Ayahuasca blocks ethanol preference in an animal model of dependence and shows no acute toxicity
Journal of Ethnopharmacology November 22, 2021 Bruno Gianfratti, Ricardo Tabach, Marna Eliana Sakalem et al. 23 citations
Ayahuasca, a psychoactive beverage traditionally used by Amazonian groups, shows a low-risk acute toxicological profile when taken orally in mice. Pre-treatment with ayahuasca blocked the rewarding effect of ethanol measured by conditioned place preference, and ayahuasca itself produced a place preference. The beverage did not impair motor activity or coordination, nor did it potentiate hexobarbital-induced sleep. These results suggest ayahuasca has pharmacological properties that could contribute to treating alcohol use disorders.