LC-MS/MS quantitative determination of Tetrapterys mucronata alkaloids, a plant occasionally used in ayahuasca preparation.
Phytochemical analysis : PCA January 1, 2015 M M F Queiroz, G Marti, E F Queiroz et al. 11 citations
The stem bark of Tetrapterys mucronata, a plant used in Brazilian ayahuasca preparations, contains four tryptamine alkaloids with known toxic and hallucinogenic properties. Quantitation by HPLC-ESI/MS/MS in ethanolic extracts found bufotenine at 3.26 mg/g, 5-methoxy-N-methyltryptamine at 0.88 mg/g, 5-methoxy-bufotenine at 3.07 mg/g, and 2-methyl-6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline at 0.14 mg/g. A water decoction mimicking ayahuasca showed slightly lower levels, with bufotenine at 2.32 mg/g and 5-methoxy-bufotenine at 1.53 mg/g. These significant alkaloid levels, particularly of bufotenine and 5-methoxy-bufotenine, indicate that consuming this plant in ayahuasca may pose a risk to consumers.