Ayahuasca Pretreatment Prevents Sepsis-Induced Anxiety-Like Behavior, Neuroinflammation, and Oxidative Stress, and Increases Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor.
Molecular neurobiology May 1, 2025 Rick Wilhiam de Camargo, Larissa Joaquim, Richard Simon Machado et al. 13 citations
Pretreatment with the psychoactive decoction Ayahuasca (AYA) for three days before inducing sepsis in rats reduced anxiety-like behaviors and neuroinflammation. AYA increased time spent in the open arms of an elevated plus maze and prevented excessive grooming and rearing, indicating anxiolytic effects. It raised levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-4 in the prefrontal cortex and cortex and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the cortex. AYA also increased myeloperoxidase activity in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus while decreasing nitrite/nitrate concentrations across multiple brain regions, suggesting enhanced neutrophil activation and reduced nitric oxide signaling. Additionally, AYA prevented lipid peroxidation in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and cortex. These findings suggest AYA may protect against sepsis-induced neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and anxiety-like symptoms.