Behavioural Brain Research
August 23, 2021
Carolina Aparecida Faria Almeida, Antônio Alves Pereira-Júnior, Jéssica Gonçalves Rangel et al.
33 citations
Ayahuasca, a psychedelic brew, significantly alters brain chemistry, impacting dopamine levels in the striatum. In a study with 100 participants, 70% reported enhanced emotional well-being post-consumption. The brew's interaction with neurotransmitter receptors, particularly the κ-opioid receptor and dynorphin pathways, suggests profound psychological effects. Additionally, ayahuasca's potential to mitigate ethanol cravings highlights its relevance in internal medicine. Biochemical analyses reveal changes in the hippocampus activity, indicating a deeper understanding of how psychedelics influence behavior and mental health outcomes.
International review of neurobiology
January 1, 2024
Eduardo A V Marinho, Yasmim A Serra, Alexandre J Oliveira-Lima et al.
6 citations
Psychedelics such as LSD and psilocybin have shown promise for treating alcohol use disorder by reducing drinking and promoting abstinence. Ayahuasca, an Amazonian brew containing β-carbolines and DMT, has also emerged as a potential treatment. Clinical studies, mostly retrospective, report significant decreases in alcohol use among ayahuasca users. Pre-clinical evidence indicates ayahuasca blocks abuse-related effects of alcohol. The chapter reviews clinical and pre-clinical evidence suggesting ayahuasca may be a promising new pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorder and discusses potential mechanisms.
Journal of Psychopharmacology
September 22, 2025
Vítor Bruno, Martha López-canul, Brandon Richardson et al.
3 citations
Psilocybin, at a dose of 10 mg/kg administered every other day, does not produce conditioned place preference (CPP) in Sprague-Dawley rats, indicating a lack of rewarding or reinforcing effects under this regimen. During conditioning, psilocybin increased head twitching, wet-dog shaking, and defecation, while decreasing grooming, body licking, and rearing compared to vehicle. However, 48 hours after the final injection, no behavioral differences remained between groups. These findings suggest that psilocybin's acute behavioral effects are transient and that it does not induce reward-related learning in the CPP paradigm, though further research is needed to assess addiction liability across different protocols.
Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences
February 18, 2026
Gabriella de Souza Gomes Ribeiro, Beatriz Aparecida Passos Bismara Paranhos, Fabiane Dörr et al.
1 citation
Even modest increases in DMT exposure from ayahuasca may intensify serotonergic effects in individuals taking SSRI antidepressants, suggesting a clinically relevant interaction. The study provides a mechanistic and quantitative framework for assessing interaction risks between ayahuasca alkaloids and SSRIs, supporting clinical decision-making and harm-reduction strategies where controlled drug-drug interaction studies are not feasible.
Future Pharmacology
June 23, 2026
Gabriella de Souza Gomes Ribeiro, Pieter Annaert, Frederico Severino Martins et al.
CYP2D6 genetic variants substantially alter the body's exposure to the psychedelic brew ayahuasca's active compounds, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and harmine (HRM). Using physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling, poor metabolizers showed 53.3% higher area under the curve (AUC) and 40.5% higher peak concentration (Cmax) for DMT, with similar but smaller increases for HRM; ultra-rapid metabolizers showed reduced exposure to both. These results indicate that CYP2D6 polymorphisms contribute to interindividual variability in ayahuasca pharmacokinetics, with potential clinical implications.
Archives of Toxicology
November 12, 2025
Gilles Salles, Carolina Aparecida de Faria Almeida, Isabella de Carvalho Alves et al.
Ayahuasca shows promise in neuroprotection, with harmine exhibiting significant effects on neuroblastoma cells. In vitro tests revealed that harmine reduced cell viability by 50% at a concentration of 10 µM, indicating strong anti-cancer properties. Flow cytometry and western blot analyses demonstrated that harmine triggers apoptosis, suggesting a potential mechanism for its effectiveness. The study involved 100 neuroblastoma cells, highlighting the chemistry behind psychedelics and their implications in pharmacology. This research adds valuable insight into the therapeutic potential of ayahuasca beyond traditional uses.
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
August 1, 2025
Valeria Bruno, Bruce Richardson, Martha López-canul et al.
In adult male rats, a high dose of psilocybin (10 mg/kg) did not produce rewarding effects in the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm, as there was no significant difference in time spent in the drug-paired compartment versus the vehicle-paired compartment. Psilocybin increased head-twitching, dog-shaking, and defecation while decreasing grooming, body licking, and rearing during conditioning sessions. These behavioral differences disappeared 48 hours after the last injection, indicating no long-term changes. The findings suggest psilocybin lacks rewarding properties and does not cause physical dependence, supporting its safety profile and therapeutic potential.
Research Square
July 25, 2025
Vítor Bruno, Lídia Emmanuela Wiazowski Spelta, Matheus Lujan Pereira et al.
Ayahuasca, a psychedelic brew used in indigenous rituals, reduced the reinstatement of cocaine-induced conditioned place preference in C57Bl/6 mice, suggesting potential for treating cocaine use disorder. While ayahuasca itself produced rewarding effects at the highest dose tested (15 mg DMT/kg), these were weaker than those of cocaine (10 mg/kg). Treatment with ayahuasca (12.5 or 15 mg DMT/kg) after cocaine conditioning and before a cocaine challenge effectively prevented the reactivation of drug-associated contextual preference. The findings indicate therapeutic value for ayahuasca in cocaine use disorder, though research in humans remains limited.