A rapid analytical strategy for the determination of ayahuasca alkaloids in non-ritualistic approaches by UHPLC-MS/MS
Forensic Science International April 17, 2020 Sarah Eller, Gabriela Ramos Borges, Daniela Souza Ossanes et al. 13 citations
A new ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed to measure ayahuasca alkaloids in seized herbal products. The method reliably quantifies N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine, with detection limits of 10 ng/mL for DMT and 25 ng/mL for the β-carbolines. Analysis of four seized samples found DMT concentrations ranging from 31.5 to 46.5 mg/g, but no β-carbolines were detected. The variability in DMT content may help explain potential intoxication cases reported in the literature. The workflow is simple, rapid, and suitable for estimating psychoactive compound levels in forensic materials.