Immunological Modulation and Control of Parasitaemia by Ayahuasca Compounds: Therapeutic Potential for Chagas's Disease
Chemistry & Biodiversity September 26, 2022 Albert Katchborian‐neto, Mário F. C. Santos, Diego Fernandes Vilas Boas et al. 9 citations
Ayahuasca, a psychoactive beverage made from Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis, showed moderate activity against Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes in vitro (IC50 95.78 μg/mL), compared to the reference drug benznidazole (IC50 2.03 μg/mL). The β-carboline alkaloid harmine, isolated from B. caapi, was active (IC50 6.37 μg/mL), while the tryptamine DMT from P. viridis was moderately active (IC50 21.02 μg/mL). In vivo, harmine alone reduced parasitemia in a dose-responsive manner (10 and 100 mg/kg) without toxic effects. Ayahuasca and the harmine-DMT combination worsened parasitemia, suggesting immune modulation via increased IgG and IgG1 antibodies. Molecular docking indicated harmine binds to trypanothione reductase, a promising drug target absent in humans. The findings support ayahuasca's potential against Chagas disease and internal parasites.