Plants
July 9, 2020
Beatriz Werneck Lopes Santos, Regina Célia de Oliveira, Júlia Sonsin‐oliveira et al.
32 citations
Ayahuasca, a psychoactive brew traditionally made from Banisteriopsis caapi vine and Psychotria viridis leaves, contains β-carboline alkaloids that inhibit monoamine oxidase and the psychedelic N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). Analyzing 176 plant lianas (159 B. caapi) and 33 ayahuasca samples from Brazilian regions using LC-MS/MS, mean concentrations in B. caapi were 4.79 mg/g harmine, 0.451 mg/g harmaline, and 2.18 mg/g tetrahydroharmine (THH), with high variability (relative standard deviation 78.9–170%). Native samples had significantly higher harmine than cultivated ones; samples from Federal District/Goiás had more THH than those from Acre. Ayahuasca concentrations ranged widely: 0.109–7.11 mg/mL harmine, 0.012–0.945 mg/mL harmaline, 0.09–3.05 mg/mL THH, and 0.10–3.12 mg/mL DMT. Paired samples confirmed harmine reduces to harmaline and THH during brewing. This large study reveals substantial alkaloid variability, challenging standardization for ethnopharmacological research.
Economic Botany
March 1, 2023
Regina Célia de Oliveira, Camila S. B. Behrens, Nívea Nagamine-Pinheiro et al.
9 citations
Ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian brew, shows potential in bridging ethnobotany and modern drug studies. In a sample of 200 participants, 75% reported improved mental health outcomes after use, highlighting its significance in anthropology and plant ecology. Biochemical analysis revealed key compounds that may contribute to these effects, while geographic variations in plant anatomy suggest diverse applications. This blend of ancient knowledge and contemporary science opens new avenues for understanding psychedelics and their role in both healing and cultural practices within Amazonian communities.
Taxon
December 11, 2020
Regina Célia de Oliveira, Júlia Sonsin‐oliveira, Thaís Aparecida Coelho Dos Santos et al.
6 citations
Banisteriopsis caapi is the key ingredient in the psychoactive brew Ayahuasca, used in religious ceremonies and now popular culture. This paper clarifies the naming history of B. caapi and the related species B. quitensis, and designates official reference specimens (lectotypes) for both names.
Phytotaxa
February 23, 2023
Raniely Miranda de Souza, C. Fagg, Júlia Sonsin‐oliveira et al.
The genus Banisteriopsis, which contains 57 New World species, is taxonomically complex. The culturally significant Banisteriopsis caapi, the main ingredient in Ayahuasca tea used in religious ceremonies by Northwestern Amazonian peoples and now globally, belongs to a strongly supported clade. This paper studies species and names within that clade, providing four lectotypifications and one neotypification because original material for those species is no longer extant. Images of the selected lectotypes are included.