Differentiation of Ayahuasca Samples According to Preparation Mode and Botanical Varieties Using Metabolomics.
Journal of psychoactive drugs October 29, 2024 Taynara Simão Matos, Flávia da Silva Zandonadi, Alex Aparecido Rosini Silva et al.
Ayahuasca, a traditional brew made from Psychotria viridis leaves and Banisteriopsis caapi vine, shows therapeutic potential for depression. Analysis of 126 samples from different religious groups and geographic origins using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry revealed that metabolite composition varies by preparation group. Samples also differed in antioxidant effects measured by FRAP and ORAC assays. Glycosylated and phenolic compounds were key to distinguishing brews. Preparation method caused more variability than the botanical variety of B. caapi. Brews made with "caupuri" or "tucunacá" varieties showed differences in L-glutamate and arginine/proline metabolism, suggesting a possible explanation for swollen stem nodes in "caupuri."