Ayahuasca prevents the reinstatement of cocaine-induced rewarding effects in C57Bl/6 mice.
Vítor Bruno, Lídia Emmanuela Wiazowski Spelta, Matheus Lujan Pereira, Fabiane Dörr, Beatriz Aparecida Passos Bismara Paranhos, Fabiana Pereira Santos, Maurício Yonamine, Raphael Caio Tamborelli Garcia, Larissa Helena Torres, Roberto De Pasquale, Rosana Camarini, Tania Marcourakis
Psychopharmacology October 31, 2025 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1007/s00213-025-06946-0 via PubMed
Summary
Ayahuasca, containing DMT, can induce rewarding effects but these are less pronounced than those of cocaine. In a study involving C57Bl/6 mice, treatment with ayahuasca at doses of 12.5 or 15 mg DMT/kg effectively prevented the reinstatement of cocaine-induced conditioned place preference after a cocaine challenge. This suggests that ayahuasca may have therapeutic potential for treating cocaine use disorder.
Study at a glance
| Design | experimental study |
|---|---|
| Population | C57Bl/6 mice |
| Key finding | Ayahuasca treatment effectively prevented the reinstatement of cocaine-induced conditioned place preference. |
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a brew containing the psychedelic compound N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and β-carbolines, traditionally consumed in indigenous rituals. Recent studies suggest its potential to reduce depression and anxiety and as an alternative for treating ethanol and tobacco use disorders. However, research on its impact on cocaine use disorder remains limited. To analyze the rewarding effects of ayahuasca and to evaluate its therapeutic application on the reinstatement of cocaine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in C57Bl/6 mice. First, we examined if ayahuasca (2.5, 7.5, 12.5 and 15 mg DMT/kg, gavage) could induce CPP. Next, using a choice-based CPP paradigm, we compared the rewarding effects of cocaine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) with a previously established rewarding dose of ayahuasca (15 mg DMT/kg). Finally, we employed a cocaine-induced reinstatement protocol to assess whether ayahuasca could prevent the reactivation of cocaine-associated contextual preference. Therefore, mice were conditioned with cocaine and subsequently treated with water or ayahuasca (12.5 or 15 mg DMT/kg). Following a cocaine challenge, reinstatement of cocaine-induced CPP was evaluated. Our findings showed that while ayahuasca induced rewarding effects with the higher dose tested, these were less pronounced than those of cocaine. Moreover, ayahuasca treatment effectively prevented the cocaine-induced CPP reinstatement. These findings support the therapeutic potential of ayahuasca in the context of cocaine use disorder.