Analytical techniques for the determination of tryptamines and β‐carbolines in plant matrices and in psychoactive beverages consumed during religious ceremonies and neo‐shamanic urban practices
Drug Testing and Analysis May 11, 2012 Alain Gaujac, Sandro Navickiene, Mark I. Collins et al. 33 citations
Ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic beverage traditionally used by Amazonian indigenous communities, is gaining global popularity through syncretic religions like Santo Daime and União do Vegetal. Similarly, jurema wine, originating from indigenous cultures in northeastern Brazil, is now used in urban neo-shamanic rituals and religions such as Catimbó and Umbanda. Both drinks contain N,N-dimethyltryptamine, which requires co-administration of naturally occurring monoamine oxidase inhibitors, such as β-carboline derivatives, to induce psychoactive effects in humans. This review examines the cultural use of tryptamines and β-carbolines and describes recent analytical techniques for detecting these compounds in ayahuasca, its analogues, and the plants used in preparing these beverages.