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.
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.
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry
October 1, 2025
Brandon Richardson, Antonio Inserra, Michael Pileggi et al.
2 citations
Psilocybin, a naturally occurring hallucinogen, significantly alters brain activity by influencing serotonin receptors. In a study with 30 participants, those treated with psilocybin exhibited a 70% increase in serotonergic neuron firing in the dorsal raphe nucleus compared to a control group. Additionally, dopamine levels in the midbrain rose by 50%, enhancing overall mood and cognitive flexibility. The findings suggest that psychedelics like psilocybin can modulate neurotransmitter systems, providing insights into their potential therapeutic effects for mental health disorders through chemical synthesis and receptor interactions.
December 13, 2019
Vítor Bruno
1 citation
Ayahuasca, a psychoactive beverage containing DMT, is used by indigenous populations in religious rituals. Recent studies propose hallucinogens as treatments for central nervous system disorders like depression, anxiety, and addiction. This study tested whether ayahuasca could prevent the expression of cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization in C57Bl/6 mice. At lower doses (1.76 and 3.0 mg/kg DMT), ayahuasca did not prevent sensitization. Higher doses (15, 30, and 45 mg/kg DMT) did prevent it. However, analysis of serotonin receptors 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A in the prefrontal cortex, striatum, and hippocampus showed no significant differences between groups. These results suggest ayahuasca may be a promising therapeutic strategy for cocaine addiction, warranting further research.
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.
Psychopharmacology
October 31, 2025
Vítor Bruno, Lídia Emmanuela Wiazowski Spelta, Matheus Lujan Pereira et al.
Ayahuasca, a brew containing DMT and β-carbolines used in indigenous rituals, has shown potential for treating substance use disorders. In C57Bl/6 mice, ayahuasca at a high dose (15 mg DMT/kg) induced rewarding effects, but these were weaker than those of cocaine. When mice were conditioned with cocaine and later treated with ayahuasca (12.5 or 15 mg DMT/kg), the brew prevented the reinstatement of cocaine-induced conditioned place preference after a cocaine challenge. The findings suggest ayahuasca may have therapeutic value for cocaine use disorder by reducing relapse to drug-seeking behavior.
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.
Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (Universidade de São Paulo)
May 12, 2025
Vítor Bruno
In male C57Bl/6 mice, ayahuasca at 15 mg DMT/kg produced a conditioned place preference, indicating reinforcing potential. Ayahuasca did not prevent the acquisition of cocaine-induced CPP, but acute administration of ayahuasca (12.5 or 15 mg DMT/kg) blocked the expression of cocaine CPP, and both doses prevented reinstatement of cocaine CPP. Gene expression analysis in the prefrontal cortex showed upregulation of Arc, Cebpd, Egr1, Egr2, Egr4, Fos, Junb, and Nr4a1, and downregulation of Reln. In male Sprague-Dawley rats, psilocybin (10 mg/kg) did not produce CPP under either alternate-day or consecutive-day conditioning. Consecutive-day psilocybin reduced neuronal activity in the ventral tegmental area after 48 hours of withdrawal, without observable behavioral changes.