Effects of ayahuasca in preclinical studies with animals: a systematic review
A. Walsh-monteiro, S. Morato, F.a.r. Uribe, A. Gouveia Jr, J.s. Pedroso
Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research September 2, 2025 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1590/1414-431x2025e14687 via DOAJ
Summary
The ayahuasca beverage (Aya) significantly alters motor and cognitive behavior in various animal models, particularly affecting the serotonergic system, which relates to symptoms seen in schizophrenia and depression. A total of 14 articles were analyzed from a pool of 2,359 documents, but the review emphasizes a lack of robust pre-clinical studies with standardized methods, highlighting the need for further research on potential toxic and neurochemical effects of Aya.
Study at a glance
| Design | systematic review |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 14 |
| Population | animal models of different developmental stages |
| Key finding | Aya causes significant alterations in motor and cognitive behavior in animals, linked to the serotonergic system. |
Abstract
This systematic review investigates the effects of the ayahuasca beverage (Aya) in various animal models. Using the PRISMA protocol and adhering to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews, a comprehensive selection of 2,359 documents was identified from the Web of Science, Medline, and Scopus databases between 2012 and 2022. Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 14 articles were included in the final analysis. The analysis revealed a diversity in the selection of animal models that included different developmental stages and various forms of Aya intoxication, including acute and chronic doses, and varying concentrations of the active principles. The studies revealed that Aya causes significant alterations in the motor and cognitive behavior of animals, especially associated with the serotonergic system, which seems to contribute to the negative symptoms also observed in schizophrenia and depression. Despite the evidence found, this review highlights the scarcity of more robust pre-clinical studies with methodological standardization to make more conclusive comparisons, especially given the need to identify potential toxic and neurochemical effects of Aya on organisms for a safer assessment of its therapeutic use.