Pre-clinical interaction of ayahuasca, a brew used in spiritual movements, with morphine and propofol
Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences – June 07, 2018
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Ayahuasca, a psychoactive beverage, demonstrated significant interactions with anesthetics in a study involving 60 mice. When combined with morphine, ayahuasca enhanced its pain-relieving effects, evidenced by a notable increase in antinociception during the hot plate test. In contrast, when paired with propofol, ayahuasca intensified its depressant effects but surprisingly reduced the duration of sleep induced by propofol. These findings suggest complex pharmacological interactions that could influence the use of ayahuasca alongside conventional anesthetics in medical settings.
Abstract
ABSTRACT Ayahuasca is a beverage with psychoactive properties used in religious and ceremonial rituals by some religious groups. The main active components of ayahuasca are dimethyltryptamine and the harmala alkaloids with β-carboline structure acting as monoamine oxidase A inhibitors. This combination produces a pronounced activation of serotonergic pathways and presents potential interaction with other psychotropics. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible interactions between ayahuasca and agents employed in general anesthesia. The pharmacological interactions between ayahuasca and morphine or propofol were evaluated in mice using doses of 12, 120 and 1200 mg/kg (0.1 to 10 times the average dose consumed by humans in religious rituals). Ayahuasca alone showed an antinociceptive effect in the writhing and formalin tests, and intensified the analgesic effect of morphine in the hot plate test. Concerning the pharmacological interactions between ayahuasca and propofol, the results were opposite; ayahuasca intensified the depressant effect of propofol in the rotarod test, but decreased the sleeping time induced by propofol. These set of results showed the occurrence of some interactions between ayahuasca and the drugs morphine and propofol, possibly by both pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics mechanisms.