Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
March 5, 2021
Joana Gonçalves, Ângelo Luís, Eugenia Gallardo et al.
39 citations
Consumption of new psychoactive substances of natural origin, including plants and fungi containing alkaloids with relaxing, stimulating, or hallucinogenic effects, is increasing worldwide. Use is often driven by religious or cultural reasons, leading to variable legislation. Abusive consumption poses health risks because metabolism and effects are not fully understood. These substances spread rapidly via the internet, requiring sophisticated analytical methods for detection. This review covers toxicological aspects, traditional use and therapeutic potential, and analytical methods in biological matrices for twelve plant specimens: Areca catechu, Argyreia nervosa, Ayahuasca, Catha edulis, Datura stramonium, Lophophora williamsii, Mandragora officinarum, Mitragyna speciosa, Piper methysticum Forst, Psilocybe, Salvia divinorum, and Tabernanthe iboga.
Medicines
October 18, 2019
Ana Y. Simão, Joana Gonçalves, Ana Paula Duarte et al.
36 citations
Ayahuasca, a psychoactive beverage traditionally used by indigenous Amazonian tribes for ritual and medicinal purposes, contains compounds such as N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), β-Carbolines, and harmala alkaloids including harmine, tetrahydroharmine, and harmaline. The harmala alkaloids act as monoamine-oxidase inhibitors, enabling DMT's psychoactive and hallucinogenic effects on the central nervous system. Despite consumer advocacy, the metabolic and central nervous system effects remain incompletely understood. This paper critically reviews toxicological aspects and analytical methods for detecting these compounds in biological and non-biological specimens, emphasizing instrumental developments and sample preparation approaches.
Antibiotics
October 24, 2020
Joana Gonçalves, Ângelo Luís, Ana Gradillas et al.
25 citations
Ayahuasca decoctions, made from individual plants and their mixtures, contain high levels of phenolic compounds and flavonoids, which vary among samples. These compounds correspond to strong antioxidant activity, measured by β-carotene bleaching and DPPH assays, and notable anti-inflammatory effects via protein denaturation inhibition. The decoctions also show antimicrobial properties, particularly from Banisteriopsis caapi and Peganum harmala, which inhibit both planktonic and biofilm cells of Acinetobacter baumannii, as well as biofilm formation and violacein pigment production. The study characterizes 48 secondary metabolites using UHPLC-Q/TOF-MS and estimates their concentrations with real standards.
Molecules
November 28, 2020
Ana Y. Simão, Joana Gonçalves, Ana Gradillas et al.
19 citations
Ayahuasca, a beverage used in shamanic ceremonies and increasingly recreationally, contains beta-carboline alkaloids and N,N-dimethyltryptamine, which have hallucinogenic effects. This work examined the cytotoxic effects of these compounds and of five different teas (Banisteriopsis caapi, Psychotria viridis, Peganum harmala, Mimosa tenuiflora, and a commercial preparation) on dopaminergic immortalized cell lines. The extracts were characterized chromatography, and their effects on cell viability and total protein levels were analyzed in N27 dopaminergic neurons. This is the first study of ayahuasca tea's cytotoxicity on neurological dopaminergic cells. Results showed that both cell viability and protein contents decreased when cells were exposed to the individual compounds, teas, and mixtures based on traditional ayahuasca beverages.
Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
July 7, 2023
Joana Gonçalves, Ângelo Luís, Eugenia Gallardo et al.
16 citations
A systematic review of 66 studies published up to December 2022 suggests that ayahuasca may have beneficial effects on depression, anxiety, and various neurobiological conditions, as well as anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, demonstrating its therapeutic potential. The number of studies on this topic has been growing, reflecting interest in alternative treatments. This is the first systematic review to compile all findings on therapeutic effects associated with ayahuasca consumption.
SN Applied Sciences
February 21, 2020
Ana Y. Simão, Joana Gonçalves, Débora Caramelo et al.
10 citations
Ayahuasca's potential as a therapeutic agent is underscored by its complex chemistry. In a study involving 150 participants, significant levels of harmine and harmaline were identified using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and solid-phase extraction methods. These compounds, derived from peganum harmala, highlight ayahuasca's pharmacological properties. The findings suggest that traditional medicine practices may offer valuable insights into the therapeutic use of psychedelics, including implications for cannabis and cannabinoid research and advancements in forensic toxicology and drug analysis.
Molecules
September 13, 2021
Joana Gonçalves, Miguel Castilho, Tiago Rosado et al.
9 citations
The main compounds in ayahuasca and its constituent plants become bioaccessible during simulated digestion and are absorbed by intestinal cells, indicating bioavailability. N,N-dimethyltryptamine, Harmine, Harmaline, Harmol, Harmalol, and Tetrahydroharmine were released from the plant matrix and taken up by Caco-2 cell monolayers. The plant extracts showed no cytotoxicity and did not compromise cell monolayer integrity or permeability.
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
September 6, 2022
Joana Gonçalves, Ângelo Luís, Eugenia Gallardo et al.
5 citations
Ayahuasca, an Amazonian drink containing β-carboline alkaloids and N,N-dimethyltryptamine, was tested for wound-healing potential using decoctions of a commercial mixture, four individual plants, and four two-plant mixtures. Only one sample showed cytotoxicity; all others promoted migration of skin fibroblasts in a wound-healing assay with NHDF cells. A parallel artificial membrane permeability assay and transepithelial electrical resistance and Lucifer yellow permeability assays showed that the psychoactive compounds were not absorbed by the cell layer and generally did not affect its permeability or integrity. This is the first evaluation of ayahuasca's wound-healing potential.
Phytochemical analysis : PCA
August 1, 2024
Joana Gonçalves, Tiago Rosado, Mário Barroso et al.
2 citations
Three miniaturized extraction techniques—dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME), microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS), and QuEChERS—were compared for extracting the main ayahuasca compounds (DMT, tetrahydroharmine, harmine, harmaline, harmol, and harmalol) from beverage samples. QuEChERS was the most promising and was optimized using 500 μL of extractor solvent, 85 mg of primary secondary amine, and 4 seconds of vortexing. The validated method showed linear ranges of 0.16–10 μg/mL for β-carbolines and 0.016–1 μg/mL for DMT, with extraction efficiencies between 60.2% and 88.0%. The analytical methodology proved accurate and precise, and was successfully applied to real ayahuasca beverage samples.
Natural product research
July 4, 2024
Joana Gonçalves, José Francisco Cascalheira, Patrícia Valentão et al.
Ayahuasca, a psychoactive Amazonian beverage, contains N,N-dimethyltryptamine and β-carbolines that inhibit monoamine oxidase-A. Extracts from three plants used in ayahuasca preparation—Banisteriopsis caapi, Mimosa hostilis, and Peganum harmala—were tested on gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cells. All three extracts induced apoptosis and significantly reduced oxidative stress in these cancer cells, suggesting potential therapeutic effects against gastric cancer.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
June 2, 2024
Joana Gonçalves, Mariana Feijó, Sílvia Socorro et al.
Decoctions made from Mimosa hostilis and Peganum harmala, plants sometimes used as substitutes in ayahuasca, can kill human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells in the lab. The extracts triggered programmed cell death (apoptosis) and slowed cell growth. They also lowered oxidative stress and boosted activity of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase, while superoxide dismutase activity remained unchanged. The findings suggest these plant decoctions have potential anticancer properties against colorectal cancer cells.
Molecules
February 26, 2021
Ana Y. Simão, Joana Gonçalves, Ana Gradillas et al.
correction
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