence regarding the use of ayahuasca, an Amerindian medicine traditionally used to treat many different illnesses and diseases, to treat some types of cancer. METHODS An in-depth review of the literature was conducted using PubMed, books, institutional magazines, conferences and online texts in nonprofessional sources regarding the biomedical knowledge about ayahuasca in general with a specific focus in its possible relations to the treatment of cancer. RESULTS At least nine case reports regarding the use of ayahuasca in the treatment of prostate, brain, ovarian, uterine, stomach, breast, and colon cancers were found. Several of these were considered improvements, one case was considered worse, and one case was rated as difficult to evaluate. A theoretical model is presented which explains these effects at the cellular, molecular, and psychosocial levels. Particular attention is given to ayahuasca's pharmacological effects through the activity of N,N-dimethyltryptamine at intracellular sigma-1 receptors. The effects of other components of ayahuasca, such as harmine, tetrahydroharmine, and harmaline, are also considered. CONCLUSION The proposed model, based on the molecular and cellular biology of ayahuasca's known active components and the available clinical reports, suggests that these accounts may have consistent biological underpinnings. Further study of ayahuasca's possible antitumor effects is important because cancer patients continue to seek out this traditional medicine. Consequently, based on the social and anthropological observations of the use of this brew, suggestions are provided for further research into the safety and efficacy of ayahuasca as a possible medicinal aid in the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo E Schenberg
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Instituto Plantando Consciencia, São Paulo, Brazil
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Leipold F, Hussain S, Ghislieri D, Turner NJ. Asymmetric Reduction of Cyclic Imines Catalyzed by a Whole-Cell Biocatalyst Containing an (S)-Imine Reductase. ChemCatChem 2013. [DOI: 10.1002/cctc.201300539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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Ghislieri D, Green AP, Pontini M, Willies SC, Rowles I, Frank A, Grogan G, Turner NJ. Engineering an enantioselective amine oxidase for the synthesis of pharmaceutical building blocks and alkaloid natural products. J Am Chem Soc 2013; 135:10863-9. [PMID: 23808566 DOI: 10.1021/ja4051235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 264] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The development of cost-effective and sustainable catalytic methods for the production of enantiomerically pure chiral amines is a key challenge facing the pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries. This challenge is highlighted by the estimate that 40-45% of drug candidates contain a chiral amine, fueling a demand for broadly applicable synthetic methods that deliver target structures in high yield and enantiomeric excess. Herein we describe the development and application of a "toolbox" of monoamine oxidase variants from Aspergillus niger (MAO-N) which display remarkable substrate scope and tolerance for sterically demanding motifs, including a new variant, which exhibits high activity and enantioselectivity toward substrates containing the aminodiphenylmethane (benzhydrylamine) template. By combining rational structure-guided engineering with high-throughput screening, it has been possible to expand the substrate scope of MAO-N to accommodate amine substrates containing bulky aryl substituents. These engineered MAO-N biocatalysts have been applied in deracemization reactions for the efficient asymmetric synthesis of the generic active pharmaceutical ingredients Solifenacin and Levocetirizine as well as the natural products (R)-coniine, (R)-eleagnine, and (R)-leptaflorine. We also report a novel MAO-N mediated asymmetric oxidative Pictet-Spengler approach to the synthesis of (R)-harmicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Ghislieri
- School of Chemistry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, United Kingdom
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Gaujac A, Dempster N, Navickiene S, Brandt SD, de Andrade JB. Determination of N,N-dimethyltryptamine in beverages consumed in religious practices by headspace solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography ion trap mass spectrometry. Talanta 2013; 106:394-8. [PMID: 23598143 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2013.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2012] [Revised: 01/08/2013] [Accepted: 01/10/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
A novel analytical approach combining solid-phase microextraction (SPME)/gas chromatography ion trap mass spectrometry (GC-IT-MS) was developed for the detection and quantification N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a powerful psychoactive indole alkaloid present in a variety of South American indigenous beverages, such as ayahuasca and vinho da jurema. These particular plant products, often used within a religious context, are increasingly consumed throughout the world following an expansion of religious groups and the availability of plant material over the Internet and high street shops. The method described in the present study included the use of SPME in headspace mode combined GC-IT-MS and included the optimization of the SPME procedure using multivariate techniques. The method was performed with a polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB) fiber in headspace mode (70 min at 60 °C) which resulted in good precision (RSD<8.6%) and accuracy values (71-109%). Detection and quantification limits obtained for DMT were 0.78 and 9.5 mg L(-1), respectively and good linearity (1.56-300 mg L(-1), r(2)=0.9975) was also observed. In addition, the proposed method showed good robustness and allowed for the minimization of sample manipulation. Five jurema beverage samples were prepared in the laboratory in order to study the impact of temperature, pH and ethanol on the ability to extract DMT into solution. The developed method was then applied to the analysis of twelve real ayahuasca and vinho da jurema samples, obtained from Brazilian religious groups, which revealed DMT concentration levels between 0.10 and 1.81 g L(-1).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain Gaujac
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Campus Universitário de Ondina, 40170-115 Salvador-Ba, Brazil
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Gaujac A, Navickiene S, Collins MI, Brandt SD, Andrade JB. Analytical techniques for the determination of tryptamines and β-carbolines in plant matrices and in psychoactive beverages consumed during religious ceremonies and neo-shamanic urban practices. Drug Test Anal 2012; 4:636-48. [DOI: 10.1002/dta.1343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2011] [Revised: 02/23/2012] [Accepted: 02/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sandro Navickiene
- Universidade Federal de Sergipe (UFS); Campus São Cristóvão; São Cristóvão-; Se; Brazil
| | - Mark I. Collins
- Universidade Estadual do Ceará (UECE); Campus do Itaperi; Fortaleza-; Ce; Brazil
| | - Simon D. Brandt
- Liverpool John Moores University; School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences; Liverpool; UK
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McIlhenny EH, Riba J, Barbanoj MJ, Strassman R, Barker SA. Methodology for determining major constituents of ayahuasca and their metabolites in blood. Biomed Chromatogr 2011; 26:301-13. [PMID: 21710581 DOI: 10.1002/bmc.1657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2011] [Revised: 04/06/2011] [Accepted: 04/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
There is an increasing interest in potential medical applications of ayahuasca, a South American psychotropic plant tea with a long cultural history of indigenous medical and religious use. Clinical research into ayahuasca will require specific, sensitive and comprehensive methods for the characterization and quantitation of these compounds and their metabolites in blood. A combination of two analytical techniques (high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet and/or fluorescence detection and gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection) has been used for the analysis of some of the constituents of ayahuasca in blood following its oral consumption. We report here a single methodology for the direct analysis of 14 of the major alkaloid components of ayahuasca, including several known and potential metabolites of N,N-dimethyltryptamine and the harmala alkaloids in blood. The method uses 96-well plate/protein precipitation/filtration for plasma samples, and analysis by HPLC-ion trap-ion trap-mass spectrometry using heated electrospray ionization to reduce matrix effects. The method expands the list of compounds capable of being monitored in blood following ayahuasca administration while providing a simplified approach to their analysis. The method has adequate sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility to make it useful for clinical research with ayahuasca.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan H McIlhenny
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, USA
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González-Ruiz V, Olives AI, Martín MA. SPE/RP-HPLC using C1 columns: an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional reverse-phase separations for quantitation of beta-carboline alkaloids in human serum samples. Anal Bioanal Chem 2010; 400:395-401. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-010-4562-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2010] [Revised: 11/30/2010] [Accepted: 12/01/2010] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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dos Santos RG. Toxicity of chronic ayahuasca administration to the pregnant rat: how relevant it is regarding the human, ritual use of ayahuasca? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 89:533-5; author reply 531-2.. [DOI: 10.1002/bdrb.20272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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McIlhenny EH, Riba J, Barbanoj MJ, Strassman R, Barker SA. Methodology for and the determination of the major constituents and metabolites of the Amazonian botanical medicine ayahuasca in human urine. Biomed Chromatogr 2010; 25:970-84. [PMID: 21058415 DOI: 10.1002/bmc.1551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2010] [Revised: 09/10/2010] [Accepted: 09/14/2010] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Ayahuasca, also known as caapi or yage among various South American groups, holds a highly esteemed and millennia-old position in these cultures' medical and religious pharmacopeia. There is now an increasing interest in the potential for modern medical applications of ayahuasca, as well as concerns regarding its increasing potential for abuse. Toxicological and clinical research to address these issues will require information regarding its metabolism and clearance. Thus, a rapid, sensitive and specific method for characterization and quantitation of the major constituents and of the metabolites of ayahuasca in urine is needed. The present research provides a protocol for conducting such analyses. The characteristics of the method, conducted by sample dilution and using HPLC-electrospray ionization (ESI)-selected reaction monitoring (SRM)-tandem mass spectrometry, are presented. The application of the analytical protocol to urine samples collected from three individuals that were administered ayahuasca has also been demonstrated. The data show that the major metabolite of the hallucinogenic component of ayahuasca, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), is the corresponding N-oxide, the first time this metabolite has been described in in vivo studies in humans. Further, very little DMT was detected in urine, despite the inhibition of monoamine oxidase afforded by the presence of the harmala alkaloids in ayahuasca. The major harmala alkaloid excreted was tetrahydroharmine. Other excretion products and metabolites were also identified and quantified. The method described would be suitable for use in further toxicological and clinical research on ayahuasca.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan H McIlhenny
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
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Herraiz T, González D, Ancín-Azpilicueta C, Arán VJ, Guillén H. beta-Carboline alkaloids in Peganum harmala and inhibition of human monoamine oxidase (MAO). Food Chem Toxicol 2009; 48:839-45. [PMID: 20036304 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2009.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 209] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2009] [Revised: 11/21/2009] [Accepted: 12/21/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Peganum harmala L. is a multipurpose medicinal plant increasingly used for psychoactive recreational purposes (Ayahuasca analog). Harmaline, harmine, harmalol, harmol and tetrahydroharmine were identified and quantified as the main beta-carboline alkaloids in P. harmala extracts. Seeds and roots contained the highest levels of alkaloids with low levels in stems and leaves, and absence in flowers. Harmine and harmaline accumulated in dry seeds at 4.3% and 5.6% (w/w), respectively, harmalol at 0.6%, and tetrahydroharmine at 0.1% (w/w). Roots contained harmine and harmol with 2.0% and 1.4% (w/w), respectively. Seed extracts were potent reversible and competitive inhibitors of human monoamine oxidase (MAO-A) with an IC(50) of 27 microg/l whereas root extracts strongly inhibited MAO-A with an IC(50) of 159 microg/l. In contrast, they were poor inhibitors of MAO-B. Inhibition of MAO-A by seed extracts was quantitatively attributed to harmaline and harmine whereas inhibition by root extracts came from harmine with no additional interferences. Stems and leaves extracts were poor inhibitors of MAO. The potent inhibition of MAO-A by seed and root extracts of P. harmala containing beta-carbolines should contribute to the psychopharmacological and toxicological effects of this plant and could be the basis for its purported antidepressant actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Herraiz
- Spanish Council for Scientific Research, CSIC, Instituto de Fermentaciones Industriales, Madrid, Spain.
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Beyer J, Drummer OH, Maurer HH. Analysis of toxic alkaloids in body samples. Forensic Sci Int 2009; 185:1-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2008.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2008] [Revised: 09/25/2008] [Accepted: 12/03/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Rodd R. Reassessing the Cultural and Psychopharmacological Significance ofBanisteriopsis caapi: Preparation, Classification and Use Among the Piaroa of Southern Venezuela. J Psychoactive Drugs 2008; 40:301-7. [DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2008.10400645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Abstract
AIM To extend previous reviews by assessing the acute systemic toxicity and psychological hazards of a dimethyltryptamine and beta-carboline brew (ayahuasca/hoasca) used in religious ceremonies. METHOD A systematic literature search, supplemented by interviews with ceremony participants. RESULTS No laboratory animal models were located that tested the acute toxicity or the abuse potential of ayahuasca. Separate animal studies of the median lethal dose of dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and of several harmala alkaloids indicated that a lethal dose of these substances in humans is probably greater than 20 times the typical ceremonial dose. Adverse health effects may occur from casual use of ayahuasca, particularly when serotonergic substances are used in conjunction. DMT is capable of inducing aversive psychological reactions or transient psychotic episodes that resolve spontaneously in a few hours. There was no evidence that ayahuasca has substantial or persistent abuse potential. Long-term psychological benefits have been documented when ayahuasca is used in a well-established social context. CONCLUSION A decoction of DMT and harmala alkaloids used in religious ceremonies has a safety margin comparable to codeine, mescaline or methadone. The dependence potential of oral DMT and the risk of sustained psychological disturbance are minimal.
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