Identification of N,N‐dimethyltryptamine and β‐carbolines in psychotropic ayahuasca beverage
Biomedical Chromatography – May 27, 2008
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
A dark green liquid seized by authorities contained potent hallucinogens, including N,N-dimethyltryptamine and β-carboline alkaloids harmine and harmaline. Analysis through gas chromatography/mass spectrometry revealed these substances inhibit monoamine oxidase A, enhancing their psychoactive effects. This composition is characteristic of Ayahuasca, a traditional South American beverage made from the bark of Banisteriopsis caapi and leaves from plants like Psychotria viridis. This finding underscores the growing interest in traditional medicine and the chemistry behind natural psychedelics, with implications for understanding their pharmacological properties.
Abstract
Abstract Recently many people have shown great interest in traditional indigenous practices and popular medicine, involving the ingestion of natural psychotropic drugs. We received a request to analyze and determine the nature of a dark green liquid with a dark brown plant sediment, which the police had seized at an airport and inside the home of a person belonging to the ‘Santo Daime’ religious movement. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of the extract identified N , N ‐dimethyltryptamine, a potent hallucinogen, and the β ‐carboline alkaloids harmine and harmaline, revealing monoamine oxidase A‐inhibiting properties. These substances are typical components of Ayahuasca, a South American psychotropic beverage obtained by boiling the bark of the liana Banisteriopsis caapi together with the leaves of various admixture plants, principally Psychotria viridis . Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.