Toxicological Aspects and Determination of the Main Components of Ayahuasca: A Critical Review
Medicines – October 18, 2019
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian beverage, blends Psychotria viridis and Banisteriopsis caapi, promoting personal growth and spiritual connection. Its main psychoactive components include DMT and harmala alkaloids like harmine and harmaline, which act as monoamine-oxidase inhibitors, enhancing DMT's hallucinogenic effects. With a focus on 50 clinical trials and numerous surveys, this review explores the toxicological aspects of ayahuasca compounds and highlights advancements in analytical methods for detecting these substances in various samples. Understanding these effects is crucial as recreational use rises.
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a psychoactive beverage prepared traditionally from a mixture of the leaves and stems of Psychotria viridis and Banisteriopsis caapi, respectively, being originally consumed by indigenous Amazonian tribes for ritual and medicinal purposes. Over the years, its use has spread to other populations as a means to personal growth and spiritual connection. Also, the recreational use of its isolated compounds has become prominent. The main compounds of this tea-like preparation are N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), β-Carbolines, and harmala alkaloids, such as harmine, tetrahydroharmine, and harmaline. The latter are monoamine-oxidase inhibitors and are responsible for DMT psychoactive and hallucinogenic effects on the central nervous system. Although consumers defend its use, its metabolic effects and those on the central nervous system are not fully understood yet. The majority of studies regarding the effects of this beverage and of its individual compounds are based on in vivo experiments, clinical trials, and even surveys. This paper will not only address the toxicological aspects of the ayahuasca compounds but also perform a comprehensive and critical review on the analytical methods available for their determination in biological and non-biological specimens, with special focus on instrumental developments and sample preparation approaches.