Life
November 8, 2023
Bruno Pires, Luana M. Rosendo, Ana Teresa Brinca et al.
15 citations
A review of amphetamine-type stimulants—including lisdexamphetamine dimesylate, mixed amphetamine salts, MDMA, dextroamphetamine, and phentermine—highlights their therapeutic potential for psychiatric conditions such as ADHD, PTSD, drug dependence, and obesity. Lisdexamphetamine dimesylate effectively treats ADHD in children and adults and shows encouraging results for drug dependency. Mixed amphetamine salts reduce ADHD symptoms in adults. MDMA-assisted psychotherapy leads to sustained reductions in PTSD symptoms and may promote post-traumatic growth, also showing promise for anxiety in life-threatening illnesses. Dextroamphetamine and phentermine demonstrate efficacy for cocaine and opioid dependence, ADHD, and obesity. Careful monitoring is required due to risks. Further research is needed on mechanisms, dosing, and long-term effects.
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.
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.
Micromachines
July 30, 2024
Rodrigo Pelixo, Mário Barroso, Eugenia Gallardo et al.
1 citation
Arylcyclohexylamines (ACHs) are a major group of new psychoactive substances used recreationally and in drug-facilitated sexual assault, with ketamine consumption remaining notably high. This review covers recent laboratory strategies for identifying and quantifying ACH compounds, including phencyclidine, ketamine, and eticyclidine analogues, using traditional analytical techniques and emerging point-of-care sensor technology. The review highlights the consistent need for higher sensitivity in analyzing real-case samples and simulated matrices, and emphasizes ongoing research to develop more sensitive, faster, and more capable sensors.